美援時期台灣中等科學教育發展(1951-1965)

1951年至1965年間，美國對台灣所進行的經濟援助稱為「美援」。本研究探討美援中等科學教育計畫的形成與推動過程所面臨的困境問題，及其對台灣科學教育發展的啟示。研究方法採用文件資料與面談或書信聯絡相關人士。文件資料來自美國國務院、AID辦公室等相關檔案公文；台灣方面資料以國史館典藏公文檔案、中研院圖書館藏以及公立圖書館典藏圖書期刊與新聞媒體資料為主。本研究結果顯示，1950年代在美國國防科學外援政策局面下，胡適等學者將長期發展學術的目標「包裝」在蔣介石對科學的期望以及國防與科學聯結的人才荒問題，因而促成「國家長期發展科學計畫綱領」。加以中國自然科學促進會長期對中等科學教育的投入，透過與中基會、教育部以及省教育廳彼此的互動關係，發揮對中等科學教育政策的影響力，最後經由「國家長期發展科學計畫綱領」，形成美援中等科學教育計畫。因此，台灣中等科學教育的發展起點是站在美式科學教育與當時台灣本土的教育體制、升學主義、學校生態文化、政經環境、社會價值觀以及不同群體對科學本質的不同認知的複雜關係上，台灣社會本身對科學教育的核心價值與理念值得深思。期望提供當前台灣中等科學教育發展的借鏡參考。

關鍵字

美援；科學教育；科學教育史

並列摘要

The US AID to Taiwan began in the year of 1951 and terminated in the year of 1965. However, the US AID secondary science education project was not included until 1959. The purpose of this study is to examine the secondary science project under US AID and its inspiration to science education in Taiwan. The research methods included document review and interviews with related personnel. The sources of documents included the archives in the U.S. Dept. of State and US AID office as well as those in the Academia Historica in Taiwan, and the old newspapers and the journals in the public libraries. Through examining the initiation and implementation of the secondary science education project under US AID, the author makes suggestions for the current secondary science education in Taiwan. Results from the study reveal that Hu Shi and his contemporary intellects, under the U.S. policy of strengthening Mutual Security Programs and scientific cooperation with allies, used the existing conditions of Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek's expectations about science and a shortage of science manpower, to bring about ”Outline Plan for Long-Range National Development of Science” in the 1950s. On the basis of the Outline, there were different influential factors helping to bring about the US AID secondary science education project, including the commitment the members of CAANS (Chinese Association for the Advancement of Natural Science) had made to secondary science education since the 1920s, the interaction between the China Foundation for the Promotion of Education, Ministry of Education, and Department of Education of the Taiwan Provincial Government. The starting point of secondary science education in Taiwan was historically formed in the 1950s based on the complicated confrontation between different facets, the US science education system, the local education system in Taiwan, the overemphasis on entrance examinations, the school cultural settings, the political and economic environment, the social values, and understanding of the nature of science owned by different groups. Therefore, in terms of the future development of science education, it is important to identify the core values and mission of secondary science education for the society of Taiwan.