A Role for All of Us in Education
文章来源:未知 文章作者:meng 发布时间:2010-01-09 00:50 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you, everybody.  Please have a seat.  Thank you.

Well, it is wonderful to be here.  Barbara, thank you for the outstanding introduction.  I want to acknowledge a few other special guests that we have here.  First of all, my terrific Vice2 President, mainly because he takes orders from Dr. Jill Biden.  (Laughter.)  Dr. Jill Biden and Vice President Joe Biden are here.  (Applause.)  Somebody -- I've never met somebody who's more passionate3 about making sure that young people do well than my Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan.  Arne Duncan.  (Applause.)  My -- before I won a Nobel Peace Prize, this guy had won it, and nobody questioned whether he deserved it or not -- (laughter) -- my Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.  (Applause.)

Three wonderful members of Congress who have devoted4 a lot of energy to the issue of science and math education; I want to acknowledge them -- Representative Bart Gordon, who is the Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee, Democrat5 from Tennessee.  Where's Bart?  There he is.  Thank you, Bart.  (Applause.)  Representative William Lacy Clay, from the great state of Missouri -- and his district is home to two teachers who are being honored here today, so he's very proud of them.  (Applause.)  And a great champion of education generally, he's the Chairman of the Education and Labor6 Committee, Representative George Miller7 of California is in the house.  (Applause.)

We also -- since so many people were inspired in this country originally from our space program to think about math and science in new ways, it's terrific to have our NASA administrator8 and former astronaut Charles Bolden in the house.  We've got Regina Dugan, who is the director of the Defense9 Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, as many of you know.  We can thank them for the Internet and all kinds of other stuff.  So please give Regina a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  And our National Science Foundation director, Arden Bement is here.  Thank you so much, Arden.  (Applause.)

Now, most importantly, to all the teachers who are here, as President, I am just thrilled非常兴奋的 to welcome you, teachers and mentors导师,教练, to the White House, because I believe so strongly in the work that you do.  And as I mentioned to some of you, because I've got two girls upstairs with math tests coming up, I figure that a little extra help from the best of the best couldn't hurt.  So you're going to have assignments after this.  (Laughter.)  These awards were not free.  (Laughter.)

We are here today to honor teachers and mentors11 like Barb1 who are upholding their responsibility not just to the young people who they teach but to our country by inspiring and educating a new generation in math and science.  But we're also here because this responsibility can't be theirs alone.  All of us have a role to play in building an education system that is worthy12 of our children and ready to help us seize the opportunities and meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Whether it's improving our health or harnessing clean energy, protecting our security or succeeding in the global economy, our future depends on reaffirming America's role as the world's engine of scientific discovery and technological13 innovation.  And that leadership tomorrow depends on how we educate our students today, especially in math, science, technology, and engineering.

But despite the importance of education in these subjects, we have to admit we are right now being outpaced by our competitors.  One assessment评定,估价 shows American 15-year-olds now ranked 21st in science and 25th in math when compared to their peers around the world.  Think about that -- 21st and 25th.  That's not acceptable.  And year after year the gap between the number of teachers we have and the number of teachers we need in these areas is widening.  The shortfall is projected to climb past a quarter of a million teachers in the next five years -- and that gap is most pronounced in predominately poor and minority schools.  

And meanwhile, other nations are stepping up -- a fact that was plain to see when I visited Asia at the end of last year.  The President of South Korea and I were having lunch, and I asked him, what's the biggest education challenge that you have?  He told me his biggest challenge in education wasn't budget holes, it wasn't crumbling15 schools -- it was that the parents were too demanding.  (Laughter.)  He's had to import thousands of foreign teachers because parents insisted on English language training in elementary school.  The mayor of Shanghai, China -- a city of over 20 million people -- told me that even in such a large city, they had no problem recruiting招聘,招募#p#分页标题#e# teachers in whatever subject, but particularly math and science, because teaching is revered16尊敬,崇敬 and the pay scales are comparable to professions like doctors. 

