VOA标准英语2010年-US Economists Say University Not Only

The apprentice¹ program run by the Plumbers² and Steamfitters Union in the state of Maryland, Travis Strawderman and other students make money while they learn

There's a widespread perception³ in the United States that a university degree is the key to success.  But a growing number of educators now say there other possibilities, especially for students might not succeed at the university level.

This is not a traditional classroom. At the apprentice program run by the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union in the state of Maryland, Travis Strawderman and other students make money while they learn. "It's completely changed my life around," he said. "I've been able to pay off all my debts. I can say I'm actually responsible enough to have my own family."

Strawderman's five-year program teaches him technical skills free of charge. He says he considered university, but it didn't interest him.

Economics⁴ Professor Robert Lerman says Strawderman is not alone. "A lot of people are bored in high school," Lerman stated. "They leave high school because they are bored. They want to do something besides sit in a classroom."

Lerman says the education system in the United States is too focused on pushing students to attend university. "What we're doing now is we're saying unless you learn in this way you don't really have the option for a rewarding career," he said.

But Chad Aldeman, an analyst⁵ for the think tank Education Sector⁶, says studies show the longer students stay in school the better chance they have at having a high paying and stable career. "If you only are a high school graduate your wages are going to drop over your lifetime -- as opposed to a college degree," he said. The college degree "is really an insurance policy against unemployment and against low wages."

But not everyone who goes to university is successful.  A 2007 report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development finds only 54 percent of the people who enter university in the U.S. get a degree. That's one of the lowest among developed countries, where the average is 71 percent.

"A large number of young people would learn much better through a combination of work place learning and academic learning but tied to particular objectives," Lerman said.

The Bureau of Labor⁷ Statistics⁸ says that of the 30 occupations projected to have the largest growth, more than half of them require on the job training and not a university degree.

Al Clinedinst is the training director of Travis Strawderman's apprentice program. "It's extremely competitive⁹. We take the best out of the group that apply that year. Sometimes there are as many as 1,700 people that apply for 100 spots," he said.

When students are accepted into the apprenticeship¹⁰ program, the school helps them to find full time jobs with contractors¹¹. They work during the day and attend classes at night, two to three times a week.

"They earn a wage while they are out there learning and in many cases the wages are higher than most entry level jobs in the market place," Lakin explained.

Steven Lakin, vice¹² president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Maryland, says companies within his organization employ the students and graduates of this apprenticeship program. When the students graduate they can earn $36 an hour.

"The good thing with trade is more than likely you're always going to have a job and as soon as you get out of the apprenticeship they're going to put you to work," Strawderman said.

For Strawderman, who recently married, this apprenticeship gives him a sense of achievement, knowing that he can provide for his family and enjoy his job.

 

1 apprentice   

n.学徒，徒弟

参考例句：

• My son is an apprentice in a furniture maker's workshop.我的儿子在一家家具厂做学徒。
• The apprentice is not yet out of his time.这徒工还没有出徒。

2 plumbers   

n.管子工，水暖工( plumber的名词复数 )；[美][口]（防止泄密的）堵漏人员

参考例句：

• Plumbers charge by the hour for their work. 水管工人的工作是以小时收费的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Plumbers, carpenters, and other workmen finished the new house quickly. 管道工、木工及其他工匠很快完成了这幢新房子。 来自辞典例句

3 perception   

n.感知，感觉，觉察(力)；认识，观念，看法

参考例句：

• What's your perception of the matter?你对此事有什么看法？
• He was a man of keen perception.他是一个感觉敏锐的人。

4 economics   

n.经济学，经济情况

参考例句：

• He is studying economics,which subject is very important.他正在学习经济学，该学科是很重要的。
• One can't separate politics from economics.不能把政治与经济割裂开来。

5 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

6 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

7 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

8 statistics   

n.统计，统计数字，统计学

参考例句：

• We have statistics for the last year.我们有去年的统计资料。
• Statistics is taught in many colleges.许多大学都教授统计学。

9 competitive   

adj.竞争的，比赛的，好竞争的，有竞争力的

参考例句：

• Some kinds of business are competitive.有些商业是要竞争的。
• These businessmen are both competitive and honourable.这些商人既有竞争性又很诚实。

10 apprenticeship   

n.学徒身份；学徒期

参考例句：

• She was in the second year of her apprenticeship as a carpenter. 她当木工学徒已是第二年了。
• He served his apprenticeship with Bob. 他跟鲍勃当学徒。

11 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。