Preserving Inheritage: Muhammadiyah’s Character Education 1923-1942

Abstract

Education was the base for the founding of Muhammadiyah. Since the era of K.H. Ahmad Dahlan, Muhammadiyah schools have been designed to educate Indonesian children to become individuals who master the science of religion and general science. Muhammadiyah school graduates are expected to be able to become successing cadres who are not only knowledgeable, but also have a nationalist attitude. The method used in this research is literature study. Based on the results of the analysis, character education implemented by the leaders of Muhammadiyah since 1923 still sticks on the principles of education that were first applied by K.H. Ahmad Dahlan which was then adjusted to the condition at that time. This change can be seen from the educational goals formulated in the following years. Changes in educational goals are followed by curriculum publications in order to maximize educational goals that have been formulated. Muhammadiyah also responded to the policy of the Dutch East Indies colonial government which was detrimental with protests. This attitude is certainly different to the one in the era of K.H. Ahmad Dahlan which was considered to be more passive.