So make no mistake:  Our future is on the line处于危险中,模棱两可.  The nation that out-educates us today is going to out-compete us tomorrow.  To continue to cede17割让,放弃 our leadership in education is to cede our position in the world.  That's not acceptable to me and I know it's not acceptable to any of you.  And that's why my administration has set a clear goal:  to move from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math education over the next decade.

To reach this goal, we've paid particular attention to how we can better prepare and support, reward and retain, good teachers.  So the Recovery Act included the largest investment in education by the federal government in history while preventing more than 300,000 teachers and school workers from being fired because of state budget shortfalls.  The Department of Education will be announcing an additional $10* million in grants for innovative18 programs to train new teachers, whether a young person embarking19 on his or her first career, or a scientist or engineer starting his or her second.

And under the outstanding leadership of Arne Duncan, we've launched a $4 billion Race to the Top fund, one of the largest investments in education reform in history.  Through the Race to the Top, states are competing for funding -- and producing the most innovative programs in science and math will be an advantage in this competition, as will allowing scientists and statisticians and engineers to more easily become teachers.  We want states and school districts to start being more creative about how they can attract more science and math teachers.

We're also pursuing reforms to better serve America's math and science teachers so that each and every one can be as effective as the educators that we honor today.  So we're challenging states to raise standards, to use data to better inform decisions, to recruit and retain more good teachers, and to promote stronger curricula课程 that encourage young people to not only learn the facts in a textbook, but to explore and discover the world around them.

Now, as important as this will be, the success we seek is not going to be attained20 by government alone.  And that's why I've challenged the scientific community to think of new and creative ways to engage young people in their fields.  That's why we launched the "Educate to Innovate21" campaign -- a nationwide effort by citizens, non-for-profits, universities, and companies from across America to help us move to the top of the pack in math and science education.

And today, we're expanding this campaign.  Several new public-private partnerships22 are going to offer additional training to more than 100,000 teachers and prepare more than 10,000 new teachers in the next five years alone.  And through the partnerships we are announcing today, support for the "Educate to Innovate" campaign has doubled to more than half a billion dollars in private funding -- that's a figure that we only expect to grow.

To help educators already in the classroom, Intel is launching a 10-year, $200 million campaign to train math and science teachers in all 50 states to better use new technologies and techniques in their lessons plans.  PBS and the National Science Teachers Association will also create a new online platform so science and math teachers can share best practices and learn from one another.

To bring more educators into the classroom, the National Math and Science Initiative is working with Texas Instruments and the Dell Foundation to prepare almost 5,000 new math and science teachers in the next five years -- through a program that allows young people to earn teaching certificates and science degrees at the same time.  And presidents from more than 75 of the largest public universities in the country have committed to produce thousands of additional science and math teachers at their institutions.  And the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation is expanding with the help of several states and non-profits to place more math and science teachers in more high-need schools.

And just because you aren't a teacher that doesn't mean you can't help educate our young people.  We need to look no further than the mentors that we honor here today.  I'm calling on all 200,000 scientists who work for the federal government to do their part in their communities:  to speak at schools, to create hands-on learning opportunities through efforts like National Lab Day, and to help stoke that same curiosity in students which perhaps led them to pursue a career in science in the first place.  NASA will also be launching an enrichment program to bring their scientists and engineers to students in the classroom and to bring students to NASA, so that they might experience that same sense of wonder and excitement while maybe learning a little bit at the same time. #p#分页标题#e#

And, finally, as President, I'm going to try to do my part.  We've held science-themed events like Astronomy Night here at the White House.  That was very fun, by the way.  (Laughter.)  We're planning an annual science fair to honor the student winners of national science and technology competitions.  Secretary Duncan and I will be working to promote the teaching profession to show young people that teaching is one of the best and most rewarding ways to serve our country.  And we are of course recognizing the folks in this room with awards for excellence23 in teaching and mentoring24.

