Integrated Schools In America, 50 Years Later

 
This week, Americans mark a turning point in the history of the United States. Fifty years ago, the Supreme¹ Court issued a ruling that declared racial segregation² in the nation's public schools to be illegal. The case was called Brown versus³ Board of Education, and it was one of the most challenging tests of the nation's democratic values. In marking the anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision this week, educators, policy makers⁴, parents and students are reviewing what it meant then and what it means now for the people of the United States. According to a poll conducted for the Associated Press by Ipsos U-S, the vast majority of Americans, black and white, now say the Brown versus Board decision has had a positive affect.

The years following the Brown versus Board decision brought new curricula to colleges and universities across the United States: ethnic⁵ courses. "Chicano Studies," "African-American Studies," and "Asian Studies" have become commonplace on many American campuses. Generally, instructors⁶ explore and celebrate the history and culture of a particular ethnic group. But now, there's a new "study" looming⁸ on the academic horizon, and as Main Street's Maura Farrelly reports, the objective of so-called "Whiteness Studies" isn't exactly the celebration of white, American culture.

Another major court case in the United States has an anniversary this month. Thirty years ago, a court changed the rules about how the U-S government deals with pollution. The decision established the principle that government can force industry to clean up its mess. And if industry refuses, the government can shut it down. In the thirty years since the decision, there have been consequences. We have details today from The Great Lakes Radio Consortium's Stephanie Hemphill.

Two-hundred years ago this month, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark started making their way up the Missouri River. This wasn't your ordinary hiking trip. They were sent by the then-president, Thomas Jefferson, to explore the uncharted American west. At the time - May of 1804 - it was as daring and as revolutionary a venture as sending a man to the moon. During the bicentennial observance of their famous expedition, Lewis and Clark are getting a lot of attention in the United States. In fact, here on Main Street in the months ahead, we will be bringing you occasional reports about their historic journey and the lands they discovered. Today, we begin where they began ... along the Missouri River, where hundreds of volunteers are cleaning up for the celebrations. Kevin Lavery of the Great Lakes Radio Consortium has the story.

注释：
turning point 转折点
Supreme Court 最高法院
ruling [5ru:liN] n. 裁决
racial segregation 种族隔离
Brown versus Board of Education布朗诉教育委员会案
Associated Press by Ipsos U-S 美国易浦索联社
curricula [kE5rikjulE] n. 课程
ethnic [5eWnik] adj. 人种的，种族的
Chicano [tFi:`kB:nEJ] ［美］n. 奇卡诺人，指墨西哥裔美国人
commonplace [5kCmEnpleis] adj. 普遍的
instructors [in5strQktE] n. 教师
loom⁷ [lu:m] v. 隐现
academic [7AkE5demik] adj. 学术界的
horizon [hE5raizn] n.（知识、思想等的）范围，视野
The Great Lakes Radio Consortium 五大湖广播联盟
Missouri River密苏里河
hiking [haikiN] n. 徒步旅行
uncharted [5Qn5tFB:tid] adj. 未知的
venture [5ventFE] n. 冒险
bicentennial [5baisen5tenjEl] n. 二百年，二百周年纪念
observance [Eb5zE:vEns] n. 仪式，庆祝

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 segregation   

n.隔离，种族隔离

参考例句：

• Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the early 1960s.在60年代初，许多学校部门都觉得按水平分班是一个棘手的问题。
• They were tired to death of segregation and of being kicked around.他们十分厌恶种族隔离和总是被人踢来踢去。

3 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

4 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

6 instructors   

指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
• He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份，被邀请到主席台上。

7 loom   

n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近

参考例句：

• The old woman was weaving on her loom.那位老太太正在织布机上织布。
• The shuttle flies back and forth on the loom.织布机上梭子来回飞动。

8 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望