Editor's note: The "Outline for the Implementation of Patriotism Education in the New Era" issued by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council has made a brand-new strategic plan for patriotic education in the new era, made comprehensive arrangements, and is a programmatic document for carrying out patriotic education in the new era. In order to implement the spirit of the "Outline for the Implementation of Patriotic Education in the New Era" and promote the development of patriotic education in the new era, this journal specially invited Professor Wang Yi, secretary of the Party Committee and executive vice dean of the Marxist College of Chinese University and executive deputy director of the High-tech Innovation Center of the Ideological and Political Theory Course of Beijing Colleges and Universities, and several young scholars to theoretically explain the epistemological thinking of patriotic education in the new era and the "ancient" and "present", "obvious" and "hidden" and "hidden" and "rational" patriotic education in the new era. In order to communicate with the reader.
Abstract: To grasp patriotic education in the new era from the epistemological level, we must fully understand and strengthen its meaning of the times, and make it clear that this is not only an inevitable requirement for implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's series of important expositions, but also a natural move to adapt to the new changes in the historical orientation of China's development, or an important way to achieve the mission and task of "gathering people's hearts and cultivating new people"; we must focus on young people to carry out patriotic education, because young people are the most active and vigorous force in the entire social force, and they are the key groups of patriotic education in the past and the present. It is also the main object of confrontation and struggle between socialist ideology and non-(anti)socialist ideology; we must correctly grasp the dialectics of patriotic education, that is, the dialectics of "ancient" and "present", the dialectics of "obvious" and "hidden", and the dialectics of "feelings" and "reason". In this way, we can further promote patriotic education and achieve remarkable results.
Patriotism is the most important spiritual gene of the Chinese nation, the most precious spiritual wealth of Chinese civilization, and the most powerful spiritual motive force for the unity and progress of the Chinese people. Strengthening patriotic education based on the new era is of great and far-reaching significance to invigorating the national spirit, rallying the strength of the whole nation, and thus winning the great victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. It is undoubtedly important to actively explore ways to enhance patriotic education in the new era, but the premise is to correctly grasp the essence of some issues from an epistemological point of view, including the meaning of the times for carrying out patriotic education in the new era, why should we focus on young people to carry out patriotic education, and how to grasp the dialectic of patriotic education. Only by taking the lead in profoundly understanding the above problems from the perspective of ideological understanding can we do a better job in the work of patriotic education.
First, fully understand the meaning of the times in carrying out patriotic education in the new era
As a practical activity with ideological overtones to cultivate people, patriotic education is self-evident in its importance. The "Outline for the Implementation of Patriotism Education in the New Era" issued by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council is a new strategic plan and comprehensive arrangement for patriotic education in the new era on the basis of fully summing up the practical experience of patriotism education since the promulgation of the "Outline for the Implementation of Patriotism Education" in 1994, and is a programmatic document for patriotic education in the new era, which has opened up a new situation in patriotic education in the new era and at the same time demonstrated the meaning of the times of patriotic education in the new era.
