CNN 2010-03-09

Students across the nation today are saying enough is enough. They're just plain fed up with the rising cost of education. They're protesting higher tuition¹ cuts in student services and reductions in funding for higher education.

This is Atlanta, Georgia where the university system plans a 35 percent tuition hike and a possible $1,000 student fee.

In Colorado, lawmakers are looking at cutting $1.3 billion from their budget and higher education appears to be a key target.

The movement to stop education cuts and tuition hikes came out of California. Fees at California's community colleges are up 30 percent this year and $1 billion plus is being cut from the state's university system.

More nationwide demonstrations² are actually expected today. An Internet blog called "Student Activism" says 122 events are planned in 33 states.

And it's not just students who are raising the red flag about the future of education. Teachers in California say the state's budget troubles and education cuts have put so much stress on them that it's hard to teach.

LUPE HERNANDEZ, PRINCIPAL, MAYWOOD ELEMENTARY: You know, our teachers really work hard because we have had such great success. It's hard for them. They are staying here longer. They -- they are in fear of what is next.

LORENA CISNEROS, TEACHER: It's just too many students that are -- that will be without an efficient teacher because you're stressed, you're thinking of your bills that you have to pay, you're thinking of your mortgage³. You're thinking of your own family.

It's very hard for all the children to learn when we have a stressed teacher.

WHITFIELD: The California Department of Finance⁴ says funding for higher education is at its lowest level in at least 27 years.

 

1 tuition   

n.（某一学科的）教学，讲授，指导，学费

参考例句：

• Students can apply for individual tuition.学生可以申请个别指导。
• Is this money enough for the tuition fee?这些钱交学费够吗？

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 mortgage   

n.抵押，抵押贷款；vt.抵押

参考例句：

• He's having a lot of trouble paying his mortgage every month.他付每月的抵押借款利息有很大的困难。
• The bank refused to accept any mortgage on land.银行拒绝接受任何土地抵押。

4 finance   

n.财务管理，财政，金融，财源，资金

参考例句：

• She is an expert in finance.她是一名财政专家。
• A finance house made a bid to buy up the entire company.一家信贷公司出价买下了整个公司。