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Some (Adults) Call for Shorter Summer Break for US Kids (2/2) ( 本次听写约200词 )

【我的听写】

National leaders took a fresh look at schools after the Civil War in the 1860s. They saw a free public education as a way to help support a stronger democracy and prepare workers for new industries. Immigration was increasing and so was the student population. More and more people saw the need for system of required education. But they had different ideas for the calendar. Many city schools wanted a shorter year and a longer summer break. The schools were often crowded. There was no modern air conditioning and air pollution from factories was a problem. Hot days would make it difficult to learn. A long summer break would also give teachers time for other jobs to add to their low pay. Many rural educators, however, pushed for a longer school year. They thought it would keep children safe from industrial dangers at a time when there were few child labor laws. They also thought it would lead to a better prepared workforce. So the traditional school calendar was a compromise with roots that now go back about a century and a half. The average school year used to be 170 days. Times have not changed much. Today the common average is 180 days.

【我的总结与翻译】

总结：compromise,

National leaders took a fresh look at schools after the Civil War, in the 1860s. They saw a free public education as a way to help support a stronger democracy and prepare workers for new industries. Immigration was increasing and so was the student population. More and more people saw the need for a system of required education. But they had different ideas for the calendar.

国家领导人在19世纪60年代南北战争之后对学校有了新的看法，他们把免费公共教育看作是有助于加强民主和让工人们为新兴产业多作准备的一种途径。外来的移民不断地增加，学生人数也在不断增加。越来越多的人们发现了有必要建立一个人人都要受教育的制度。但他们对教学年历有着不同的看法。

Many city schools wanted a shorter year and a longer summer break. The schools were often crowded. There was no modern air conditioning and air pollution from factories was a problem. Hot days would make it difficult to learn. A long summer break would also give teachers time for other jobs to add to their low pay.

许多城区学校希望教学时间短些，暑期休息长些。学校通常非常拥挤，缺乏新式空调，还有来自工厂的空气污染。酷暑总使得学习变得有些艰难，长时间的暑期休息可以为老师提供更多的工作时间，可以使他们的低收入得以改善。

Many rural educators, however, pushed for a longer school year. They thought it would keep children safe from industrial dangers at a time when there were few child-labor laws. They also thought it would lead to a better prepared workforce.

然而，很多农村地区的教育工作者则为延长学习时间而积极争取着，他们认为在童工法不完善时期，延长学习时间可以使孩子远离工业的危险，还会带来更好的经过训练的劳动者。

So the traditional school calendar was a compromise with roots that now go back about a century and a half. The average school year used to be 170 days. Times have not changed much. Today the common average is 180 days.

因此，传统学校的教学年历和1个半世纪前教学年历的来源相比采用了一个折衷的办法，以前一学年通常平均为170天，现在教学时间并没有太多的改变，平均为180天。

posted on 2007-08-28 08:32 echo 阅读(69) 评论(0)  编辑  收藏 网摘收藏