現(xiàn)在的美國學校

每年秋天，數(shù)以百萬計的美國年輕人都會走進大約10萬所中小學的大門，迎接新學年的開始。

Going to School in America Today

Each fall millions of young Americans walk through the doorways of about 100 000 elementary and secondary schools for the start of a new school year. 他們包括了從幼兒園到12年級的學生，平均每天上課5個小時，每周5天，直到第二年夏初。 ?Filling classrooms from kindergarten to the 12th grade, they attend classes for an average of five hours a day, five days a week, until the beginning of the following summer.這些學生是教育史上最偉大的事業(yè)之一的一部分:教育全國人口。 ?These students are part of one of the most ambitious undertakings in the history of education: the American effort to educate an entire national population. 我們的目標是——從共和國成立的最初幾十年開始——實現(xiàn)全民識字，并為個人提供必要的知識和技能，以促進他們個人和公眾的福祉?！??The goal is — and has been since the early decades of the republic— to achieve universal literacy and to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote both their own individual welfare as well as that of the general public.' 雖然這一目標尚未完全實現(xiàn)，但它仍然是美國教育制度所追求的理想。 ?Though this goal has not yet been fully achieved, it remains an ideal toward which the American educational system is directed. 已經(jīng)取得的進步是值得注意的，比如教育的覆蓋范圍和在實現(xiàn)教育的過程中出現(xiàn)的教育方法。 ?The progress which has been made is notable both for its scope and for the educational methods which have been developed in the process of achieving it.?大約90%的美國學生就讀于公立學校(由美國納稅人資助的學校)。 ?About 90% of American students attend public schools (schools supported by American taxpayers). 略多于10%的孩子上私立學校，他們的家庭選擇為私立學校支付昂貴的學費。 ?And slightly over 10% attend private schools, for which their families choose to pay special attendance fees. 美國的許多私立學校是由教會、猶太教或其他宗教團體經(jīng)營的。 ?Many private schools in the United States are run by churches, synagogues or other religious groups. 在這些學校中，宗教教義是課程的一部分，其中還包括閱讀、數(shù)學、歷史、地理和科學等傳統(tǒng)學術(shù)課程。 ?In such schools, religious teachings are a part of the curriculum, which also includes the traditional academic courses of reading, mathematics, history, geography and science.公立和私立教育系統(tǒng)的年度總支出多達數(shù)百萬美元。 ?The combined annual expenses of both education systems, public and private, exceed millions of dollars. 從這個角度來看，美國教育產(chǎn)業(yè)擁有強大的消費能力。 ?From that point of view, American education is a powerful consumer. 每年，由誰來決定這無數(shù)錢中有多少應該用于支付教師工資、購買新電腦或購買額外書籍? ?Who decides how many of these thousands of millions of dollars should be used annually for teachers' salaries, new computers or extra books? 符合國家標準的私立學校按照他們認為最好的方式使用他們收取的學費。 ?Private schools that meet state standards use the fees they collect as they think best. 但在涉及公共稅收的地方，支出由州和/或地區(qū)一級的教育委員會(學校的政策制定者)指導。 ?But where public taxes are involved, spending is guided by boards of education (policy makers ford schools) at the state and/or district level. 同樣的道理也適用于學校課程、教師標準和認證，以及學生成績的衡量標準。 ?The same thing is true for decisions about the school curriculum, teacher standards and certification, and the overall measurement of student progress.

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教育是地方事務，從夏威夷到特拉華州，從阿拉斯加到路易斯安那州，美國50個州都有自己的教育法規(guī)。 Education—A Local MatterFrom Hawaii to Delaware, from Alaska to Louisiana, each of the 50 states in the United States has its own laws regulating education. 各州的一些法律是相似的; ?From state to state, some laws are similar; 另一些則不然。 ?others are not. 所有的州都要求年輕人上學。 ?For example:All states require young people to attend school. (年齡限制各不相同:32個州要求上到16歲; ?(The age limits vary: 32 states?require attendance to age 16; ?8個州要求上到18歲; ?eight states to 18; 因此，美國的每個孩子都有13年的義務教育保障。 ?etc.) Thus, every child in Americais guaranteed up to 13 years of education. 無論孩子的種族、宗教、性別、學習問題、身體殘疾或不會說英語，都不是問題。 ?This is true regardless of a child's race,religion, sex, learning problerms, physical handicap or inability to speak English.一些州在為學生選擇學習材料方面發(fā)揮著重要作用。 ?Some states play a strong role in the selection of learning material for theirstudents. 例如，州委員會可以決定哪家出版社的教科書可以用州政府出資購買。 ?For example, state committees may decide which publisher's textbooks canbe purchased with state funds. 在其他情況下，購買教學材料的決定完全由當?shù)貙W校官員決定。 ?In other cases, decisions about buying instructionalmaterial are left entirely to local school officials.美國人有一種強烈的傾向，那就是教育他們的孩子了解諸如環(huán)境污染、核問題、毒品和鄰里犯罪等重大公共問題。 ?Americans have a strong tendency to educate their children about major publicconcerns — problems such as environmental pollution, nuclear issues, drugs andneighborhood crime. 迫于公眾壓力，不同地區(qū)的教育委員會經(jīng)常在中小學課程中增加各種相關(guān)問題的課程。 ?Responding to public pressure, boards of education in differentareas often add courses on various relevant issues to the elementary and secondaryschool curricula.

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美國學生學什么

美國學生在獲得高中文憑的過程中要經(jīng)過幾個階段的教育，因此也要學習幾個課程。 ?

