중국 통식교육의 역사와 정치적 딜레마

Abstract

중국의 통식교육(通識敎育)은 general education을 번역한 개념이다. 중국은 통식교육을 general education의 번역어이면서 동시에 liberal education의 사상을 흡수한 개념이라고 정의하기도 한다. 중국은 통식교육을 모색할 때 미국의 general education 또는 liberal education을 모델로 참조했다. 그러나 2000년대 이후 경제가 급성장하고 글로벌 영향력이 크게 확대되자, 해외의 교육 모델을 따라가는 단계에서 벗어나 적극적으로 자체 교육 모델을 확립하고자 했다. 미국 주요 대학의 커리큘럼을 참조하고 모방하던 데서 중국의 사상과 문명 전통을 강조하는 쪽으로 무게중심을 옮기고, 중국식 사회주의 이념 교육을 강화했다. 이 과정에 통식교육은 국민 통합과 중국식 사회주의 정체성 확립의 주요 수단으로 위상이 격상되었다. 1997년 홍콩 반환 이후 중국은 홍콩을 신속하게 중국적 정체성으로 개조하는 데 교육이 적극적 역할을 하리라고 기대했다. 통식교육이 대륙 학생들을 중국식 사회주의가 지향하는 인간형으로 육성했듯이, 홍콩 학생들도 명실상부한 중국인으로 변화시킬 수 있으리라고 여겼다. 그러나 현실은 중국 정부의 기대와 반대로 전개되었다. 홍콩의 통식교육은 서구식 교육의 틀에서 벗어나지 않았고, 홍콩 학생들을 중국의 의도와 다른 방향으로 성장하게 만드는 역할을 했다. 결국 중국은 대륙에서는 통식교육을 적극적으로 지원하면서 홍콩에서는 비판하고 퇴출하려고 하는 모순적인 태도를 보이게 되었다.

Tongshijiaoyu(通識敎育) in China is a translation of general education. China defines Tongshijiaoyu as a translation of general education and at the same time a concept that absorbs the idea of liberal education. When China was looking for Tongshijiaoyu, it was the U.S. general education or liberal education that was used as a model. However, since the 2000s, as the economy has grown rapidly and its global influence has greatly expanded, China has actively sought to establish its own education model, moving away from following the overseas education model. It has shifted its focus from referencing and imitating the curriculum of major U.S. universities to emphasizing Chinas tradition of thought and civilization, and strengthened the education of Chinese-style socialist ideology. In this process, Tongshijiaoyu was upgraded as a major means of national unity and establishing a Chinese-style socialist identity. After the return of Hong Kong in 1997, China expected education to play an active role in quickly transforming Hong Kong into a Chinese identity. It was believed that Tongshijiaoyu could transform Hong Kong students into Chinese in name and reality, just as it fostered continental students into human types that Chinese socialism aims for. The reality, however, was contrary to the Chinese governments expectations. Hong Kongs Tongshijiaoyu has become an incubator that fosters Hong Kong students with the identity of Hong Kong people who refuse to assimilate to China. This was very embarrassing for China. In the end, China has taken a contradictory stance of actively supporting and developing Tongshijiaoyu on the continent, while Hong Kong is criticizing, reducing, or trying to oust it. The content of this study consists of two parts. The first is to understand the progress and current situation of Chinese Tongshijiaoyu. It is helpful to understand the macroscopic direction in which Chinese society is moving by examining the background in which Chinese Tongshijiaoyu emerged, in what context it was valued and developed, and in what status it currently exists. Second, it is to see how Chinas pursuit of Tongshijiaoyu(liberal studies) has ultimately failed in Hong Kong, unlike the continent. Understanding the current state of Tongshijiaoyu(liberal studies) in Hong Kong, the relationship between Hong Kong Tongshijiaoyu(liberal studies) and anti-Chinese protests, and how China responds to Hong Kong education issues is necessary to understand Chinas foreign policy.