晏陽初博士(1890—1990)是享譽海內(nèi)外的著名平民教育家,是一位愛國的知識分子。自上世紀20年代至40年代,他致力于推行農(nóng)村平民教育,作出了卓越貢獻。50年代,晏陽初博士擔任聯(lián)合國教科文組織特別顧問和國際平民教育委員會主席,他將具有中國特色的“定縣經(jīng)驗”成功地推向了世界這個大舞臺,并于1967年在菲律賓創(chuàng)辦了國際鄉(xiāng)村改造學院。他的平民教育理論和實踐,是中國人對世界文化的又一貢獻。 \n晏陽初的平民教育思想是由中國人在中國的大地上創(chuàng)造的自成體系的理論。它不僅對中國鄉(xiāng)村建設(shè)具有積極的意義,而且因其所具有的科學性和普遍性而被世界所認同,最終演變成為一場世界性的運動。晏陽初也因此受到世界范圍內(nèi)的廣泛尊崇。 \nDr. Y.C. James Yen (1890-1990) was a civilian educator well-known at home and abroad. He was a patriotic intellectual. From the 1920s to the 1940s, he devoted himself to promoting education among rural civilians and made outstanding contributions in this regard. \nIn the 1950s, he became UNESCO special adviser and president of the International Council for Civilian Education. From then on, he applied the Dingxian experience to other parts of the world, and set up the International Institute of Rural Construction (IIRR) in the Philippines in 1967. His theory and practice of civilian education constitute another contribution of Chinese people to world culture. \nDr. Y.C. James Yen’s thought on civilian education is a self-contained theory created by the Chinese people on the land of China. It is not only significant for China’s rural reconstruction but also recognized by the world due to its scientific and universal properties, finally evoking a worldwide movement.