Vocational Education

By Jerilyn Watson
Broadcast: July 24, 2003
This is Bill White with the VOA Special English Education Report.
American educational experts are debating the future of 1)vocational¹ training. This kind of training provides job skills for high school students who often have no plans to go to college.
The 2)federal government first began to pay for this training in high schools in nineteen-seventeen. Skills like machine operation and wood-working helped many young people learn to support themselves.
But over time, 3)critics began to say that vocational training did not place enough importance on subjects like mathematics and reading. They said boys and girls -- including those from poor and 4)minority families -- were sometimes directed toward such training unfairly.
Critics said this 5)denied the students the chances for more education and better paying jobs. In recent years, federal money for vocational education -- and student interest in it -- have both decreased.
The United States Department of Education now says high schools should prepare every student for college -- even if the student chooses not to attend. The Bush administration budget for next year calls for cuts in money for vocational education.
Education Department official Carol D'Amico says the department recognizes the importance of vocational education. But she says it also disapproves² of training programs that are weak in traditional subjects. A federal law called “No Child Left Behind” now requires students across the country to take yearly examinations in these subjects.
Many educators praise vocational training in New York. Frank Carucci is a union official with the United Federation³ of Teachers and a vocational education expert. Mister Carucci says the city's Career and Technical Education programs offer more than preparation for jobs. He says creative teachers have found ways to teach basic subjects, and that the job skills taught can help students pay for college.
Mister Carucci argues that the 6)proposed cuts in spending would harm vocational programs. He says loss of such programs could mean that more students leave school before they complete their studies.
Whatever happens to the vocational education budget, the debate about what is best for students is sure to continue.
This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Jerilyn Watson. This is Bill White.

注释：
1) vocational [vEu5keiFEnEl] adj.职业的
2) federal government　联邦政府
3) critic [5kritik] n.批评家, 评论家
4) minority [mai5nCriti] n.少数
5) deny [di5nai] v.否认, 拒绝
6) proposed [prE5pEuzd] adj.被提议的

1 vocational   

adj.职业的，业务的

参考例句：

• They have set a regular time for vocational study.他们把业务学习时间固定下来。
• She was given some quick training at the vocational school.她在职业学校受过速成训练。

2 disapproves   

v.不赞成( disapprove的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She disapproves of unmarried couples living together. 她反对未婚男女同居。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her mother disapproves of her wearing transparent underwear. 她母亲不赞成她穿透明的内衣。 来自辞典例句

3 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。