What an American Student Learns

American students pass through several levels of schooling-and thus, several curricula— on their way to a high school diploma. 他們就讀:小學。 ?They attend:Elementary School. 在聯(lián)邦政府公布的統(tǒng)計報告中，“小學”通常是指從幼兒園(K)到8年級。 ?In statistical reports published by the federal government, "elementary school" usually means grades kindergarten (K) through 8. 但在一些地方，小學只包括K-6年級。 ?But in someplaces, the elementary school includes only grades K-6. 有時四年級、五年級和六年級組成所謂的“初中”學校。 ?And sometimes grades 4, 5 and 6 make up what is called a "middle grade" school.?高中。 ?Secondary School. 同樣，在統(tǒng)計報告中，“高中”通常是指提供最后四年正規(guī)教育(9-12年級)的學校。 ?Again, in statistical reports, "secondary school" generally refers to schools that offer the last four years of formal education (grades 9-12). 這些年級大部分是在高中，或者可以分為最后一年的“初中”和三年的(高級)高中。 ?These grades are most of the times at high school, or may be divided into a final year of "junior high school" and three years in (senior) high school.雖然美國沒有全國性的課程，但某些科目在全國所有的K到12系統(tǒng)中都有教授。 ?Although there is no national curriculum in the United States, certain subjects are taught in all K to 12 systems across the country.

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幾乎每所小學都開設以下課程:數(shù)學; Almost every elementary school provides instruction in these subjects: mathematics; 語言藝術(shù)(包括閱讀、語法、寫作和文學); ?language arts (subject that includes reading, grammar, composition and literature); 書法; ?penmanship; 科學; ?science; 社會研究(包括歷史、地理、公民和經(jīng)濟); ?social studies (including history, geography, citizenship and economics); 音樂; ?music; 藝術(shù); ?art; 還有體育。 ?and physical education. 在許多小學里，開設了使用計算機的課程。 ?In many elementary schools, courses in the use of computers have been introduced. 在某些情況下，在小學高年級提供第二語言課程(英語以外的另一種語言)。 ?And in some cases, a second language (other than English) is offered in the upper elementary grades.大多數(shù)中學提供相同的“核心”必修課:英語、數(shù)學、科學、社會研究和體育。 ?Most secondary schools offer the same "core" of required subjects: English, mathematics, science, social studies and physical education. 但是，各個學區(qū)的教育局希望高中生在這些基礎(chǔ)課程上花多少時間，這方面存在很大差異。 ?But school boards differ greatly from one district to another in the amount of class time they want high school students to spend on these basic subjects. 例如，在一些高中，學生必須在畢業(yè)前完成三年的數(shù)學課程。 ?In some high schools, for example, students must complete three years of mathematics before graduation. 全國平均水平比這低。 ?The national average is lower.學生們在學校輔導老師的指導下選擇選修課，選修課的范圍可以從專業(yè)的學術(shù)科目到職業(yè)科目。 ?Students are guided by school counselors in choosing electives, which can range from specialized academic to vocational subjects.例如，高中提供超過一年——在大多數(shù)情況下，多達幾年——的數(shù)學、科學和其他核心科目。 ?For example, high schools offer more than one year— in most cases, several years— of math, science and the other core subjects. 在完成這些核心領(lǐng)域的必修單元(例如一年的美國歷史)后，學生可以選修額外的單元(可能是一年的歐洲歷史和一年的世界政治問題)。 ?After they complete the required units in these core areas (for example, one year of American history), students can take additional units as electives (perhaps a year of European history and a year of world political issues).其他選修課程因?qū)W校而異。 ?Other elective courses vary from school to school. 一些高中專注于特定類型的科目，例如商業(yè)教育、工業(yè)貿(mào)易或外語。 ?Some high schools specialize in particular types of subjects — business education, or industrial trades, or foreign languages, for example. 一個想成為醫(yī)生的學生會希望就讀一所提供許多科學類選修課的學校。 ?A student planning to be a physician would want to attend a school offering many electives in science.美國人認為他們國家的起源可以追溯到17世紀初來到北美東海岸的英國殖民者。 ?Education in a New NationAmericans trace the origins of their nation to the English colonialists (settlers) who came to the eastern coast of North America in the early 17th century. 這些第一批殖民者中最大的群體是清教徒，他們在1630年建立了馬薩諸塞灣殖民地。 ?The largest group of these first colonists, the Puritans, founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. 像其他跟隨他們來到美國的人一樣，清教徒尋求信仰宗教的自由，這是他們在自己的祖國享受不到的自由。 ?Like others who followed them to America, the Puritans sought the freedom to practice their religion— a freedom they could not enjoy in their native country. 他們在麻薩諸塞州森林邊緣建造的小鎮(zhèn)和村莊中找到了這種自由。 ?They found this freedom in the small towns and villages they built on the edge of the forest in Massachusetts.

