VOA慢速英语--美国乡村学校只有一个学生,一个老师

Rural¹ US School Has Just One Student, One Teacher

A rural area in the western United States has a very unusual school. The school, in the state of Wyoming, has just one student and only one teacher.

It is called Notch² Peak Elementary. The only student is Corinne Gaby. Her teacher is Lisa Geary. Corrine has no brothers or sisters and lives with her parents on a large ranch³ in a mountainous area.

The school is based on the idea that every child in the U.S. has the right to a public education – no matter where that child lives. But no schools existed in the area where Corinne’s family moved. The closest public school is at least a one-and-a-half hour drive away. And that road is not considered safely passable during the winter.

Her parents also decided⁴ that teaching⁵ her themselves at home was not realistic. So when Corinne was old enough to start kindergarten, local education officials decided to create Notch Peak Elementary just for her.

A new, separate school was not built. Instead, a classroom area was created on the second floor of a horse barn⁶. Large windows keep the room bright, and a wood stove provides heat.

The teacher

Several teachers were considered for this unusual teaching situation. The first lasted a year. The next left after two.

Then came Lisa Geary. In 2016 Geary was teaching at a small elementary school in the neighboring state of Colorado. She was excited to hear about the new position and in time was hired.

The other teachers had lived in the horse barn. But for Geary, the school district brought a movable home nearby for her to live in. Still, she says her first year was “harder than expected.” She faced lonely surroundings⁷ and severe weather.

In an interview, Geary told VOA her relationship with Corinne also got off to a rough start.

“It wasn’t easy in the beginning… [Corinne was] strong-headed, and it was tough.”

Geary said she became discouraged with their lack of progress. At first, she said it seemed like Corinne did not want to be taught.

“We really, really struggled that first year, so it wasn’t fun for me as a teacher who is waiting for her cup to be filled up.”

Corinne agrees that the start of teaching was difficult.

“No, we didn’t have a relationship right off. It was hard to start.”

But over time, Corinne said Geary’s teaching methods changed her mind about the unusual one-on-one learning⁸ situation.

“Now in fifth grade and fourth grade, Ms. Geary and I have seen lots of changes in ourselves.”

Corinne says Geary’s teaching has taught her far more than just what happens in the classroom. “She’s my everything teacher.” Corinne adds: “I don’t see why any kid would not want any other teacher that’s just like her.”

Geary adds that in every teaching situation, the relationship between teacher and student is very important. She says that her relationship with Corinne is now so close, the two are like family.

“It really is a really good fit. We know so much about each other, we can finish each other’s sentences sometimes.”

Corinne agrees that the two have a much deeper connection than most students and teachers. She describes Geary as the “greatest teacher in the galaxy⁹.”

“Well, she gives me chances and she really believes in me.”

The two also spend a lot of time together outside the classroom. Sometimes Corinne even gets to sleep over at her teacher’s house, and they both love taking care of the animals on the ranch.

The curriculum¹⁰

The day usually starts with English-related studies, followed by math before lunch. Additional¹¹ studies include science, social studies, art and physical education.

Geary says the one-on-one relationship provides the chance for Corinne to learn with a greater “depth of knowledge.”

“We go to school from eight to three, and I’m often saying, I wish we had more time,” she said. However, Geary says she has learned¹² to give Corinne some breaks.

“When I started teaching Corinne, I was one-on-one with her all the time, and I’m in her face, all the time.”

She says she had to learn to pull back a little from the teaching to “give Corinne time to regroup.”

The current situation will likely not continue when Corinne finishes the sixth grade. Geary would have to receive additional training and certifications. She says she sometimes gets sad thinking about this unusual relationship ending.

But in the end, she says she just wants to do what is best for Corinne. She believes it will be good for her to get “a new perspective¹⁴” in high school and a different teaching environment.

But when Geary does leave Notch Peak, no one expects a permanent goodbye. “I will always be connected to Corinne,” she says. “Even after I leave the 6th grade, she will always be a part of my life. I’ll always be connected.”

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

ranch – n. large farm where animals are kept

barn – n. large building on a farm where crops or animals can be kept

discouraged – adj. having lost \confidence or enthusiasm¹⁵ for something

galaxy – n. a large group of stars held together in the universe

bond¹⁶ – n. an interest, experience, or feeling that makes two people feel connected

certification¹³ – n. proof¹⁷ or document proving someone is qualified¹⁸ for a particular job, or that something is of good quality

perspective – n. a certain way of viewing things that depends on one’s experiences

1 rural   

adj.乡下的，田园的，乡村风味的

参考例句：

• He lived a rural life.他过着田园生活。
• We left the city for a rural home.我们离开城市，去农村安家。

2 notch   

n.(V字形)槽口，缺口，等级

参考例句：

• The peanuts they grow are top-notch.他们种的花生是拔尖的。
• He cut a notch in the stick with a sharp knife.他用利刃在棒上刻了一个凹痕。

3 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

6 barn   

n.谷仓，饲料仓，牲口棚

参考例句：

• That big building is a barn for keeping the grain.那幢大房子是存放粮食的谷仓。
• The cows were driven into the barn.牛被赶进了牲口棚。

7 surroundings   

n.周围的事物(或情况)，环境

参考例句：

• She is not very well tuned into her surroundings. 她不太适应周围的环境。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

8 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

9 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

10 curriculum   

n.课程，（学校等的）全部课程

参考例句：

• Is German on your school's curriculum?你们学校有德语课吗？
• The English curriculum should stress both composition and reading.英语课程对作文和阅读应同样重视。

11 additional   

adj.添加的，额外的，另外的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to set down these additional rules.有必要制定这些补充规则。
• I think we can fit in an additional room.我想我们可以再加建一间房子。

12 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

13 certification   

n.证明，鉴定，证书

参考例句：

• the medical certification of the cause of death 为死因出具医学鉴定
• He received his certification as a high school English teacher. 他取得了中学英语教师证书。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 perspective   

n.视角，观点，想法

参考例句：

• You can get a perspective of the whole city from here.从这里你可以看到城市的全景。
• We may get a clear perspective of the people's happy lives.我们知道人民对幸福生活的展望。

15 enthusiasm   

n.热情，激情；巨大兴趣；热衷的事物

参考例句：

• We set about our task at once with great enthusiasm.我们立刻兴致勃勃地干起来。
• A team which is full of enthusiasm is more likely to win.情绪高涨的球队更可能获胜。

16 bond   

n.结合，债券，契约，粘合剂，保证人，键，关栈保留；vt.存入关栈，粘着；vi.结合

参考例句：

• This glue makes a good firm bond.这种胶水粘得很结实。
• His word is his bond.他是讲信用的。

17 proof   

adj.防...的，耐...的，能防护；n.校样，证据，证明；vt.检验，给...做防护措施

参考例句：

• He is living proof of the wonders of modern medicine.他是当代医学奇迹的活证明。
• The proof was fished up from some old papers.校样在旧文件中被找到了。

18 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。