法律类文章精选:POOR GRADE FOR VOUCHERS

时间:2006-09-13 02:58:19

(单词翻译:单击)

6 POOR GRADE FOR VOUCHERS2

  A judge flunks4 Cleveland's use of vouchers for parochial schools. But will that stall the movement?

  Walter Milancuk's public-school horror story began early, when his son Derrick spent kindergarten in an overcrowded roomful of students who regularly fought in class and cursed the teacher. Milancuk wanted to transfer Derrick, but his salary as a forklift driver couldn't cover private-school tuition. Yet Milancuk found a way out, thanks to Cleveland's pioneering school-voucher1 program, which granted him close to $1,500 in state funds to help enroll5 Derrick at St. Stanislaus, a nearby Catholic school. Now Derrick wears a crisp uniform. His reading has improved. And the weekly Mass and Bible study have moved Derrick to say his daily prayers without prompting. Says his dad, "The school is really building his faith."

  That may prove to be more of a curse than a blessing6. Last week a federal judge struck down Cleveland's voucher program, ruling that it violates the constitutional separation of church and state. Citing Jefferson and Madison, Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. wrote that because four-fifths of the private schools participating in the voucher program are religious, the program robs parents of "genuine choice" between sectarian and secular7 schools, thus "advancing religion through government-supported religious indoctrination." The decision is the fourth in recent months to bar the use of vouchers in parochial schools, and voucher opponents--mainly teachers' unions and liberal interest groups--see it as a major victory.

  Voucher backers--an unusual coalition8 of inner-city parents and conservative groups--retort that the judge misread both the Cleveland program and the First Amendment9. They point out that Cleveland parents who don't like parochial schools can send their kids to the city's regular public schools, or to public charter schools and magnet schools. Clint Bolick, a lawyer for the Institute for Justice, which defended the voucher program, says, "No one can compel a child into the program or into a religious school."

  Despite its recent setbacks, the voucher movement is gaining ground in state legislatures and some state courts. This fall Florida started the first statewide voucher program. And the Wisconsin Supreme10 Court upheld the use of vouchers in parochial schools in Milwaukee. In the presidential campaign, G.O.P. candidates John McCain and George W. Bush are trumpeting11 voucher proposals. While Vice12 President Al Gore13 launched an ad that calls vouchers a "big mistake," his Democratic opponent Bill Bradley supports them, at least as "experiments."

