After the founding of the Republic in 1912, overseas students increased and the social climate at home was more open. Returned students moved up quickly in the government and in academic circles.
民國以後，留學生比較多了，社會風氣也較開通，胡光麃那一輩的留學生並沒有碰到早期留美幼童那樣的文化衝突，他們回國後，迅速投入政教界。