REMARKSBYTHEPRESIDENTINANATIONALADDRESSTOAMERICA'SSCHOOLCHILDRENWakefieldHighSchoolArlington,Virginia韦克菲尔德高中弗吉尼亚州,阿林顿市THEPRESIDENT:Hello,everybody!Thankyou.Thankyou.Thankyou,everybody.Allright,everybodygoaheadandhaveaseat.Howiseverybodydoingtoday?(Applause.)HowaboutTimSpicer?(Applause.)嗨,大家好!谢谢!谢谢!好的,大家请就坐。你们今天过得怎么样?TimSpicer(过得)好吗?IamherewithstudentsatWakefieldHighSchoolinArlington,Virginia.Andwe'vegotstudentstuninginfromallacrossAmerica,fromkindergartenthrough12thgrade.AndIamjustsogladthatallcouldjoinustoday.AndIwanttothankWakefieldforbeingsuchanoutstandinghost.Giveyourselvesabigroundofapplause.(Applause.)我现在和弗吉尼亚州阿林顿郡韦克菲尔德高中的学生们在一起,全国各地也有从幼儿园到高三的众多学生们通过电视关注这里,我很高兴你们能共同分享这一时刻。还有感谢韦克菲尔德高中出色的组织安排,请为你们热烈地鼓掌。Iknowthatformanyofyou,todayisthefirstdayofschool.Andforthoseofyouinkindergarten,orstartingmiddleorhighschool,it'syourfirstdayinanewschool,soit'sunderstandableifyou'realittlenervous.Iimaginetherearesomeseniorsouttherewhoarefeelingprettygoodrightnow--(applause)--withjustonemoreyeartogo.Andnomatterwhatgradeyou'rein,someofyouareprobablywishingitwerestillsummerandyoucould'vestayedinbedjustalittlebitlongerthismorning.我知道,对你们中的许多人来说,今天是开学的第一天,你们中的有一些刚刚进入幼儿园或升上初高中,对你们来说,这是在新学校的第一天,因此,假如你们感到有些紧张,那也是很正常的。我想也会有许多毕业班的学生们正自信满满地准备最后一年的冲刺。不过,我想无论你有多大、在读哪个年级,许多人都打心底里希望现在还在放暑假,以及今天不用那么早起床。Iknowthatfeeling.WhenIwasyoung,myfamilylivedoverseas.IlivedinIndonesiaforafewyears.Andmymother,shedidn'thavethemoneytosendmewherealltheAmericankidswenttoschool,butshethoughtitwasimportantformetokeepupwithanAmericaneducation.Soshedecidedtoteachmeextralessonsherself,MondaythroughFriday.Butbecauseshehadtogotowork,theonlytimeshecoulddoitwasat4:30inthemorning.我可以理解这份心情。小时候,我们家在印度尼西亚住过几年,而我妈妈没钱送我去其他美国孩子们上学的地方去读书,但她认为必须让我接受美式教育。因此她决定从周一到周五自己给我上课。不过因为她要上夜班,所以只能在凌晨4点半给我上课。Now,asyoumightimagine,Iwasn'ttoohappyaboutgettingupthatearly.Andalotoftimes,I'dfallasleeprightthereatthekitchentable.ButwheneverI'dcomplain,mymotherwouldjustgivemeoneofthoselooksandshe'dsay,Thisisnopicnicformeeither,buster.(Laughter.)你们可以想象,我是不太情愿那么早起床的。很多次,我趴在餐桌上就睡着了。每当我埋怨的时候,我妈总会用同一副表情看着我说:“小鬼,你以为教你我就很轻松?”SoIknowthatsomeofyouarestilladjustingtobeingbackatschool.ButI'mheretodaybecauseIhavesomethingimportanttodiscusswithyou.I'mherebecauseIwanttotalkwithyouaboutyoureducationandwhat'sexpectedofallofyouinthisnewschoolyear.所以,我可以理解你们中的许多人对于开学还需要时间来调整和适应。但今天我站在这里,是为了和你们谈一些重要的事情。我要和你们谈一谈你们每个人的教育,以及在新的学年对你们的期望。