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清教徒相信的一件事是，每個人都應該能夠閱讀圣經(jīng)。 One of the things the Puritans believed was that every person should be able to read the Bible. 在17世紀，百分之百的識字率似乎是一個夢想。 ?One hundred percent literacy seemed like a dream in the 17th century. 在他們到達后的短短幾年內(nèi)，他們采取措施在殖民地建立了一套教育體系:1634年，他們開設了一所“拉丁語法”學校，這是一所為那些想要上大學的人做準備的學校。 ?Within just a few years after their arrival, they took steps to set up a system of education in their colony:In 1634, they opened a "Latin grammar" school, a school for those who wanted to prepare for college.1636年，哈佛學院成立，目的是培養(yǎng)宗教牧師。 ?In 1636, Harvard College was founded for the training of religious ministers.1634年和1638年，清教徒通過法律，宣布為公共利益可以對所有財產(chǎn)征稅，公共利益包括支持學校。 ?In 1634 and 1638, the Puritans passed laws declaring that all property could be taxed for the common good, which included the support of schools.1642年和1647年，馬薩諸塞灣殖民地通過了法律，要求所有的父母為他們的孩子提供閱讀教育。 ?In 1642 and 1647, the Bay Colony passed laws requiring all parents to provide reading education for their children.因此，在不到20年的時間里，清教徒引入了兩種至今仍影響著美國青年的做法:對所有兒童實行義務教育和為學校征收公共稅。 ?Thus, in less than 20 years, the Puritans introduced two practices that still influence American youth: compulsory education for all children and public taxation for schools. 北美其他英屬殖民地的情況則不同。 ?The situation was different in other British colonies in North America. 例如，在賓夕法尼亞州，那里有幾個不同的宗教團體，關(guān)于教育的決定取決于每個教會的領(lǐng)導人。 ?In Pennsylvania, for example, where there were several different religious groups, decisions about education were left to the leaders of each church. 在弗吉尼亞等南方殖民地，那些負擔得起家庭教師的人會為他們的兒子(有時也會為他們的女兒)聘請家庭教師。 ?In southern colonies such as Virginia, those who could afford tutors hired them for their sons (and sometimes for their daughters). 富裕地主的長子被送到英國接受教育。 ?The older sons of wealthy landowners were sent to England for their education. 偶爾，一個地主可能會允許一個有文化的成年人教貧窮白人的孩子閱讀，也許還會教一些黑人。 ?Occasionally, a landowner might allow a literate adult to teach reading to the children of poor whites and, perhaps, a few blacks. 但最主要的是，習俗禁止教奴隸的孩子讀書。 ?But mostly, custom forbade the teaching of children of slaves to read.在整個殖民地，年輕男女都可以通過在一家小公司當學徒來接受閱讀教育。 ?Throughout the colonies, young men and women could receive an education in reading by becoming an apprentice in a small business. 在英國，讓年輕的男孩和女孩與他們?yōu)橹ぷ鞯娜?面包師、印刷工等)的家庭生活在一起是一種慣例（學徒制）。 ?It had been the practice in England to have young boys and girls live with the families of those for whom they worked (bakers, printers, etc.). 作為對年輕人工作的回報，企業(yè)主承諾教他或她閱讀，以及如何做一項手藝(例如烘焙或印刷)。 ?In return for a youth's work, the business owner promised to teach him or her to read, as well as how to do a craft (bake or print, for example). 這種做法被帶到北美。 ?This practice was brought to North America.1776年7月4日，13個殖民地發(fā)表了《獨立宣言》，并為擺脫英國的統(tǒng)治而戰(zhàn)。 ?On July 4, 1776, the 13 colonies issued a Declaration of Independence, and went to war for their freedom from England. 他們在1781年贏得了獨立戰(zhàn)爭，并在1783年談判達成了一個有利的條約。 ?They won the war for independence in 1781, and negotiated a favorable treaty in 1783. 但是直到1789年，他們才組建了一個統(tǒng)一的國家政府。 ?But it was not until 1789 that they shaped a unified national government. 憲法中所描述的新政府的形式和權(quán)力是經(jīng)過多次辯論和妥協(xié)后確定的。 ?The shape and power of this new government, described in the Constitution, were determined after many debates and compromises. 新的美國將成為一個聯(lián)邦共和國——一個擁有強大中央政府的州的聯(lián)盟 ?The new United States was to be a federal republic- a union of states with a strong central

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中央政府代表全體人民。 government representing all the people.各州并沒有輕易把自己的政治權(quán)力交給這個新的中央政府。 ?The states did not easily give up their own political powers to this new central government. 事實上，第十條修正案被添加到憲法中是為了保證“憲法沒有授予美國的權(quán)力…… ?In fact, the 10th Amendment was added to the Constitution to guarantee that "powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution...將保留給各州[政府]……”。 ?would be reserved to the [governments of the] States...". 這些保留的權(quán)力之一是每個州為其人民提供教育的權(quán)利。 ?One of these reserved powers was the right of each state to provide for the education of its people.實際上，在18世紀末，整個美國的基礎(chǔ)教育都掌握在地方政府手中。 ?Actually, at the end of the 18th century, elementary education throughout the United States was in local hands. 州政府允許當?shù)?小城鎮(zhèn)和村莊)建立和經(jīng)營自己的小學。 ?State governments were allowing local districts (small towns and villages) to set up and run their own elementary schools. 大多數(shù)情況下，這些學校都是在一個只有一間房的建筑里，所有可以上學的學生都共享一個老師。 ?Most often, these schools were in one-room buildings, with one teacher for all the students who could attend. 這名教師是由一個市民委員會雇用的，必須教授當?shù)厣鐓^(qū)所期望的內(nèi)容。 ?The teacher, who was hired by a committee of citizens, had to teach what the local community expected. 這樣，未來就決定了:美國的教育仍然掌握在州和地方政府手中。 ?And so the future was decided: education in the United States was to remain in the hands of state and local governments.

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學習成為世界公民

1920年以后，美國從幼兒園到12年級的教育一直保持不變，直到第二次世界大戰(zhàn)。 ?

