Modernization of education has both temporal and spatial connotations. It is not only a historical process, but also a process of interaction between different cultures. Therefore, it should be understood and analyzed from historical and cultural perspectives. From historical perspective, modernization is quite complex, both progressive and regressive phenomena can be observed. From the perspective of cultural interaction, the modern-backward dichotomy is biased. It is also biased to view modernization as the substitution of the advanced for the backward. History has taught us in many cases to avoid blind admiration of modernization without critical thinking. Although by definition modernization is a counteraction of tradition，conducive parts of tradition should be valued and protected. Although powerful cultures exert impacts on weak cultures in modernization, positive and protective attitudes should be taken for weak cultures. With very strong cultural connotation, education in China should give weight to social connotations and characteristics, so that China's education modernization has not only Chinese characteristics but also different regional characteristics, so as to avoid accepting education modernization without any argument, the necessary reflection and a critical attitude.