Carrying out and strengthening patriotic education in the new era is an inevitable requirement for implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's series of important expositions. Since the Eighteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has issued a series of important expositions on patriotism education and related issues on different occasions, clearly pointing out: "Patriotism has always been the spiritual force that unites the Chinese nation strongly" [1], "Realizing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the distinct theme of contemporary Chinese patriotism"[2], "The essence of patriotism is to adhere to the high degree of unity of patriotism and love for the party and socialism"[3], and patriotic education in the new era must be" It is an important duty to cultivate new people of the times who will shoulder the great responsibility of national rejuvenation." [4]. These important expositions have clearly explained the distinct themes, core requirements, and outstanding tasks of patriotic education in the new era, and are the general requirements for carrying out patriotic education in the new era. Conscientiously implementing and concretely implementing these requirements is the proper meaning of strengthening patriotic education in the new era. In fact, patriotic education in the new era is also a practical activity carried out under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, which not only continues the patriotic tradition of the Chinese nation, requires drawing nutrition and wisdom from history and carrying forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture, but also focuses on safeguarding the unity of the motherland and national unity, deeply carries out education on socialism with Chinese characteristics and the Chinese dream, strengthens national security education and national defense education, and takes the Chinese dream of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as a distinct theme. Persist in unifying patriotism, love of the party, and love of socialism. All these reflect General Secretary Xi Jinping's series of important expositions on the spirit of patriotism and patriotic education. Therefore, carrying out and strengthening patriotic education in the new era is the implementation of the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's series of important speeches. Only by persistently arming the whole party and educating the people with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era can we properly solve the fundamental problems of patriotic education in the new era, ensure that the direction of patriotic education in the new era will not deviate from the correct track, stimulate the patriotic enthusiasm of the broad masses of the people, unify their thinking, gather strength, and better realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Carrying out and strengthening patriotic education in the new era is a natural move to adapt to the new changes in the historical orientation of China's development. Patriotic education is a kind of historical existence, and the themes highlighted in different periods and stages, the contents carried and the methods used are not the same, and we must adapt to the changes in the historical orientation of China's development. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out in the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China: "After long-term efforts, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, which is a new historical orientation for China's development. [5] 10 This is a major political assertion with heavy weight and deep connotations. The "new" of the new era is mainly in the stage of development, that is, our country has entered the period of "development" from the period of "undeveloped"; the change of the main contradiction in society, that is, the main contradiction of our society has been transformed into a contradiction between the people's growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development; the new change in the goal of struggle, that is, from 2020 to the middle of this century, in "two steps" to build our country into a prosperous, strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious and beautiful socialist modern power; the new changes in the international environment, The world is in the midst of major changes unprecedented in a century, and China is no longer a passive recipient of the international order, but an active participant, builder and leader. This shows that the goals pursued, the tasks undertaken, and the strategic arrangements made by socialism with Chinese characteristics have undergone obvious changes compared with previous periods, which also means that we have entered a brand-new era. These changes are the realistic basis and important basis for carrying out patriotic education in the new era, and must also be passed on to the public through patriotic education, guiding people to fully understand and understand the connotation of the new era, fully recognize and understand the relationship between the Chinese dream and personal dreams, fully recognize and understand the mission of the times that young people in the new era should shoulder, and then enhance their feelings for the people, their responsibility to society, and their loyalty to the country in the process of dedicating their youth. In the vivid practice of realizing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we should let go of the dreams of youth and write a brilliant chapter of life in the unremitting struggle for the interests of the people.
Carrying out and strengthening patriotic education in the new era is an important way to realize the mission and task of "gathering people's hearts and cultivating new people." Throughout the ages, patriotic education has been the most important theme and content in Chinese education, and it is the fundamental way to achieve different missions and tasks in different periods. Whether it is the "fine loyalty to the country" and "rejuvenating the country and annunciation" advocated in history, or the emphasis on forging ahead for the realization of the Chinese nation's great rejuvenation of the Chinese dream, all reflect the content and mission of patriotic education. In the new era, patriotic education also undertakes certain missions and tasks, which are concentrated in "gathering people's hearts and cultivating new people." "To gather the people's hearts and minds is to firmly grasp the correct guidance of public opinion, sing the main melody, strengthen positive energy, make the mainstream ideology and public opinion bigger and stronger, boost the morale and spirit of the whole party and the people of the whole country, and unite and advance toward the grand goals set by the party Central Committee." [4] The will of the people is the greatest politics. The reason why our nation has been able to temper itself with a thousand hammers and be more courageous is that the people's hearts are firmly united. Patriotic education in the new era takes the realization of the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as the distinct theme, aiming to guide people to transform their ardent hope for the great dream into a concrete act of patriotism, and to gather the magnificent power of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with the dream-chasing practice of hundreds of millions of Chinese people. This vividly highlights the value appeal of "gathering people's hearts". "To cultivate new people is to persist in cultivating people with virtue and culture, build socialist spiritual civilization, cultivate and practice the core socialist values, enhance the people's ideological awareness, moral standards, and civilization qualities, and cultivate new people of the times who can shoulder the great task of national rejuvenation." [4] This is consistent with the goal of patriotic education in the new era. After all, cultivating new people of the times who will shoulder the great responsibility of national rejuvenation is an inevitable requirement for patriotic education in the new era. In essence, due to the nature of the socialist country and the stipulations of the goal of educational modernization, patriotic education in the new era must be carried out for all the people and focus on young people, guide people, especially young people, to strengthen national consciousness and collective concepts, and consciously integrate the trajectory of personal struggle into the historical journey of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, which will certainly be conducive to the realization of the mission and task of "gathering people's hearts and cultivating new people".