Now,I'vegivenalotofspeechesabouteducation.AndI'vetalkedaboutresponsibilityalot.I'vetalkedaboutteachers'responsibilityforinspiringstudentsandpushingyoutolearn.I'vetalkedaboutyourparents'responsibilityformakingsureyoustayontrack,andyougetyourhomeworkdone,anddon'tspendeverywakinghourinfrontoftheTVorwiththeXbox.我作过许多关于教育的讲话,也常常用到“责任”这个词。我谈到过教师们有责任激励和启迪你们,督促你们学习。我谈到过家长们有责任确保你们走正道、完成家庭作业,不要成天只会看电视或打游戏机。I'vetalkedalotaboutyourgovernment'sresponsibilityforsettinghighstandards,andsupportingteachersandprincipals,andturningaroundschoolsthataren'tworking,wherestudentsaren'tgettingtheopportunitiesthattheydeserve.我也很多次谈到过政府有责任设定高标准、协助老师和校长们的工作,改变在有些学校里学生得不到应有的学习机会的现状。Butattheendoftheday,wecanhavethemostdedicatedteachers,themostsupportiveparents,thebestschoolsintheworld--andnoneofitwillmakeadifference,noneofitwillmatterunlessallofyoufulfillyourresponsibilities,unlessyoushowuptothoseschools,unlessyoupayattentiontothoseteachers,unlessyoulistentoyourparentsandgrandparentsandotheradultsandputinthehardworkittakestosucceed.That'swhatIwanttofocusontoday:theresponsibilityeachofyouhasforyoureducation.但哪怕这一切都达到最好,哪怕我们有最敬业的教师、最尽力的家长和最好的学校,假如你们不去履行自己的责任的话,那么这一切努力都会白费。—除非你每天准时去上学、除非你认真地听老师讲课、除非你把父母、长辈和其他大人们说的话放在心上、除非你肯付出成功所必需的努力,否则这一切都会失去意义。而这就是我今天讲话的重点:你们每个人对自己的教育应尽的责任。Iwanttostartwiththeresponsibilityyouhavetoyourself.Everysingleoneofyouhassomethingthatyou'regoodat.Everysingleoneofyouhassomethingtooffer.Andyouhavearesponsibilitytoyourselftodiscoverwhatthatis.That'stheopportunityaneducationcanprovide.首先,我想谈谈你们对于自己有什么责任。你们每个人都会有自己擅长的东西,每一个人都是有用之材。发现自己的才能是什么,就是你们要对自己承担的责任。而教育给你们提供了发现自己才能的机会。Maybeyoucouldbeagreatwriter--maybeevengoodenoughtowriteabookorarticlesinanewspaper--butyoumightnotknowituntilyouwritethatEnglishpaper--thatEnglishclasspaperthat'sassignedtoyou.Maybeyoucouldbeaninnovatororaninventor--maybeevengoodenoughtocomeupwiththenextiPhoneorthenewmedicineorvaccine--butyoumightnotknowituntilyoudoyourprojectforyourscienceclass.MaybeyoucouldbeamayororasenatororaSupremeCourtjustice--butyoumightnotknowthatuntilyoujoinstudentgovernmentorthedebateteam.或许你能写出优美的文字——甚至有一天能让那些文字出现在书籍和报刊上——但假如不在英语课上经常练习写作,你不会发现自己有这样的天赋;或许你能成为一个创新家、发明家——甚至设计出新一代的iPhone,或研制出新的药物与疫苗——但假如不在自然科学课堂上做上几次试验,你不会知道自己有这样的天赋;或许你能成为一名市长、参议员或最高法院的大法官,但假如你不去加入学生会或参加几次辩论赛,你不会发现自己有这样的才能。Andnomatterwhatyouwanttodowithyourlife,Iguaranteethatyou'llneedaneducationtodoit.Youwanttobeadoctor,orateacher,orapoliceofficer?Youwanttobeanurseoranarchitect,alawyeroramemberofourmilitary?You'regoingtoneedagoodeducationforeverysingleoneofthosecareers.Youcannotdropoutofschoolandjustdropintoagoodjob.You'vegottotrainforitandworkforitandlearnforit.不管你将来想要做什么,我可以向你保证