행복과 행복교육

• 영문명: A Study on Happiness and Education of Happiness
• 발행기관: 한국교육사상학회 (구 한국교육사상연구회)
• 저자명: 최관경(Choi, Kwan-kyung)
• 간행물 정보: 『교육사상연구』교육사상연구 제12집, 1~25쪽, 전체 25쪽
• 주제분류: 사회과학 > 교육학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2003.01.30

국문 초록

풀하나 돌하나도 까닭없이 존재하는 것은 없다. 모든 존재는 그 존재 이유를 가진다. 인간은 행복을 추구하는 사회적 동물이다. 행복은 우리가 살아가는 인생의 목적이요 궁극적 가치이다. 그런데 변화무쌍한 현대사회는 날이 갈수록 물질적․기술적으로 거인(giant)이 되어가는 반면 정신적․도덕적으로 난쟁이(dwarf)가 되어감으로써 대부분의 사람들이 인생의 궁극적 의미나 목적을 상실한 채 여지없이 실존적 허무감(existential vacuum)과 허탈감에 빠져들고 있다. 또한 교육의 목적은 행복한 사람을 기르는데 있는데도 불구하고 오직 말 잘 듣고 시키는대로만 잘하는 소위 ‘성공적인 얌전이’를 기르는 우리 교육은 결국 공교육 붕괴현상을 초래하고 있다. 더욱이 사랑과 열정으로 일생을 교직에 바쳐온 우리 교육자를 소위 국민의 정부가 개혁의 주제가 아닌 그 대상으로 몰아세움으로써 교육자의 사기가 급강하하고 있다. 그 결과 학교 교육에 대한 불신 속에서 심지어 교육이민이 폭증할 정도로 우리 교육은 절대절명의 위기 상황에 놓여 있다. 이런 기막힌 현상을 벗어나려면 우리의 ‘성공지향적 교육목적관'을 하루속히 ‘행복지향적 교육목적관'으로 바꾸어야 한다. 이런 문제의식아래 행복의 의미와 그 특성을 고찰한 다음 행복교육의 원리와 그 구체적 방법을 제시하였다.

영문 초록

The purpose of this study is to examine the various meanings of happiness and to emphasize the education of happiness in Korea. Man is born to live happily, not to prepare for life. Everyone wants to be happy. People work best when they are happy. Also students study hardest when they are happy. Whoever are happy will make others happy. As is generally known, peace begets peace but war begets war, love begets love but hatred begets hatred. Likewise, happiness begets happiness but unhappiness begets unhappiness. Moreover, happy educators bring up happy students and unhappy educators make their students unhappy. We can define three categories of happiness : the pleasant life, the good life and the meaningful life. I'm sure that we should hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable, that all men are created equal and independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent and alienable, among which are preservation of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Consequently, it is not only our rights but also our duties for us to pursue happiness incessantly in the whole course of our lives. There are no seeds of happiness without seeds of unhappiness and vice versa. As if an electric wave comes through air, happiness comes through our activities. Happiness doesn't necessarily go with money. Happiness isn't something we experiences ; it's something we remember. Happy people are very good at managing emotion. Happiness consists in contentment. Happiness may consist in recognizing that we can't always be happy. Whether he is teacher or student, he is the happiest who finds peace of mind in his home and school. Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation and freedom in all just pursuits. The three grand essential of happiness are : something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for. In sum, I suggest as follows : First of all, we should transform the success-oriented teleologism of education into the happiness-oriented teleologism of education as soon as possible. Secondly, we should do our best efforts to remold our educational circumstances in which all students and teachers can be happy. It is sincerely hoped that this study on happiness and education of happiness will be contributed as a stepping stone of some help to those teachers and students in Korea are interested in philosophy of education.