Learning to Be World Citizens

After 1920, the K to 12 education in America remained very much the same until World War II. 那場悲劇事件帶來的變化影響了美國的每一個機構(gòu)，包括學校。” ?That tragic event introduced changes that affected every institution in America, including the schools." 美國的父母——尤其是在20世紀40年代末結(jié)婚的年輕夫婦——希望他們的孩子接受為戰(zhàn)后世界做準備的教育。 ?American parents- especially young couples who married in the late 1940s-wanted their children to be educated for the postwar world. 與此同時，美國黑人和其他少數(shù)群體要求獲得與白人平等的教育機會。 ?At the same time, American blacks and other minority groups demanded educational opportunities equal to those of whites. 1954年，最高法院裁定將黑人隔離到不同學校的做法是違憲的。” ?In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that the practice of segregating blacks into separate schools was unconstitutional." 1945年，美國是一個核大國，是聯(lián)合國的成員，也是與蘇聯(lián)爭奪世界影響力的對手。 ?By 1945, the United States was a nuclear power, a member of the United Nations, and a competitor with the Soviet Union for world influence. 新技術(shù)(尤其是計算機)改變了美國的工作崗位，美國企業(yè)遍布全球。 ?American jobs were changed by new technology (especially by the computer), and American businesses spread around the globe. 每晚，電視把總統(tǒng)、藝人和世界各地人們的面孔帶進美國的千家萬戶。 ?Television brought the faces of presidents, entertainers and people from all over the world into America's homes each evening. 科學家的發(fā)現(xiàn)揭開了恒星和原子的新秘密。 ?Discoveries by scientistsd opened new secrets of the stars and of the atom. 1950年至1960年間，新知識的發(fā)展超過了1950年之前世界歷史上所有新知識的總和。 ?Between 1950 and 1960, more new knowledge was developed than in all of the world's history before 1950.學校不僅被要求教授這些新信息，而且還被要求幫助學生提出自己的問題。 ?Schools were asked not only to teach this new information, but to help students ask their own questions about it. 注重解決問題而不是背誦知識的“探究”學習方法開始流行起來。 ?The "inquiry" method of learning, focusing on solving problems rather than memorizing facts, became popular. 更多的科學課程被加入了教學大綱中??More science courses were

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部分是由于1957年蘇聯(lián)第一顆人造衛(wèi)星Sputnik的成功發(fā)射。”（美國技術(shù)落后了，想追趕）?added to the curriculum, some as a result of the orbiting of the first man-made satellite, Sputnik, by the Soviet Union in 1957." 聯(lián)邦政府開始花費數(shù)百萬美元開發(fā)新的科學課程，并培訓教師講解這些課程。 ?The federal government began to spend millions for the development of new science curricula and for training teachers to use them.但是，對許多美國人來說，良好的中等教育已經(jīng)不夠了。 ?But a good secondary education was no longer enough for many Americans. 在一個又一個學區(qū)，家長們堅持讓他們的兒子和女兒學習為進入大學做準備的高中課程。 ?In one school district after another, parents insisted on high school programs that would prepare their sons and daughters for admission to a university. 越來越多的美國人將大學視為獲得醫(yī)學或法律學位、政府職位或大型企業(yè)管理職位的門檻。 ?More and more Americans viewed the university as the doorway to a medical or law degree, a position in government, or a management position in a major business office.

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高等教育

每年有許多高中畢業(yè)的學生繼續(xù)接受高等教育。 ?

Higher Education

Many students who graduate from high school each year go on for higher education. 被美國最著名的大學錄取，是一個高中畢業(yè)生能取得的一定程度上的成功。 ?Simply by being admitted into one of the most respected universities in the United States, a high school graduate achieves a degree of success. 一所頂尖大學的學院可能會收到2%的高中畢業(yè)生的申請，然后只錄取每十個申請者中的一個 ?A college at a leading university might receive applications from 2% of these high school graduates, and then accept only one out of every ten who apply.?這類大學的成功申請者通常是根據(jù)以下因素來選擇的:(a)他們的高中成績; ?Successful applicants at, such colleges are usually chosen on the basis of: (a) their high school records; (b)高中老師的推薦信; ?(b) recommendations from their high school teachers; (c)他們在大學面試時給人的印象; ?(c) the impression they make during interviews at the university; (d)他們的學術(shù)能力傾向測試(SAT)（美國高考）分數(shù)。 ?and (d) their scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

美國的高等教育體系是復雜的。 ?The system of higher education in the United States is complex. 它包括四類機構(gòu):(1)大學，它可能包括:(a)幾個學院，招收攻讀學士學位(四年)的本科生;(b)一個或多個研究生院，招收繼續(xù)專業(yè)學習以獲得碩士或博士學位的學生; ?It comprises four categories of institutions:(1) the university, which may contain: (a) several colleges for undergraduate students seeking a bachelor's degree (four years) and (b) one or more graduate schools for those continuing in specialized studies to obtain a master's or a doctoral degree; (2)四年制本科機構(gòu)——學院——大多數(shù)不是某個大學的一部分; ?(2) the four-year undergraduate institution— the college— most of which are not part of a university; (3)技術(shù)培訓機構(gòu)（職業(yè)院校），高中畢業(yè)生可以在那里學習為期六個月至四年的課程，學習各種各樣的技術(shù)技能，從發(fā)型設計到商業(yè)會計再到計算機編程; ?(3) the technical training institution, at which high school graduates may take courses ranging from six months to four years in duration and learn a wide variety of technical skills, from hair styling through business accounting to computer programming; (4)兩年制/社區(qū)學院，學生可以從那里學習許多專業(yè)，也可以轉(zhuǎn)學到四年制學院或大學。這些機構(gòu)的任何類別，都可能是公立的或私立的，這取決于其資金來源。 ?and (4) the two-year, or community college, from which students may enter many professions or may transfer to four-year colleges or universitiesAny of these institutions, in any category, might be either public or private, depending on the source of its funding. There is no clear or inevitable distinction in

