儒家: 《禮記》 – 《學記》 (公元前475年 – 公元前221年)

“Record on the subject of education“ (475-221 BC) English translation by James Legge

《學記》11 : — [師须博喻]

君子知至學之難易，而知其美惡，然後能博喻；能博喻然後能為師；能為師然後能為長；能為長然後能為君。故師也者，所以學為君也。是故擇師不可不慎也。《記》曰：「三王四代唯其師。」此之謂乎！

When a man of talents and virtue knows the difficulty (on the one hand) and the facility (on the other) in the attainment of learning, and knows (also) the good and the bad qualities (of his pupils), he can vary his methods of teaching. When he can vary his methods of teaching, he can be a master indeed. When he can be a teacher indeed, he can be the Head (of an official department). When he can be such a Head, he can be the Ruler (of a state). Hence it is from the teacher indeed, that one learns to be a ruler, and the choice of a teacher demands the greatest care. It is said in the Record, ‘The three kings and the four dynasties were what they were by their teachers.’

【白话解】君子知道求學深淺難易的順序，對於個人的特性差異都能了解，然後方能因材施教。能廣泛地曉喻，然後才有能力作老師；能夠作老師，才能做官長；能做官長，才能作領袖。所以能作一個好老師，就是學作領袖的開始。所以選擇老師不可以不謹慎。古書說：三王（伏羲神農黃帝稱三皇 ）四代（虞夏殷周）對老師的選擇都很慎重。就是這個意思。

【原文】君子知至学之难易而知其美恶，然后能博喻，能博喻然后能为师，能为师然后能为长，能为长然后能为君。故师也者，所以学为君也，是故择师不可不慎也。《记》曰 “三王四代唯其师”。其此之谓乎！

【翻譯】君子必须了解学生在学习时的难易实际，他们对于哪些知识能力的掌握感到困惑疑难，他们对于哪些知识能力感到简单易学，君子还了解学生个人资质的差异，各人有哪些长处有哪些短处，了解了这些学情以后，君子才能够根据具体实际，从多个不同方面对学生作多方面的启发诱导。能够联系实际从多方面启发诱导学生，才能当好教师。只有能够当一个好教师的人，才能胜任基层领导的职务；能够胜任基层领导的职务了，才能够做一个统治者。所以说，做教师，就是学习做国家统治者的一个必由步骤。因为这样，所以选择教师人选是不可不慎重的。古书上说：“古代圣贤的君王都把教师选拔当作首要任务”。就是说的这个道理啊！