Second, fully focus on young people to carry out patriotic education in the new era
The golden period of life of young people in the new era covers the realization period of the "two hundred years" strategic goal, and they are the "strong generation" that shoulders the heavy responsibility of national rejuvenation. Focusing on young people to carry out patriotic education in the new era is based on the summary of the historical experience of patriotic education in China, which is of extreme significance.
Young people are the most active and vigorous force in the whole society, and they are the key group of patriotic education throughout history and the present. It should be said that adolescence is a key period for the formation and establishment of values, and the cultivation of adolescent values is like wearing clothes with buttons, if the first button is wrong, the remaining buttons will be wrong." The buttons of life must be fastened from the very beginning"[6]5. Therefore, it is very important to cultivate and shape the values of young people and guide them to form a correct patriotic concept. From another point of view, young people often represent the future of the country, the hope of the nation, and are an important component of the backbone of the future society. Lenin once pointed out in his speech "The Tasks of the Youth League": "The task of truly building a communist society must be borne by the youth. [7] 328 As far as the great historical process of the Communist Party of China uniting and leading the people to carry out revolution, construction and reform is concerned, young people have always played the role of a fresh force. It can even be said that without the enthusiasm and dedication of young people, there will be no great development of the country. It is precisely because the development of young people in society and the progress of the country have such a significance that cannot be underestimated, so Since ancient times, China has attached great importance to focusing on patriotic education for young people. For example, traditional Chinese society usually uses family style and family training, township rules and people's covenants, rituals and rituals, etc., to carry out patriotic education for young people with the family, school, and social organizations as the front, and to cultivate the feelings of home and country of young people who "rise and fall under the world, and the husband has the responsibility". In modern times, with the gradual establishment of the education system with the school system as the core, school education has paid more attention to cultivating the values of young people, and has made patriotic education the main theme of school education. Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has regarded youth work as an extremely important task of the Party and has paid attention to carrying out patriotic education for young people. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core also stressed that "we must put the strengthening of patriotic education among young people in a more prominent position, and bury the seeds of love for China in the depths of every child's soul"[8], and took a series of positive measures to guide young people to cultivate patriotic feelings, strengthen the aspirations of strengthening the country, and practice the journey of serving the country.