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公立或私立院校之間提供的教育質(zhì)量沒有明顯的或必然的區(qū)別。 terms of quality of education offered between the institutions which are publicly or privately funded. 然而，這并不是說所有的大學都享有同等的聲望，或者它們之間沒有實質(zhì)性的差異。 ?However, this is not to say that all institutions enjoy equal prestige or that there are no material differences among them.許多大學和學院，無論是公立的還是私立的，都以提供特別具有挑戰(zhàn)性的課程和為學生提供更高質(zhì)量的教育而聞名。 Many universities and colleges, both public and private, have gained reputations for offering particularly challenging courses and for providing their students with a higher quality of education. 美國最知名的教育機構(gòu)可能是常春藤聯(lián)盟院校。 ?The most well-known educational institutions in the US probably are the Ivy League institutions. 這個詞本身代表了學術(shù)卓越和入學競爭。 ?The term itself represents academic excellence and competitive selection in admission. 這八所大學都躋身美國乃至世界頂尖大學之列。 ?All eight institutions are ranked among top universities in the US as well as in the world. “常春藤聯(lián)盟”一詞還象征著社會和政治精英主義。 ?The term Ivy League also signifies social and political elitism.決定一所大學聲譽好壞的因素有:師資隊伍的質(zhì)量; ?The factors that determine whether an institution is one of the best or one of lower prestige are: the quality of the teaching faculty; 研究機構(gòu)的質(zhì)量; ?the quality of research facilities; 可用于圖書館、特殊項目等的資金數(shù)額; ?the amount of funding available for libraries, special programs, etc.; 以及申請入學的申請人的能力和數(shù)量，即該機構(gòu)在選擇學生時的條件。 ?and the competence and number of applicants for admission, i.e., how selective the institution can be in choosing its students. 所有這些因素都是相互強化的。 ?All of these factors reinforce one another. 例如，哈佛大學是世界上最負盛名的大學之一。 ?Harvard University, for example, is one of the most prestigious universities in the world. 它成立于1636年，也是美國最古老的大學。 ?Founded in 1636, it is also the oldest university in the US. 它由十個學院和拉德克利夫高等研究院組成，并經(jīng)營著藝術(shù)、文化和科學博物館。 ?It comprises ten faculties and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, and runs museums of arts, culture and sciences.哈佛圖書館是世界上最大的學術(shù)和私人圖書館系統(tǒng)，擁有79個獨立圖書館，藏書超過1800萬冊。 ?d Harvard Library is the largest academic and private library system in the world, with 79 individual libraries with over 18 million volumes of books. 近年來，哈佛大學的錄取率僅為5%，是全美錄取率最低的大學之一。 ?Harvard's acceptance rate in admission selection is among one of the lowest in the US-about 5% in recent years. 每年的學費在全國名列前茅。 ?Annual tuition fees are among the highest in the nation. 然而，哈佛大學擁有世界上最大的金融捐贈基金，這使得大學可以為學生提供助學金和獎學金。 ?However, Harvard has the largest financial endowments in the world, which allows the university to provide grants and scholarships for its students. 哈佛大學以其高質(zhì)量和世界著名的教學和研究人員，極具競爭力和才華的學生，以及世界一流的學習和研究設施，吸引了來自世界各地的頂尖學生。 ?With its high quality and world-famous teaching and research faculty, highly competitive and talented students, and world-class learning and research facilities, Harvard attracts top students from all over the world.選擇學院或大學除了了解學校的入學要求(及其費用)外，美國人在選擇大學或?qū)W院時還有很多問題要考慮:學校提供什么學位? ?Selecting a College or UniversityIn addition to learning about a school's entrance requirements (and its fees), Americans have a lot of questions to think about when they choose a university or lghytWhat degrees does the school offer? 要花多長時間才能拿到學位? ?How long does it take to earn one? ??

