VOA慢速英语2020--欧洲学校重开

In Paris, a mother and her three children recently went to a supermarket to look for school supplies. They bought writing instruments, notebooks and plenty of face masks.

Parents and children across Europe have been making similar purchases at the start of a new school year.

European officials have decided¹ to put children back into school classrooms for the new term.

Facing an increase in coronavirus cases, officials in France, Britain, Spain and other countries are making rules about masks, building new classrooms and adding teachers.

European leaders from the political left, right and center are sending a similar message to students and their parents: Even in a pandemic, children are better off in class.

France's prime² minister promised last week to "do everything" to get people back to school and work. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called reopening schools a "moral³ duty." His government even threatened to fine parents who keep children at home. And Italy's health minister forced discos to close this month with one goal in mind: "to reopen schools in September in complete safety."

As both a parent and a teacher, Mathieu Maillard has a lot to worry about when French schools reopen. Over the past month, the number of virus infections has increased in France.

Maillard thinks it is time for students to go back. School "has to start up again at some point," he said. "The health risk exists, but the risk of not putting children in school is even bigger."

When governments ordered people to stay at home, he said, some students never joined his online literature classes. Some had no place to work or did not have computers.

"Our students really, really need school," he said. For those growing up in an environment plagued with violence and drugs, school "is a place where they can breathe."

In southeast London, father of three Mark Davis is looking forward to schools reopening in September. But he worries about what will happen if there is a rise in coronavirus infections.

"Everyone is gunning for this (return to school), but it's no good just hoping for the best," he said. "Plans need to be put in place."

The British government says schools will only close if conditions become very bad. But parents say the government's message has been unclear.

Most of the country's 11 million students have not seen a classroom since March. Britain has 41,515 virus-related deaths, the highest confirmed number in Europe. Johnson's government has been strongly criticized⁵ for the way it has reacted to the pandemic.

Some European schools are considering a mixed school year, with some in-person classes and others online. But most want to do in-person classes.

UNICEF, the United Nations' Childrens Fund⁶, recently announced guidance for government officials. It said that at least a third of the world's schoolchildren were unable to do distance learning⁷ during virus lockdowns. UNICEF officials warned that the effects "could be felt in economies and societies for decades."

Medical experts say the risk of opening schools depends on how widespread COVID-19 infections are in the community and what safety measures are taken.

Evidence suggests young children do not spread the disease⁸ very easily. But children aged⁹ 10 years and up may spread it as easily as adults. While children appear less likely than adults to get infected, severe cases and deaths have been documented.

Health experts say more evidence is needed.

Parents and teachers are not the only people demanding a voice in school reopenings. Denmark's second-largest city, Aarhus, sent all its high school students home after an increase in virus cases. But the students pushed back, saying they do not learn as much online.

In protests¹⁰ last week, they held signs reading: "I just want to go to school."

I'm John Russell.

Words in This Story

mask – n. a cover or partial¹¹ cover for the face

pandemic – n. a situation in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world

disco – n. a business where people dance to recorded popular music

plague⁴ i to cause worry to someone — usually used as (be) plagued; to cause constant or repeated trouble or disease for (someone or something)

gun for (something) -- phrasal verb to try to get something in a very determined¹² way

lockdown – n. requirements that people stay in their homes and limit activities outside the home

1 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。

2 prime   

adj.首要的，主要的；最好的，第一流的

参考例句：

• The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
• He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。

3 moral   

adj.道德(上)的，有道德的；n.品行，寓意，道德

参考例句：

• Moral beauty ought to be ranked above all other beauty.品德之美应列于其他美之上。
• He deceived us into believing that he could give us moral support.他骗得我们相信他能给我们道义上的支持。

4 plague   

n.瘟疫，鼠疫，祸患，灾难；v.烦扰，使痛苦

参考例句：

• Plague was then prevailing in that city.当时瘟疫正在该城流行。
• The plague once could wipe out a village.鼠疫曾一度可以夺走整个村庄村民的生命。

5 criticized   

vt.批评(criticize的过去式)v.评论，批评( criticize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The decision was criticized by environmental groups. 这个决定受到了环保团体的批评。
• The movie has been criticized for apparently legitimizing violence. 这部电影因明显地美化暴力而受到了指责。

6 fund   

n.基金，资金，存款，财源，贮藏；vt.提供资金，积累

参考例句：

• They decided to set up a fund for this purpose.他们决定为此专立一项基金。
• This fund may not be drawn on without permission.这笔钱非经批准不得动用。

7 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。

8 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

9 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

10 protests   

n.[体]抗议；抗议，反对( protest的名词复数 )v.声明( protest的第三人称单数 )；坚决地表示；申辩

参考例句：

• The protests have forced the government to back-pedal on the new tax. 抗议活动已迫使政府撤销新的税目。
• Plans to build a new mall were deep-sixed after protests from local residents. 修建新室内购物中心的计划由于当地居民反对而搁浅。

11 partial   

adj.部分的；偏爱的；偏心的

参考例句：

• I could give it only partial support.我只能给它部分的支持。
• I'm partial to a drink at bedtime.我临睡前喜欢喝杯酒。

12 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。