The remarkable achievements made by socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era are a solid foundation for focusing on patriotic education among young people in the new era. In the more than 70 years since the founding of New China, the Chinese nation has ushered in a great leap from standing up and getting rich to becoming strong, and the CPC has led the people to victory in the new-democratic revolution, advanced socialist construction, and carried out a new great revolution of reform and opening up, creating tremendous achievements in rapid economic development and long-term social stability that are rare in the world. Today's China is moving closer and closer to the center of the world stage, constantly providing Chinese wisdom and Chinese strength for the development of the world. These historic achievements have injected a steady stream of hard-core power into patriotism. The hard-core power of patriotism has made the patriotic strength of young people in the new era harder, the patriotic will more firm, and the patriotic feelings more intense. Not only that, most of the young people in the new era have grown up in the 21st century, and they are witnesses and participants in China's rapid development; they have personally experienced China's great leap from getting rich to becoming strong, witnessed the remarkable achievements made by socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and realized that the golden period of life is completely consistent with the realization of the "two hundred years" goal, and will personally witness and participate in this great historical process. Young people in the new era who are integrated into the torrent of the times and the development of the country have a deeper understanding of the progress of the times, a stronger identification with the development of the country and the Communist Party of China, and a firmer self-confidence in the road, theory, system, and culture, all of which have laid a good foundation for patriotic education in the new era. In addition, the Party Central Committee has taken active and effective measures to deal with the new crown pneumonia epidemic, so as to achieve national mobilization, full participation, and a national chess game, and promote the national epidemic prevention and control campaign to achieve major strategic results. This also provides a solid foundation for patriotic education in the new era. Because the speed and scale of our country's response to the epidemic are rare in the world, it not only fully demonstrates the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, but also teaches a vivid and vivid patriotic education lesson for young people in the new era. We should "strike iron while it is hot" and continue to focus on strengthening patriotic education among young people.
Focusing on patriotic education among young people in the new era is an inevitable requirement for confrontation and struggle against non-socialist ideologies and anti-socialist ideologies. Under the background of an era in which a variety of social trends, values, and ideological and cultural exchanges are extremely fierce, young people have increasingly become important objects of competition between different ideologies. We all know that adolescents are in the critical stage of physical, psychological and spiritual growth from budding to maturity, which is the "jointing and pregnant spike period" of life, which needs to be carefully guided and cultivated. At this time, they are full of physical strength, active thinking, sensitive mind, with a strong sense of subjectivity, innovative spirit and pioneering spirit. This youthful nature gives adolescents vitality, imagination and creativity. For example, in this fight against the epidemic, the young generation represented by the "post-90s" has stepped forward and made contributions, fully demonstrating the spiritual outlook of Chinese youth in the new era. But at the same time, it is undeniable that because young people are still shallow in experience and their values have not yet been fully established, they are prone to one-sided, absolute and extreme tendencies, and they are prone to credulity and even blind follow-up behavior for some social phenomena. Some non-(anti)socialist ideologies in society have precisely grasped this characteristic of young people, arbitrarily cutting facts, distorting historical truth, and misguiding young people. In particular, in recent years, the attitude of nihilistic history, rumors slandering heroes, viewpoints on dwarfing the spirit, and all kinds of other undesirable ideas and strange theories have sprung up, which to a certain extent has shaken the lofty image of the country, the party, and the image of heroes originally established in the hearts of young people, and even caused confusion in the ideological understanding of some young people. This highlights the need to strengthen patriotic education among young people. Therefore, patriotic education in the new era must focus on young people, and through in-depth, sustained, and vivid patriotic education, we must promptly eliminate the erroneous ideas and concepts in the minds of young people, and replace them with a correct view of the country, the nation, history, and culture, so that the patriotic spirit can firmly take root in the hearts of young people.
Third, correctly grasp the dialectic of patriotic education in the new era
Materialist dialectics tells us that everything has contradictions, and the two sides of the contradiction are both opposites and unified, thus promoting the continuous movement, change and development of things. Patriotic education in the new era also contains a series of contradictions, such as the contradiction between "ancient" and "present", the contradiction between "obvious" and "hidden", and the contradiction between "feeling" and "reason". These contradictions are like two sides of the same coin, both in struggle and in identity. Correctly understanding and handling these contradictions is the proper meaning of strengthening patriotic education in the new era.
