Hong Rong (1828165438+1October17-1965438+April 2, 20021) was originally named Dameng,No. Chunfu, Han nationality, Guangdong. China, a pioneer of overseas students, is known as "the father of overseas students in China".
Hong Rong studied at Yale University from 1850 to 1854. He is the first China student to study in the United States. As the only China student in Yale University, he faces many challenges. The boy is usually inconspicuous because he is introverted. However, in his sophomore year, he won the first prize in the English writing competition twice in a row, thus making a name for himself. Although his writing ability is well received, he is often depressed and worried that his math ability is poor.
In his junior year, he wrote a letter to Samuel W Williams, an American missionary, and talked about his thoughts on his future career. He wrote: "For a person who wants to repay his motherland, there are many things that can be done, each of which is very valuable, and it is really difficult to make the right choice. Therefore, I will not choose only by personal hobbies and judgments, but I hope to make a satisfactory decision with the help of God. "
In the process of studying, Rong Rong never forgot his motherland in danger. When he was walking with his classmate Carol Cutler, he talked about the plan that gradually formed in his mind to send young children to study abroad. A few years later, Carol Cutler became the president of Washington Catholic University in Cleveland, Ohio.
When I was studying at Yale, the corruption in China often touched my heart, and I was unhappy to think about it ... Since I have traveled across the ocean and received a civilized education, I will put what I have learned into practice ... I have received a civilized education alone, and I will let future generations enjoy the same benefits. With the introduction of western learning in China, China has become increasingly civilized and prosperous. This will be the goal of my life.
Hong Rong became an American citizen on 1852. After graduation, he was in no hurry to return to China. For him, seven years of American life has changed many things in his life. At that time, a sentence from the Bible always appeared in his mind, as if God was reminding him: "If a person doesn't take care of his relatives, he betrays the truth, which is worse than an unbeliever, especially if he doesn't take care of his family." For yung wing, "relatives" and "family" are China. So soon, he returned to Hong Kong by boat, and finally returned to his native land after drifting at sea for 15 1 day.
From 65438 to 1960s, the Qing government gradually realized the importance of "learning from foreigners to control foreigners" and began to explore ways to introduce western technology, so that China embarked on the road of self-improvement. The choices they face are: establishing modern schools and inviting foreign experts to teach western languages and technologies; Send delegations to Europe and the United States to investigate and collect information, and bring western weapons back to China for further study and imitation; Send students overseas, and when they return home, teach them the secrets of western prosperity.
Conservative bureaucrats oppose the plan to send young children out of China: first, it takes time and money; Secondly, it is a great shame for the Qing Dynasty to admit that you need to learn from the West. Most scholars also object, because the whole plan only emphasizes technology, but not the "integrity of subjects" cultivated by Confucius and Mencius. They believe that the latter is the guarantee of the country's peaceful and prosperous people. However, Zeng Guofan, the most influential governor at that time, and his supporter Li Hongzhang strongly supported sending young children abroad to study as part of the self-improvement movement.
Li Hongzhang believes that studying abroad is the fastest and most effective way to obtain western secrets. 1870, the occurrence of "Tianjin religious plan" gave Hong Rong an opportunity. This incident caused the Sino-French crisis. Zeng Guofan asked Rong Hong to act as an interpreter in the negotiations with the French. In the process of handling this incident, Hong Rong told four court officials about his education plan. Therefore, they submitted the education plan drafted by Hong Rong to the court.
Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang adopted Hong Rong's suggestion on sending overseas students, and successfully promoted and implemented this suggestion. Prior to this, conservative bureaucrats in the imperial court blocked Hong Rong's proposal for seven years. China officials send students to the United States for the following three reasons: first, they think American education is more practical than European education; Secondly, Yung's further understanding of the American education system will contribute to the smooth implementation of the project. Another important reason is that China and the United States signed a reciprocal agreement in 1868, allowing China students to study in any public school in the United States, including military academies.
187 1 year, the Qing government finally approved China's education plan for young children to study in the United States, and established the China Education Mission (formerly known as "Early Childhood Education Bureau"). The general content of the plan is that during the four years from 1872 to 1875, 30 boys will be sent to the United States for high school and university education every year, and will return to China in 1887 to serve the country for life. When Rong Hong heard that the plan was approved for implementation, he was so excited that he didn't eat or sleep for two whole days. "He walked up and down excitedly, silently praising God. It has been more than sixteen years since he returned to China, and God finally answered his prayers.