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在本科(學院)階段，傳統(tǒng)上提供四年的“文科”課程，包括歷史、語言和哲學等科目。 At the?undergraduate (college) level, a four-year "liberal arts" course of study is traditionally offered in such subjects as history, languages and philosophy. (“文科”一詞來自拉丁語“l(fā)iberales artes”，意思是自由、人類、藝術(shù)和技能。 ?(The term "liberal arts" comes from "liberales artes", a Latin expression for free, or human, arts and skills. 在羅馬帝國時代，這些技能和藝術(shù)只有自由人才能獲得，奴隸不行。) ?In the time of the Roman Empire these were skills and arts that only a free person — not a slave— could acquire.) 許多文理學院也提供物理、化學或其他科學學科的理學學士學位。 ?Many liberal arts colleges also offer a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in physics, chemistry or other scientific subjects. 技術(shù)培訓機構(gòu)提供不同長度的農(nóng)業(yè)或商業(yè)等課程，而社區(qū)大學的學習只持續(xù)兩年。 ?A technical training institution offers such courses as agriculture or business of varying lengths, and community college studies last for only two years.美國的研究生院授予文科和理科的碩士和博士學位。 ?Graduate schools in America award master's and doctor's degrees in both the arts and sciences. 大多數(shù)研究生學位的課程可以在兩到四年內(nèi)完成。 ?The courses for most graduate degree can be completed in two to four years. 但是，如果研究生課程要求學生進行原創(chuàng)研究，那么學生可能要在大學圖書館或?qū)嶒炇依锒啻龓讉€月甚至幾年。 ?But if a graduate program requires original research, a student could spend many additional months or even years in a university library or laboratory.學院或大學提供什么課程? ?What curricula does a college or university offer? 獲得學位的條件是什么? ?What are the requirements for earning a degree? 在美國的大學里，每個學院和研究生院都有自己的課程。 ?In an American university, each college and graduate school has its own curriculum. 在本科階段，可能有一些課程是每個學生都必須學習的(例如，世界史、數(shù)學、寫作或研究課程)。 ?At the undergraduate level, there may be some courses that every student has to take (for example, classes in world history, math, writing or research). 但是學生們確實要選擇了他們的“專業(yè)”，并選修了一定數(shù)量的“選修課”。 ?But students do select their "major" and take a specific number of "electives". 政府機構(gòu)——國家教育研究所報告說，美國的學院和大學總共提供1000多個專業(yè)。 ?The, National Institute of Education, a government agency, reports that a total of more than 1 000 majors are offered in America's colleges and universities. 這些學校提供的選修課加起來可能有數(shù)萬門。 ?The combined electives available in these schools probably amount to a number in the tens of thousands.通常，本科學生必須獲得一定數(shù)量的“學分”(大約120學分)才能在大學四年結(jié)束時獲得學位。 ?Typically, an undergraduate student has to earn a certain number of "credits" (about 120) in order to receive a degree at the end of four years of college. 一個學分通常等于每周在一門課程上一小時的課。 ?One credit usually equals one hour of class per week in a single course. 一門三學分的生物學課程可能包括每周兩個小時的講座加上一個小時的科學實驗。 ?A three-credit course in biology could involve two hours of lectures plus one hour in a science lab, every week. 一門課程可能持續(xù)10到16周，也就是“學期”的長度。 ?A course may last 10 to 16 weeks— the length of a "semester".學院或大學是公立機構(gòu)(由州或地方政府管理)還是私立機構(gòu)? ?Is the college or university a public institution (operated by a state or local government) or a private one? 如果是私立學校，是宗教學校嗎? ?If it is private, is it a religious school? 美國沒有全國性的(聯(lián)邦)學校系統(tǒng)，但50個州都有自己的大學，一些大城市的政府也有自己的大學。 ?The United States does not have a national (federal) school system, but each of the 50 states operates its own universities, and so do some large city governments. 政府確實會在它為武裝部隊的專業(yè)人員開辦的學校授予學位——例如，位于馬里蘭州安納波利斯的美國海軍學院。 ?The government does grant degrees in the schools it operates for professional members of the armed services — for example, the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.“美國大約25%的高等教育學校是由宗教組織私立經(jīng)營的。 ?"About 25 percent of all schools of higher education in the United States areprivately operated by religious organizations. 大多數(shù)學校對不同信仰背景的學生開放 ?Most are open to students of different

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，但在一些宗教學校，所有學生都被要求參加宗教儀式。 faiths, but in some religious schools all students are required to attend religious services. 也有與宗教無關(guān)的私立學校。 ?There are also privately owned schools with no religious connection.公立和私立大學的收入都依賴于三個來源:學生學費、捐贈基金和政府資助。 ?Both public and private colleges depend on three sources of income: student tuition, endowments and government funding. 一些捐贈基金非常大:哈佛大學、普林斯頓大學和耶魯大學各有超過10億美元的基金。 ?Some endowments are very large: Harvard, Princeton and Yale Universities have more than a thousand million dollars each. 與私立學校相比，公立學校接受的公共稅收比重較大。 ?Public institutions receive a large portion of public tax money than private schools do.?學校有多大? ?How large is the school? 美國有許多小型大學，學生不到100人。 ?There are many small American colleges—some with fewer than 100 students. 但規(guī)模較大的大學往往會吸引更多的學生入學。 ?But the larger universities tend to keep attracting larger numbers of enrollments. 紐約州立大學就是這樣一個例子，它在紐約州的不同地區(qū)擁有64個校區(qū)，招收了大約46.5萬名學生。 ?One such example is the State University of New York which has more than 64 campuses in different parts of the state, and enrolls about 465 000 students.為什么大型大學會蓬勃發(fā)展? ?Why do the large universities flourish? 直到最近幾年，這個問題的一個主要答案是:它們提供了最好的圖書館和科學研究設施。 ?Until recent years, a major answer to this question was: They offer the best libraries and facilities for scientific research. 先進的研究設施，如現(xiàn)代化的實驗室，吸引著頂尖的科學家來到這些學校的院系。 ?Access to advanced research facilities such as modern laboratories attracts leading scientists to the faculties of such schools. 學生們報名和專家一起學習。 ?And students enroll to study with the experts. 研究項目對美國大學的聲譽仍然很重要。 ?Research programs continue to be important to the reputation of America's universities.1944年，國會通過了《軍人調(diào)整法案》，該法案很快被普遍稱為“美國大兵權(quán)利法案”。 ?Education for AllIn 1944 Congress passed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, soon popularly called the "Gl Bill of Rights". (當時的“Gl”是美國士兵的昵稱。 ?("Gl" at the time, was a nickname for the American soldier. 這個綽號來自“政府發(fā)放”的縮寫——“發(fā)給士兵”的制服和其他物品。)該法案承諾在第二次世界大戰(zhàn)結(jié)束后向武裝部隊成員提供經(jīng)濟援助，包括高等教育援助。 ?The nickname came from an abbreviation for "Government Issue" — the uniforms and other articles "issued" to a soldier.") The Act promised financial aid, including aid for higher education, to members of the armed forces after the end of World War II.戰(zhàn)爭在第二年結(jié)束了。 ?The war ended in the following year. 據(jù)預測，將有60萬退伍軍人申請教育援助。 ?The prediction had been that 600 000 war veterans would apply for aid for education. 到1955年，超過200萬參加過第二次世界大戰(zhàn)和朝鮮戰(zhàn)爭的退伍軍人利用該法案上了大學。 ?By 1955, more than two million veterans of World War Il and of the Korean War had used the Gl Bill of Rights to go to college. 這些退伍軍人中有許多來自貧困家庭。 ?Many of these veterans were from poor families. 30%的人在申請大學助學金時已經(jīng)結(jié)婚; ?30% were married when they applied for college aid; 10%的人有孩子。 ?10% had children. 不少學生不得不一邊上課一邊做兼職。 ?More than a few had to work part time while they took courses. 這很難，但這些退伍軍人相信，大學學位(他們自己負擔不起)會增加他們在美國戰(zhàn)后經(jīng)濟中找到好工作的機會 ?It was difficult, but these veterans believed that a college degree (which they could not afford on their own) would improve their chances for a good job in the postwar economy.