It's with these men and women that I'd like to conclude today.  Because in the end, the work that you do -- and the difference you make -- are what all these reforms are all about.  Whether it's showing students how to record the habits of a resident reptile25, or teaching kids to test soil samples on a class trip to Costa Rica; whether it's helping26 young people from tough neighborhoods in Chicago to become "Junior Paleontologists," or creating a mentoring program that connects engineering students with girls and minorities, who are traditionally underserved in the field -- all of you are demonstrating why teaching and mentoring is so important, and why we have to support you, equip you, and send in some reinforcements for you.

Every person in this room remembers a teacher or mentor10 that made a difference in their lives.  Every person in this room remembers a moment in which an educator showed them something about the world -- or something about themselves -- that changed their lives.  It could be a word of encouragement, a helping hand, a lesson that sparked a question, that ignited a passion, and ultimately may have propelled a career.  And innovators -- folks like Michael Dell who are here today -- are made in those moments.  Scientists and engineers are made in those moments; doctors are made in those moments; teachers are made in those moments -- those small interactions.

So, yes, improving our schools is about training a new generation of workers and succeeding in new industries.  But a good education -- provided with the help of great teachers and mentors -- is about something more.  It's about instilling27 in a young person a love of learning and a sense of possibility in their own lives, an understanding of the world around them that will serve them no matter what they do.  That's what we have to do as a nation.  That's what all of you do every day.  And that's what, at root, will lead to greater opportunities and brighter horizons for the next generation and for generations to come.

So thank you very much everybody.  Congratulations.  (Applause.)

