When visiting the museum, have you ever been confused because you don't know how to "see", or have you been asked by a child's "100,000 questions about what" to doubt life?
On the eve of the two sessions of the National People's Congress in 2022, Jia Zhangke, a deputy to the National People's Congress and director, brought a bill on cultural heritage education, suggesting that "a list and route for primary and secondary school students to develop experiential learning of China's historical and cultural heritage should be formulated, and museums should be included in the compulsory education teaching system." Specifically, it is hoped that the education department will formulate a list of historical and cultural heritage and museums suitable for primary and secondary school students and corresponding teaching materials, set up corresponding class hours, and implement experiential teaching, so that primary and secondary school students can understand Chinese culture more systematically and comprehensively."
The reason why Jia Zhangke in the film and television industry has this suggestion should be related to his birth in Shanxi. As we all know, Shanxi is the province with the most ancient buildings in the mainland, and the 2800-year-old world cultural heritage Pingyao Ancient City, China's earliest wooden building Nanchan Temple, And China's earliest surviving Taoist palace, Guanyongle Palace, are all valuable historical and cultural heritage. In particular, last year, Shanxi suffered heavy rains and meteorological disasters, and many cultural relics and sites were damaged, which aroused the attention of the whole society, and the urgency of protecting cultural relics and sites was intuitively placed in front of the public.
The public views the 3D printed murals of Yongle Palace
Only by understanding the heritage of cultural heritage can we germinate true love from the heart, and then evoke cherishing and protection. Incorporating historical and cultural heritage and museum lists into primary and secondary school textbooks, setting up class hours for students to learn, and allowing students to fully and systematically understand Chinese history and culture through experiential teaching such as visits are the practice of "starting from dolls" in cultural heritage education, and are the basic work and important part of the protection of cultural relics and heritage. It is not difficult to imagine that after receiving cultural heritage education from an early age, when he grows up, he will be more able to pay attention to and care about the protection of the mainland's historical and cultural heritage, and he will also be able to cultivate a rich and thick view of history and culture, and stimulate a deep patriotic feeling and a sense of national identity.
From a realistic point of view, as Jia Zhangke said, "In the past, it was more of a sightseeing tour, and children saw bronzes, and many times they just looked at them curiously, or took a photo in front of ancient buildings." In fact, not only children, but also adults who lack cultural heritage education. In reality, children visit museums mostly led by teachers or parents, but the leaders' own cultural heritage knowledge reserves are uneven, not to mention the "one belt and many" form of teachers taking students, it is difficult to ensure that explanations and Q&A can meet each child. Writing teaching materials and classroom learning can solve practical problems. Not only do children benefit, but teachers and parents can make up for this lesson. As a result, cultural heritage education for the whole people will be enhanced.
Elementary school students visit the Majiabang Cultural Museum
In addition, understanding the museum and knowing the correct way to visit the museum is an important part of aesthetic education. Let the children first learn some "hard knowledge" from the textbook, and then intuitively visualize the feelings through the form of field visits, which is an educational method that combines knowledge and practice, which is conducive to cultivating a healthy and upward aesthetic taste from an early age, improving the knowledge structure, and sublimating the spiritual pursuit, which will benefit them for life.
However, some practical issues have to be considered. For example, for rural children, it is not easy to visit museums on the ground. However, it is not impossible, for example, Jia Zhangke proposed, "all localities can also make teaching plans that adapt to the cultural heritage and museum conditions of the province according to local conditions." In this way, by narrowing the geographical distance, the difficulty of commuting and the economic burden of visiting museums will be minimized; and for some high-quality museum resources across provinces and regions, they can be carried out by "teaching first, and organizing visits during winter and summer vacations". In terms of teaching, it can be both learning materials and new educational means such as digital education resources and distance education; in terms of organization and funding, it can be solved in the form of local financial allocations + museums and schools, or absorbing the strength of social welfare organizations.
The staff broadcast live in the poultry specimen exhibition area of the Handan Beike Natural History Museum in Hebei Province
The museum is an important cultural landmark of the city and one of the symbols of the progress of social civilization. Over the years, from large cities to small and medium-sized cities, museums have increasingly become popular places to punch in, and these places are crowded on weekends and holidays. This shows that the public has a strong demand for visiting museums and watching exhibitions. In this context, it is time to improve the education system for minors and promote the improvement of the cultural heritage literacy of the whole people.
Text: Wang Can
Photo: Xinhua Net, China News Network
Column moderator: Zhang Yongqun
Editor-in-charge: Zhang Yongqun
Editors: Sun Dai, Zhang Xueyu