簡媜的散文創作題材多元,風格嬗變不息,深受讀者喜愛,因此在文壇上建立了她舉足輕重的地位。簡媜除了是位作家,同時也是一位母親,當她在2007年陪伴夫婿姚宜慶、兒子姚遠,一家三口到美國科羅拉多州為期約半年的短期遊學,把自己的所見所聞,經過縝密的觀察和詳實的紀錄,回國後整理出書,命名為《老師的十二樣見面禮》。出書後暢銷、熱賣、還有許多學校列入閱讀教材。 於此,本文以簡媜成長背景與學習經歷切入,探究簡媜大學畢業後踏入職場的歷練以及結婚生子後身為人妻人母後,為什麼會對教育問題情有獨鍾,而施諸教育書寫時,她在整個觀念和寫作風格的轉變。而本文用以為討論文本的,便是《老師的十二樣見面禮》,探究該書中同名的文章,老師送給同學十二樣見面禮,其特殊教育意義及日後的影響。筆者的關懷自是並及於簡媜如何透過台美教育方式的比較,如數學、閱讀觀念的不同,榮譽制度的養成,討論與省思兩方環境上的差異。
Jian Zhen, a popular writer in Taiwan, is well-known in literary circles. She recorded what she saw and heard on a six-month trip to Colorado with her husband and son in 2007, and later wrote a book titled The Twelve Gifts from the Teacher. The book was a bestseller in Taiwan and was listed as reading material in many schools. This paper, based on Jian Zhen’s experiences from childhood and school, intends to explore why she took a strong interest in educational issues after she graduated from college, got married and became a mother. In addition, we will look at how her writing style changed in terms of prose on education. We will explore The Twelve Gifts from the Teacher and discuss its meaning in the aspect of education and its potential effects. We will examine the differences between Taiwanese and American ways of education , such as various thoughts about math, reading and the honor system.