END
2:01 P.M. EST



点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 barb kuXzG     
n.(鱼钩等的)倒钩,倒刺
参考例句:
  • The barb of his wit made us wince.他那锋芒毕露的机智使我们退避三舍。
  • A fish hook has a barb to prevent the fish from escaping after being hooked.鱼钩上都有一个倒钩以防上了钩的鱼逃走。
2 vice NU0zQ     
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的
参考例句:
  • He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
  • They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。
3 passionate rLDxd     
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的
参考例句:
  • He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
  • He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。
4 devoted xu9zka     
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的
参考例句:
  • He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
  • We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
5 democrat Xmkzf     
n.民主主义者,民主人士;民主党党员
参考例句:
  • The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
  • About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后,他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。
6 labor P9Tzs     
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦
参考例句:
  • We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
  • He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后,他已经疲惫不堪了。
7 miller ZD6xf     
n.磨坊主
参考例句:
  • Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
  • The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。
8 administrator SJeyZ     
n.经营管理者,行政官员
参考例句:
  • The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
  • He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。
9 defense AxbxB     
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩
参考例句:
  • The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
  • The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。
10 mentor s78z0     
n.指导者,良师益友;v.指导
参考例句:
  • He fed on the great ideas of his mentor.他以他导师的伟大思想为支撑。
  • He had mentored scores of younger doctors.他指导过许多更年轻的医生。
11 mentors 5f11aa0dab3d5db90b5a4f26c992ec2a     
n.(无经验之人的)有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的名词复数 )v.(无经验之人的)有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Beacham and McNamara, my two mentors, had both warned me. 我的两位忠实朋友,比彻姆和麦克纳马拉都曾经警告过我。 来自辞典例句
  • These are the kinds of contacts that could evolve into mentors. 这些人是可能会成为你导师。 来自互联网
12 worthy vftwB     
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的
参考例句:
  • I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
  • There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
13 technological gqiwY     
adj.技术的;工艺的
参考例句:
  • A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
  • Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今, 随着科技进步,生活节奏不断增快。
14 assessment vO7yu     
n.评价;评估;对财产的估价,被估定的金额
参考例句:
  • This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
  • What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何?
15 crumbling Pyaxy     
adj.摇摇欲坠的
参考例句:
  • an old house with crumbling plaster and a leaking roof 一所灰泥剥落、屋顶漏水的老房子
  • The boat was tied up alongside a crumbling limestone jetty. 这条船停泊在一个摇摇欲坠的石灰岩码头边。
16 revered 1d4a411490949024694bf40d95a0d35f     
v.崇敬,尊崇,敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • A number of institutions revered and respected in earlier times have become Aunt Sally for the present generation. 一些早年受到尊崇的惯例,现在已经成了这代人嘲弄的对象了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. 中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。 来自辞典例句
17 cede iUVys     
v.割让,放弃
参考例句:
  • The debater refused to cede the point to her opponent.辩论者拒绝向她的对手放弃其主张。
  • Not because I'm proud.In fact,in front of you I cede all my pride.这不是因为骄傲,事实上我在你面前毫无骄傲可言。
18 innovative D6Vxq     
adj.革新的,新颖的,富有革新精神的
参考例句:
  • Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
  • He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。
19 embarking 7f8892f8b0a1076133045fdfbf3b8512     
乘船( embark的现在分词 ); 装载; 从事
参考例句:
  • He's embarking on a new career as a writer. 他即将开始新的职业生涯——当一名作家。
  • The campaign on which were embarking was backed up by such intricate and detailed maintenance arrangemets. 我们实施的战争,须要如此复杂及详细的维护准备。
20 attained 1f2c1bee274e81555decf78fe9b16b2f     
(通常经过努力)实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 ); 达到; 获得; 达到(某年龄、水平、状况)
参考例句:
  • She has attained the degree of Master of Arts. 她已获得文学硕士学位。
  • Lu Hsun attained a high position in the republic of letters. 鲁迅在文坛上获得崇高的地位。
21 innovate p62xr     
v.革新,变革,创始
参考例句:
  • We must innovate in order to make progress.我们必须改革以便取得进步。
  • It is necessary to innovate and develop military theories.创新和发展军事理论是必要的。
22 partnerships ce2e6aff420d72bbf56e8077be344bc9     
n.伙伴关系( partnership的名词复数 );合伙人身份;合作关系
参考例句:
  • Partnerships suffer another major disadvantage: decision-making is shared. 合伙企业的另一主要缺点是决定要由大家来作。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
  • It involved selling off limited partnerships. 它涉及到售出有限的合伙权。 来自辞典例句
23 excellence ZnhxM     
n.优秀,杰出,(pl.)优点,美德
参考例句:
  • His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
  • My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。
24 mentoring 927b67a2488cee0c1ff61a0b43695f30     
n.mentoring是一种工作关系。mentor通常是处在比mentee更高工作职位上的有影响力的人。他/她有比‘mentee’更丰富的工作经验和知识,并用心支持mentee的职业(发展)。v.(无经验之人的)有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • One of the most effective instruments for coaching and mentoring is the "role rehearsal" . 辅导和教学的最有效的手段之一是“角色排练。” 来自辞典例句
  • Bell Canada called their mentoring system a buddy-buddy system. 加拿大贝尔公司称他们的训导系统是伙伴—伙伴系统。 来自互联网
25 reptile xBiz7     
n.爬行动物;两栖动物
参考例句:
  • The frog is not a true reptile.青蛙并非真正的爬行动物。
  • So you should not be surprised to see someone keep a reptile as a pet.所以,你不必惊奇有人养了一只爬行动物作为宠物。
26 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
27 instilling 69e4adc6776941293f2cc5a38f66fa70     
v.逐渐使某人获得(某种可取的品质),逐步灌输( instil的现在分词 );逐渐使某人获得(某种可取的品质),逐步灌输( instill的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Make sure your subordinates understand your sense of urgency and work toward instilling this in allsubordinates. 确保你的下属同样具备判断紧急事件的意识,在工作中潜移默化地灌输给他们。 来自互联网
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