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有些人去了文理學院; ?Some went to liberal arts colleges; 其他人進入了技術(shù)和專業(yè)學院。 ?others to technical and professional institutions. 他們在所有這些學校的杰出成就迫使每個與高等教育有關(guān)的人重新思考高等教育的目的和目標。 ?Their outstanding success in all these schools forced everyone connected with higher education to rethink its purpose and goals. 在短短幾年內(nèi)，美國退伍軍人已經(jīng)改變了什么人應該上大學的形象。 ?Within just a few years, American veterans had changed the image of who should go to college.?在戰(zhàn)后的美國，其他團體也在美國的校園里尋找自己的位置。 ?In postwar America, other groups sought their place on America's campuses, too. 高等教育女性入學率開始增加。 ?The enrollment of women in higher education began to increase. 中小學教育中的種族隔離結(jié)束了，因此黑人獲得了進入自己選擇的任何大學的平等機會。 ?Racial segregation in elementary and secondary education ended, and thus blacks achieved an equal opportunity to get into any college of their choice.到20世紀60年代末，一些大學推出了特殊的計劃和項目，在各個層次上為所有群體提供平等的教育機會。 ?By the end of 1960s, some colleges introduced special plans and programs to equalize educational opportunities- at every level, for all groups. 其中一些計劃被稱為“平權(quán)行動計劃”。 ?Some of these plans were called "Affirmative action programs." 他們的目標是通過給予少數(shù)族裔在求職或上大學方面的特殊優(yōu)待來彌補過去的不平等。 Their goal was to make up for past inequality by giving special preference to members of minorities seeking jobs or admission to college. 在美國，“少數(shù)群體”一詞有兩種含義，通常是相關(guān)的:(a)少數(shù)是指在總?cè)丝谥姓己苄”壤娜魏巫逡峄蚍N族群體; ?In the United States, the term "minority" has two meanings, often related: (a) A minority is any ethnic or racial group that makes up a small percentage of the total population; (b)這個詞也指不占統(tǒng)治地位的群體。 ?(b) The term also suggests a group that is not the dominant political power. 例如，一些大學贊助了一些項目，幫助少數(shù)族裔學生在高中時為上大學做準備。 ?Some colleges, for example, sponsored programs to help minority students prepare for college while still in high school.到20世紀70年代，美國政府堅定地支持這些目標。 ?By the 1970s, the United States government stood firmly behind such goals. 它要求接受公共資金的學院和大學實行某種形式的平權(quán)行動。 ?It required colleges and universities receiving public funds to practice some form of affirmative action. 但當大學開始設定錄取少數(shù)族裔學生的配額時，許多美國人，包括少數(shù)族裔公民，都提出了抗議。 ?But when colleges began to set quotas of minority students to be admitted, many Americans, including minority citizens, protested. 他們認為這是另一種形式的歧視。 ?They felt that this was another form of discrimination.就像美國公共生活中的大多數(shù)(但不是全部)問題一樣，這場沖突是通過變革和妥協(xié)解決的。（仍然沒有解決，最高法院在2023年對亞裔被歧視做了一個判決，可以自己查查）As with most (but not all) problems in American public life, the conflict was resolved by change and compromise.大學繼續(xù)為平權(quán)法案的目標服務，但采取了爭議較少的方式。 ?Colleges continued to serve the goal of affirmative action-but in less controversial ways. 例如，一所規(guī)模較大的大學宣布了一項新政策:它將尋求錄取能夠為學生群體增添不同才能的學生。 ?One large university, for example, announced a new policy: It would seek to admit students who would add diverse talents to the student body. 因此，它在考慮所有申請人——包括少數(shù)族裔——時，條件不限于高中成績和入學考試，而是考慮學生的才能、志愿活動和"生活經(jīng)驗"。 ?It thus dealt with all applicants — minorities included— on a basis that was not restricted to high school performance and entrance tests, but which took into account the talents, voluntary activities and "life experience" of the student.“這些努力取得了什么樣的成功?” ?"What success did these efforts have? 美國大學生是一個日益多樣化的群體。 ?American college students are an increasingly diverse group. 自1980年以來，進入大學的女性人數(shù)一直超過男性。 ?The number of women enrolled in college has been greater than male college student enrollment since 1980. 1987年，54%是女性。 In 1987, 54% were women. 女性獲得了51%當年授予的學士和碩士學位和35%的博士學位或?qū)I(yè)學位。，Women received 51% of the bachelor's and master's degrees awarded that year,?and 35% of the doctorates and professional degrees. ?