  Though the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear several school-choice cases, legal experts suspect the more clear-cut Cleveland case might prod14 it into action. In the meantime, Judge Oliver is allowing Derrick Milancuk and nearly 4,000 other students in the Cleveland voucher program to remain in their schools while his ruling is on appeal.

  ~~~~~~~~

  By Jodie Morse Time; 12/31/99, Vol. 154 Issue 27, p220, 2/3p, 1c

  注(1):本文选自By Jodie Morse Time; 12/31/99, Vol. 154 Issue 27, p220, 2/3p, 1c

  注(2):本文习题命题模仿对象2004年真题text 2

  1.What does the author intend to illustrate15 with Derrick’s change of performance in different schools?

  [A] the role voucher program plays in helping16 children get better education

  [B] the change a parochial school can bring to a child

  [C] the poor education quality of public schools

  [D] the importance of enrolling17 kids of poor performance in private schools

  2.What can we infer from the second paragraph?

  [A] Parents do not have a choice when they send their children to religious schools.

  [B]. The judge’s ruling is helpful in building better public schools.

  [C] Teaching religious stuff in schools is a violation18 of the Constitution.

  [D] Teachers of public schools do not welcome the idea of voucher program.

  3.What does “advance religion through government-supported religious indoctrination” (Line 5, Paragraph 2) mean?

  [A] promote religious ideas in public schools with government support

  [B] collect government resources to support religious activities

  [C] help religious schools use public fund to spread religious ideas

  [D] allow religion to interfere19 with government work

  4.The 4th paragraph suggests that _________________.

  [A] Judge Oliver’s ruling has caused political debate between the Republicans and the Democrats20.

  [B] George W. Bush is in favor of voucher program.

  [C] Voucher program does more good than harm.

  [D] Democrats have a low opinion of voucher program.

  5.Which of the following is true according to the text?

  [A] The author thinks that voucher program is more of a curse than a blessing.

  [B] The U.S Supreme Court will not support voucher program.

  [C] Parents will have no choice but send their children to religious schools if they join in the voucher program.

  [D] Voucher program is still a controversial issue in legal and political areas.

  答案:ADCBD

  篇章剖析

  本篇文章以具体事例为引子,采用对比分析的方法,就教育券计划在美国所产生的广泛影响进行分析。在第一段以一个具体事例说明教育券计划给米兰卡克的儿子德里克带来的变化,接着在第二段说明教育券计划引发的争论和司法诉讼,在第三段提出支持者的意见,第四段和第五段说明教育券计划正逐渐赢得司法的支持。

  词汇注释

  voucher [5vaJtFE(r)]n. 代金券;教育券

  flunk3 [flQNk]v. (使)失败

  parochial [pE5rEJkIEl] adj. 教区的

  stall [stC:l]v. (使)停转, (使)停止, 迟延

  forklift [5fC:klIft] n. <美>[机]铲车,叉式升降机

  Mass [mAs, mB:s] n. (天主教的)弥撒

  crisp [krIsp] adj. 崭新的;明显干净的或新的:

  sectarian [sek5teErIEn] adj. 宗派的;教派的

  secular [5sekjJlE(r)]adj. 非宗教的,世俗的

  indoctrination [In5dRktrIneIF(E)n] n. 教导, 教化

  Amendment [E5mendmEnt]n. 修正案

  charter school: 特许学校 ([美国]不受地方教育主管机构管理,具有不同于其他学校的课程设置和教育理念的公立学校)

  magnet school: 英才学校 (提供专业课程,具有较高学术水准的公立学校)

  prod [ prCd ] v. 督促;推动

  appeal [E5pi:l]n. 上诉

  难句突破

  1.Citing Jefferson and Madison, Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. wrote that because four-fifths of the private schools participating in the voucher program are religious, the program robs parents of "genuine choice" between sectarian and secular schools, thus "advancing religion through government-supported religious indoctrination."

  主体句式:Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. wrote that…

  结构分析:这个句子是个复杂句,citing是现在分词做方式状语,在wrote后面由that引导的宾语从句又是一个复杂结构,包含了because引导的原因状语从句,还有advancing这个现在分词引导的结果状语。理解这样的复杂长句时,应该先确定句子的主语和谓语,再确定其他句子成分。

  句子译文:所罗门·奥利弗法官引用杰斐逊和麦迪逊的话写道,因为参与教育券计划的学校中有五分之四是宗教学校,这一计划实际上剥夺了家长在世俗学校和宗教学校之间做出“真正选择”的机会,继而“通过政府支持的宗教教育扩大宗教影响”。

  题目分析

  1.答案是A,属推理判断题。 文中先说Derrick在公立学校的糟糕表现,再说在教区学校所取得的进步,作者用“Yet Milancuk found a way out, thanks to Cleveland's pioneering school-voucher program”来说明Derrick的前后变化归功于教育券计划的实施,并为下文讨论教育券计划做好了铺垫。

  2. 答案是D,属推理判断题。从第二段最后一行“voucher opponents--mainly teachers' unions and liberal interest groups--see it as a major victory”可以看出教师们对教育券计划持反对态度。

  3. 答案是C,属猜词题。文中第二段法官裁定克利夫兰教育券计划违背了宪法政教分离的原则,也就是说政府资金不应该用于资助教授宗教内容的宗教学校。由此可见如果允许在宗教学校中使用教育券,就会导致公共资金被用于宗教传播活动。

  4. 答案是B,属事实细节题。文中第四段第四行提到“George W. Bush are trumpeting voucher proposals.”trumpet意为“鼓吹,宣传”。

  5. 答案是D, 属推理判断题。从全文列举的材料来看,有裁定教育券计划违宪的例子(第二段),也有说明许多州立法机关和法院支持教育券计划的例子(第四段);有支持着的意见,也有反对者的意见,但并没有最终的定论。由此可见,教育券计划仍然备受争议。

  参考译文:

  为教育券打低分

  法官裁定克利夫兰将教育券用于教区学校的做法违法。但这一裁定会妨碍教育券运动吗?

  沃特·米兰卡克在公立学校的不快经历早在儿子德里克上幼儿园的时候就开始了。当时德里克所在的幼儿园人满为患,学生们上课经常打架,骂老师。米兰卡克想让德里克转学,但他做叉车司机的收入支付不了私立学校的学费。好在米兰卡克终于找到了一个办法,这还要归功于克利夫兰首创的学校教育券计划。这一计划拨给他将近1500美元的州基金帮他让德里克在附近的圣·斯坦尼斯洛斯天主教学校注册上学。现在德里克穿着崭新的校服。他的阅读能力已经有所提高。每周做弥撒和学习圣经也使德里克受到熏陶,现在他不用人催就会每天做祷告。他爸爸说:“这所学校真的在培养他的信念。”

