英语课程计划-International Students' Day

International Students' Day is on November the 17th every year. It has a tragic¹ beginning, at the start of WWII. Nazis² attacked the University of Prague in what was then Czechoslovakia. On November 17, 1939, nine students were executed³ and 1,200 sent to concentration⁴ camps. The 17th of November was first marked as International Students' Day in London in 1941. The International Students' Council⁵ (ISC) started it and for many years, asked the United Nations to accept it worldwide. The ISC developed into the International Union of Students (IUS) and continued to remember what happened in Prague. It continues to fight against discrimination. It also places education at the centre of the fight for democracy⁶ and human rights.

Students are among the most important members of our society. They are the future of the world. It is time many governments accepted this and took students and their education more seriously. It seems as though few governments truly recognize the importance of a good education for every child. Even in the USA, the “No Child Left Behind” act has left children behind. In Britain, the government’s promise of “Education. Education. Education” has been spent on weapons. Students all over the world are desperate to go to any kind of school. The news is full of stories of kids in developing countries wanting an education. This is sad, because many students in developed nations waste their time at school.

1 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

2 Nazis   

n.（德国的）纳粹党员( Nazi的名词复数 )；纳粹主义

参考例句：

• The Nazis worked them over with gun butts. 纳粹分子用枪托毒打他们。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Nazis were responsible for the mass murder of Jews during World War Ⅱ. 纳粹必须为第二次世界大战中对犹太人的大屠杀负责。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 executed   

v.执行（法令）( execute的过去式和过去分词 )；（按计划或设计）作成；履行；演（戏）

参考例句：

• He was executed for treason. 他因叛国罪被处死。
• He was executed in 1887for plotting to assassinate the tsar. 他因密谋暗杀沙皇在1887年被判处极刑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 concentration   

n.集中；专注；浓度；浓缩

参考例句：

• She wrinkled her brows in concentration.她蹙额皱眉，陷入沉思。
• If smoke is going that way,then it means the concentration here should be decreasing.如果烟雾沿着这个方向飘，这意味着，这里的浓度应该是减少的。

5 council   

n.理事会，委员会，议事机构

参考例句：

• The town council passed a law forbidding the distribution of handbills.市议会通过法律，禁止散发传单。
• The city council has declared for improving the public bus system.市议会宣布同意改进公共汽车系统。

6 democracy   

n.民主政治，民主制度；民主精神，民主作风

参考例句：

• Democracy is based on good will and mutual understanding.民主建立在善意和相互理解的基础上。
• Did democracy have its beginnings in Athens? 民主制度是创始于雅典吗？