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1997年至2007年間，男性入學率增加了32%，女性入學率增加了63%。 ?Between 1997 and 2007, 32% more men enrolled while 63% more women enrolled. 2009年，近74%的高中畢業(yè)生女性進入大學，而男性的這一比例約為66%。 ?In 2009, nearly 74% of high school graduate women were enrolled in college and the number of men was about 66%.但并不是所有的團體都做得這么好。 ?But not all groups have done so well. 盡管1988年高中畢業(yè)的學生中有59%在同一年進入大學，但只有45%的非裔美國高中畢業(yè)生繼續(xù)上大學。 ?Although 59% of the students who graduated from high school in 1988 enrolled in college that same year, only 45% of the African-American high school graduates went on to college. 教育工作者和其他人一直在努力提高這一比例。 ?Educators and others have been working to increase that percentage. 最近的統(tǒng)計數(shù)據(jù)顯示，55%的非裔美國高中畢業(yè)生直接進入了大學。 ?Recent statistics show that 55% of African American high school graduates continued directly on to college. 但是非裔美國人在獲得大學學位方面仍然落后。 ?But AfricanAmericans still lag behind in obtaining college degrees. 進入大學的非裔美國人只有43%畢業(yè)，比白人低20%。 Only 43% of African-Americans who enter college graduate—20% lower than the rate for whites.?美國高校招收的非傳統(tǒng)學生比例也在上升，這些學生在上大學前已經(jīng)工作了好幾年，或者一邊打工一邊上學。 ?US colleges and universities are also enrolling a higher percentage of nontraditional students — students who have worked for several years before starting college or students who go to school part-time while holding down a job.

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高等教育的趨勢

在20世紀70年代和80年代，出現(xiàn)了一種遠離傳統(tǒng)文科的趨勢。 ?

Trends in Higher Education

During the 1970s and 1980s, there was a trend away from the traditional liberal arts. 相反，學生們選擇的是能夠為特定工作做好準備的專業(yè)領(lǐng)域。 ?Instead, students were choosing major fields that would prepare them for specific jobs. 1987年，56%的四年制學士學位分布于商業(yè)和管理、計算機和信息科學、教育、工程、衛(wèi)生專業(yè)和公共事務等學科。 ?In 1987, 56% of the four-year bachelor's degrees were conferred in business and management, computer and information science, education, engineering, health professions, and public affairs. 只有13%的學位授予了傳統(tǒng)的文理科專業(yè)。 ?Only 13% of the degrees were conferred in the traditional arts and sciences.但是這種專業(yè)預科的趨勢正在結(jié)束，學生們正在轉(zhuǎn)向傳統(tǒng)的學習領(lǐng)域。 ?But this trend toward pre-professionalism is ending and students are switching back to traditional areas of study. 自20世紀80年代達到最低點以來，數(shù)學學士學位的數(shù)量有所上升。（理科主要靠外國留學生增多，比如中印等國學生）??Bachelor's degrees in mathematics are up since the low point they had reached in the 1980s. 英語文學、外語、歷史和物理專業(yè)的學士學位也有所上升。（文科主要是廢柴美國白人，文科學位越來越不值錢）??Bachelor's degrees in English and literature, foreign languages, history, and physics have also seen an upswing. 在許多方面，文科的新流行是對早期美國教育傳統(tǒng)的回歸。（美國人懶，不想學科學而已，此時后果已經(jīng)顯露了）In many ways, this new popularity of liberal arts is a return to the early traditions of American education.除了學位課程的變化趨勢，近年來也見證了在線學習的出現(xiàn)和快速發(fā)展。 ?Other than the changing trend in degree programs, recent years have also witnessed the emergence and rapid development of online learning. 大規(guī)模在線開放課程(MOOCs)從根本上改變了遠程教育的規(guī)模和性質(zhì)。 ?Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have fundamentally changed the scale and nature of distance learning. 注冊學生可以訪問在線資源，在論壇上與其他學生、教授和助教進行討論和互動，從而個性化學習。 ?Registered students can have access to online resources, discuss and interact with other students, professors and teaching assistants in forums, and thus personalize their own learning. 自從2008年這個概念出現(xiàn)以來，它迅速發(fā)展起來 ?Ever since this concept emerged in 2008, it has quickly gained momentum.

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截至2016年，美國院校提供了近2600個“慕課”課程。 ?As of 2016, nearly 2 600 MOOCs are offered by US institutions.??Coursera、Udacity和edX等大型“慕課”服務提供商與麻省理工學院(MIT)、哈佛大學(Harvard)、斯坦福大學(Stanford)和加州大學(University of California)等一流大學合作，為數(shù)萬名學生提供課程。 ?Big MOOC service providers such as Coursera, Udacity, and edX teamed with leadinguniversities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and The University of California and so on,offering courses to tens of thousands of students. 許多“慕課”也向公眾開放，讓他們能夠獲得高質(zhì)量的教育資源。 ?Many MOOCs are also open to thegeneral public who are able to have access to top quality educational resources.