Grasp the dialectics of "ancient" and "present". Patriotic education in the new era is not only a historical existence developed on the basis of patriotic education in the past, but also must embody the characteristics of the times and be strengthened in the process of "inheriting the past and opening up the present." The so-called "ancient" mainly refers to the historical nature of patriotic education, which requires seeking wisdom from history, attaching importance to patriotic education as always, taking the initiative to carry forward the patriotic tradition of "the rise and fall of the world, and the responsibility of the husband", and always paying attention to carrying out patriotic education in a top-down form. The so-called "present" refers to the epochality of patriotic education, which requires grasping the pulse of the times, listening to the voice of the times, adhering to the distinct theme of contemporary Chinese patriotism in the implementation of General Secretary Xi Jinping's series of important expositions on the Chinese Dream, clarifying the content of patriotic education and enriching the carrier of educational practice in grasping the new historical orientation of China's development, and highlighting the mass nature of patriotic education in the mission and task of "gathering people's hearts and cultivating new people". The "ancient" and "present" relations of patriotic education are mutually integrated and in the same vein, which requires that the development and strengthening of patriotic education in the new era should pay attention to integrating the ancient and the modern. First of all, we should persist in integrating the consistent emphasis on patriotic education with the distinct theme of highlighting contemporary Chinese patriotism, not only by using the distinct theme of contemporary Chinese patriotism to highlight the position of patriotic education, but also by adhering to the eternal theme of patriotic education. Second, we should persist in integrating the fine tradition of patriotism with the content and practice carrier of enriching patriotic education, and not only be good at highlighting the strong vitality of the patriotic tradition of the Chinese nation through specific educational contents and specific forms and carriers of education, but also ensure that the rich content of patriotic education and the innovative integration of practical carriers integrate and embody patriotic traditions. Finally, we should persist in integrating the top-down development of patriotic education with the mass nature of giving prominence to patriotic education, that is to say, the top-level design of strengthening patriotic education should provide direction and guidance for highlighting the mass nature of patriotic education, and at the same time, the mass nature of patriotic education should be highlighted to realize the top-level design of the Party Central Committee as the fundamental focus.
Grasp well the dialectics of "explicit" and "hidden". As a universal social practice activity, patriotic education is divided into "explicit" and "hidden" aspects. The so-called "manifestation" mainly manifests in the educational stance, educational methods, and main channels of education, and requires that patriotic education be carried out in a clear-cut manner, with the conspicuous characteristics of being straightforward, going straight to the main theme, highlighting the key points, and going deep into the system, hitting the "ideological fog" of the educated and directly attacking the "ideological knots" in the field of patriotic education. The so-called "hidden" emphasizes the spring wind and rain, imperceptible, through optimizing the presentation of educational positions, enriching the form of education and practice carriers, creating a strong social atmosphere, so that people can unconsciously accept patriotic education, stimulate patriotic feelings, forge the aspiration of strengthening the country, and practice the trip to serve the country. The "explicit" and "hidden" of patriotic education each have a "place of use" and a "vibration frequency" of adaptation, and only by allowing them to give full play to their respective suitable fields and opportunities, and to make concertos in coordination, can we play a concerto of patriotic education in the new era and help patriotic education continue to achieve remarkable results in the new era. To this end, we must persist in the unity of explicit education and implicit education, and carry out patriotic education in the "explicit and implicit" education. First, we should persist in unifying the carrying out of patriotic education with the flexible expression of speaking of patriotism in a straightforward and bold manner, not only adhere to the "soul" of the patriotic education stance in the new era, embody the educational stance in a direct, organizational, and planned way of expression, and enrich the "shape" of the patriotic education stance in the new era, and let young students clarify the educational stance in a subtle way with indirect, penetrating, and diffuse expressions. Second, we should persist in highlighting the integration of patriotic education theory indoctrination methods with rich patriotic practice teaching, not only firmly adhere to the most basic educational method of theoretical indoctrination, but also imply patriotic education in the process of viewing natural and cultural landscapes, visiting patriotic education bases, and participating in ceremonial etiquette, etc., to expand practical teaching methods with flexible power. Third, adhere to the role of the main channel of classroom teaching and the creation of a social atmosphere of patriotic education in synergy, in the "point" of the main channel of classroom teaching and the "face" of creating a social atmosphere, to achieve "point and surface combination", and jointly create a field of patriotic education in the new era.
