Educational Patriotism Inspired by China?

Abstract

Norwegian education declined after World War II. The US-inspired education reform policy aimed at making social integration and knowledge acquisition simultaneously. That did not happen. Simultaneously with these observations I became aware of East Asia’s Confucianist inspired education thinking. Historically, there is a line of strong motivation for learning. However, this tradition had a double-edged effect. Education first was key to a very effective state administration. Then conservatism towards science and technology contributed to almost destroying Chinese independence. However, in the twentieth century, Confucianism revitalized motivation for learning and developed educational patriotism. Norway could learn from the Chinese example of education as soft power. It could learn how to regain the former position where schools are more for knowledge acquisition than social integration.