우리나라 興學과 氣槪涵育의 推移

Abstract

The literati used to have leading roles for the development of scholarship in Korea. Their formal figures had been modified through periods but their roles had been maintained essential in history. First of all their leadership had been identified in the nation state, the social organization, the power politics and the economic activities. In rεcent period, their position was maintained in relation with the political and social character of the propertied class and their spirit of literati was also brought up as the axis of hegemony, which became the model of national spirituality. Nowadays these properties of literati are lost. After the Independence the Korean curricula and constitution have bεen disrupted and without any order. There are many reasons why our situation is now in despair. Especially concerning the spirit of the literati, it is judged that the leading class lost the public confidence and conscience and is only dependent on the outer power without their own criteria. The result is that they lost their raison dêtre and self-identity. The rich class, the leading groups and the erudite of Korea have grown up by neglecting the national identity and the spirit of the earlier literati. They do not have even any pride of their nationality and moreover estimate it as a hindrance to their personal earnings. Now there is strong demand for liberty and equality in political sphere, mass media, arts, religions, women, civil actions and labor movement. But if we look into the demand more closely, it now helps shape the corporatist interests and becomes a political commodity for all sorts of markets. Because it is true that any trial for the liberty and equality is a vain campaign and essentially a struggle for the capitalistic hegemony or monopoly in the society which has no self-confidence and conscience. Liberty and equality have long lost its historical meaning. We have special zeals for the education. But in our educational aims theres no orientation. In this essay it is evident where the cause responsible for misleading the education of Korea is.