Grasp well the dialectics of "feeling" and "reason". Patriotic education is an educational activity that infiltrates people's hearts with emotions and enlightens wisdom with reason, and contains elements of "feeling" and "reason". The so-called "feelings" are reflected in the fact that educators have deep patriotic feelings, educational discourse is full of sincere emotions, and educational methods pay attention to situational design, requiring the integration of true feelings in the educational process, injecting emotional temperature, so that individuals can produce emotional resonance and ideological resonance in a warm and amiable atmosphere. The so-called "reason" emphasizes the ideological and practical nature of education, and requires patriotic education in the new era to move people with reason, convince people with reason, and rationalize people, that is, to let educators with solid theoretical skills use thorough theoretical discourse to explain patriotic truths, and to guide the educated people to transform patriotic cognition and ideological consciousness into conscious and rational patriotic behavior in practice. "Feelings" and "reason" are inseparable, blending with each other, assisting each other, and complementing each other, showing the characteristics of patriotic education that blend rationally and are reasonable. Patriotic education in the new era should attach equal importance to reason. First, patriotic educators must have both patriotic feelings and theoretical foundations. Educators should not only provide a steady stream of spiritual motivation for the pursuit of Marxist truth with the help of profound patriotic feelings, and constantly consolidate their own theoretical foundation, but also rely on solid Marxist theoretical skills to provide a solid foundation for cultivating feelings and strive to cultivate patriotic feelings. Second, patriotic education discourse must contain both emotional discourse and theoretical discourse. Integrate profound thoughts and rich emotions into the discourse, so that the discourse is both emotional and reasonable, so that "feelings" and "intentions" appear to each other, and the strongest patriotic voice is issued. Third, patriotic education methods should pay attention to both situation creation and practical guidance. Not only does it integrate clear cognitive content and behavioral norms into the educational context, but also creates a high-quality and effective educational situation for individuals during practice guidance, so that individuals can obtain emotional edification and ideological enlightenment in the combination of emotional experience and specific practice. Patriotic education in the new era can only be carried out in an orderly manner in the course of "reasonableness and accommodation," infecting people with true feelings, and convincing people with truth, and can we continuously enhance our own appeal and affinity.
bibliography:
Xi Jinping. Speech at the First Session of the Twelfth National People's Congress[N].People's Daily, 2013-03-18.
[2] Xi Jinping stressed at the 29th collective study of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee to vigorously carry forward the spirit of great patriotism and provide a spiritual pillar for the realization of the Chinese dream[N].People's Daily, 2015-12-31.
Xi Jinping. Speech at the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement[N].People's Daily, 2019-05-01.
[4] Xi Jinping stressed at the National Propaganda and Ideological Work Conference raising the banner to gather people's hearts and minds to cultivate new talents and revitalize the image of cultural exhibitions to better complete the mission and task of propaganda and ideological work under the new situation[N].People's Daily, 2018-08-23.
Xi Jinping. Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in An All-round Way and Winning the Great Victory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era: Report at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China[M].Beijing: People's Publishing House, 2017.
Xi Jinping. Young People Should Consciously Practice the Core Values of Socialism: Speech at the Symposium of Teachers and Students of Peking University[M].Beijing: People's Publishing House, 2014.
[7] The Complete Works of Lenin (Vol. 39)[M].Beijing: People's Publishing House, 2017.
Xi Jinping. Speech at the National Ethnic Unity and Progress Commendation Conference[N].People's Daily, 2019-09-28.
(Author: Wang Yi, Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Vice Dean and Professor of the School of Marxism, Chinese Min University, Executive Director of the Chinese Historical Materialism Society; Source: Ideological Education Research)