  可是,这与其说是件好事,不如说是件坏事。上周一位联邦法官裁定该计划违背了宪法政教分离的原则,这给克利夫兰的教育券计划带来了沉重打击。所罗门·奥利弗法官引用杰斐逊和麦迪逊的话写道,因为参与教育券计划的学校中有五分之四是宗教学校,这一计划实际上剥夺了家长在世俗学校和宗教学校之间做出“真正选择”的机会,继而“通过政府支持的宗教教育扩大宗教影响”。这一裁决是最近几个月来第四起禁止在教区学校使用教育券的裁决,而反对教育券的人---主要是教师工会和自由主义利益团体---则把它视为一场重大胜利。

  支持教育券的人---由内城区的家长和保守团体形成的一支不同寻常的联合阵线---反驳认为这位法官既不理解克利夫兰计划,也没有领会“宪法第一修正案”的真正含义。他们指出,那些不喜欢交换学校的克利夫兰家长可以把他们的孩子送到城里的正规公立学校,或者特许公立学校和英才学校(magnet school)。司法学院的律师克林特·伯里克曾为教育券计划辩护,他说:“没有人能迫使一个孩子参与一个项目,或者进入一所宗教学校。”

  虽然最近遭遇了挫折,但教育券运动正在各州立法机构和一些州法院赢得支持。今年秋季,佛罗里达开始了第一项全州教育券计划。威斯康星最高法院也赞同密尔沃基教区学校使用教育券。在总统选举中,共和党候选人约翰·麦凯恩和乔治·W·布什都积极支持教育券计划。虽然副总统艾尔·戈尔在一则广告中宣称教育券是“一个严重错误”,其民主党内的对手比尔·布莱德里却对它们持支持态度,至少把它们当作“实验”。

  尽管美国最高法院拒绝审理几起选校案件,法律专家怀疑案情清楚的克利夫兰教育券案也许会促使高院行动起来。与此同时,奥利弗法官同意在他的裁决被上诉期间让德里克·米兰卡克和近4000名参与克利夫兰教育券计划的其他学生继续留在他们所在的学校里。

 


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1 voucher ELTzZ     
n.收据;传票;凭单,凭证
参考例句:
  • The government should run a voucher system.政府应该施行凭证制度。
  • Whenever cash is paid out,a voucher or receipt should be obtained.无论何时只要支付现金,就必须要有一张凭据或者收据。
2 vouchers 4f649eeb2fd7ec1ef73ed951059af072     
n.凭证( voucher的名词复数 );证人;证件;收据
参考例句:
  • These vouchers are redeemable against any future purchase. 这些优惠券将来购物均可使用。
  • This time we were given free vouchers to spend the night in a nearby hotel. 这一次我们得到了在附近一家旅馆入住的免费券。 来自英语晨读30分(高二)
3 flunk uzFy3     
v.(考试)不及格(=fail)
参考例句:
  • I will flunk him if my student doesn't learn the material in the course.如果我的学生没有掌握课程的内容,我就会让他不及格。
  • If you flunk finals,you don't get the chance to do them again.如果你没通过期末考试,就没有机会再考一次了。
4 flunks 84756bd402f43d80f61f5fa9a0296cd2     
v.( flunk的第三人称单数 );(使)(考试、某学科的成绩等)不及格;评定(某人)不及格;(因不及格而) 退学
参考例句:
  • He got two flunks on his report. 他的报告上有两门不及格。 来自互联网
5 enroll Pogxx     
v.招收;登记;入学;参军;成为会员(英)enrol
参考例句:
  • I should like to enroll all my children in the swimming class.我愿意让我的孩子们都参加游泳班。
  • They enroll him as a member of the club.他们吸收他为俱乐部会员。
6 blessing UxDztJ     
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿
参考例句:
  • The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
  • A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
7 secular GZmxM     
n.牧师,凡人;adj.世俗的,现世的,不朽的
参考例句:
  • We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
  • Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。
8 coalition pWlyi     
n.结合体,同盟,结合,联合
参考例句:
  • The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
  • Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。
9 amendment Mx8zY     
n.改正,修正,改善,修正案
参考例句:
  • The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
  • The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。
10 supreme PHqzc     
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的
参考例句:
  • It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
  • He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
11 trumpeting 68cf4dbd1f99442d072d18975013a14d     
大声说出或宣告(trumpet的现在分词形式)
参考例句:
  • She is always trumpeting her son. 她总是吹嘘她儿子。
  • The wind is trumpeting, a bugle calling to charge! 风在掌号。冲锋号! 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
12 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。
13 gore gevzd     
n.凝血,血污;v.(动物)用角撞伤,用牙刺破;缝以补裆;顶
参考例句:
  • The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
  • Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。
14 prod TSdzA     
vt.戳,刺;刺激,激励
参考例句:
  • The crisis will prod them to act.那个危机将刺激他们行动。
  • I shall have to prod him to pay me what he owes.我将不得不催促他把欠我的钱还给我。
15 illustrate IaRxw     
v.举例说明,阐明;图解,加插图
参考例句:
  • The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
  • This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。
16 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。
17 enrolling be8b886d0a6622fbb0e477f03e170149     
v.招收( enrol的现在分词 );吸收;入学;加入;[亦作enrol]( enroll的现在分词 );登记,招收,使入伍(或入会、入学等),参加,成为成员;记入名册;卷起,包起
参考例句:
  • They lashed out at the university enrolling system. 他们猛烈抨击大学的招生制度。 来自辞典例句
  • You're enrolling in a country club, Billy. 你是注册加入乡村俱乐部了,比利。 来自辞典例句
18 violation lLBzJ     
n.违反(行为),违背(行为),侵犯
参考例句:
  • He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说,那是违反规则的。
  • He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。
19 interfere b5lx0     
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰
参考例句:
  • If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话,可能弊多利少。
  • When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件,棘手的事情就来了。
20 democrats 655beefefdcaf76097d489a3ff245f76     
n.民主主义者,民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
  • The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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