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Beating the Bullies 反击校园恶霸

课文朗读

课文讲解 

繁體中文譯本

Stupid! Retard! Geek! Nerd! As kids, most of us found ourselves on the receiving end of put-downs like these. In fact, many children brush up against bullying every day, whether in the form of physical aggression, intimidation, the theft of or damage to belongings, or even rumor-mongering.

笨蛋！白痴！怪胎！呆子！在孩提时，我们大部分的人都曾遭受过这样的言语轻蔑。事实上，许多孩子每天都遇到这种强凌弱的事，不管是肉体上的侵害，恐吓、遭窃、财物损失，或甚至是谣言的散布。

For years, children have bullied each other as a means of establishing a social hierarchy within a given peer group. However, recent studies have shown a noted increase in this behavior. The University of Illinois found that the number of middle school children who engage in bullying has increased from fifteen to eighty percent over the past few years. The seriousness of bullying is underlined in a report released by the U.S. Secret Service. The study found that a common denominator amongst the perpetrators of school shootings is that they were bullied continually at school.

长久以来，小孩子们以欺负为手段，在同辈团体之间建立一种社会阶级。然而，最近的研究显示，这种行为有明显的增加。伊利诺大学发现，在过去的几年当中，中学生强凌弱的比例从百分之十五增加到百分之八十。一份由美国特务工作局所发布的报告凸显出这种强凌弱的严重性。研究发现，那些犯下校园枪击案件的行凶者有一个共同的特性，那就是他们在学校不断地受到欺负。

Although it’s difficult for teachers to know just when to intervene – and they often avoid intervening at all because of the valuable class time lost while dealing with a bully – all hope is not lost. In the U.S., ten states have introduced laws that mandate anti-bullying programs in schools. Although experts predict no overnight changes, they see this as a definite step in the right direction.

虽然对教师而言，很难知道什么时候该去干涉──而且他们通常完全避免插手，因为处理一个校园欺凌事件会浪费宝贵的上课时间──情况并非那么悲观。在美国，有十个州制订法律明令各级学校施行反欺凌政策。虽然专家预测情况不可能立刻改变，但他们认为这种作法是朝正确的方向迈出坚定的一步。

Vocabulary

单词发音

nerd [nɝd] n. 书呆子; 【俚】讨厌的人；笨蛋

put-down【口】轻蔑的话；令人不能招架的反讥（或反驳）a critical, disparaging, or slighting remark

brush up 重温；复习

bullying [ˋbʊlɪɪŋ] n. 霸凌；恃强欺弱（行为）

intimidation [ɪntɪməˋdeʃən] n. 恫吓，恐吓；胁迫

belongings [bəˋlɔŋɪŋz] n. 所有物; 财产﹐财物

monger [ˋmʌŋgɚ] n. 表示"专门制造（或散布）……的人"（如：rumour-monger造谣者）

hierarchy [ˋhaɪə͵rɑrkɪ] n. 等级制度

underline [͵ʌndɚˋlaɪn] v. 强调；使突出

denominator [dɪˋnɑmə͵netɚ] n. 共同点〔一组织中不同成员共有的态度或质量〕

perpetrator [͵pɝpəˋtretɚ] n. 做坏事者；犯罪者

intervene [͵ɪntɚˋvin] v.〔尤指本身不直接牵涉在内﹐但为了停止争吵﹑战争或解决问题而〕干涉﹐干预

mandate [ˋmændet] v. 批准;颁布;强制执行

definite [ˋdɛfənɪt] adj. 明确的，确切的

Sentence of the Day

They don't want to muscle in.

他们不想强力介入

muscle in  强行挤入（以便分享利益）;强行插手

课文讲解

Sarah calls her friend James to discuss her son’s recent behavior:  莎拉打电话给她的朋友詹姆士，讨论她的孩子最近的行为：

S: Every day it’s a struggle to get Gary to school! I’m at a loss. He used to love school.

每天实在很难将盖瑞送到学校！我不知道该怎么办，他以前是很喜欢上学的！

J: Maybe somebody is picking on him. When my daughter Julie was refusing to leave the house, it turned out she was being bullied.

或许有些人找他麻烦。以前我女儿曾拒绝出门，后来发现原来她是被人欺负了。

S: Yes, I remember. But Gary has never come home with cuts and bruises or torn clothes. It’s just his mood that’s off.

是啊，我记得，但盖瑞回家的时候，身上没有割伤、瘀血或衣服被撕破。只不过是他的情绪低落。

J: Well, that’s also a sign. If he’s moody and bad-tempered, quiet and withdrawn, or if he’s suffering from insomnia or anxiety, it can mean he’s being bullied.

嗯，那也是一种征兆。如果他闷闷不乐、脾气暴躁、闷不吭声又畏畏缩缩的，或患了失眠或焦虑症，那可能表示他被欺负了。

S: Well, if that’s the case, how can I find out who the bully is? I want a word or two with his parents!

嗯，如果是这样的话，我怎么去查出是谁欺负他了？我想跟他的父母亲谈一下。

J: No, keep your distance! Rather, approach the school, speak to Gary’s teacher, and ask her to keep an eye on the situation.

不，要保持距离！最好去学校，跟盖瑞的老师讲，请她注意这种情况。

S: I’ll submit a written complaint so they have it on record.

我会递交一封投诉函给他们做正式纪录。

J: Good idea! Also, ask them if they have an anti-bullying policy. And if they don’t, they should start one!

好主意！也要问他们是不是有反欺凌的政策。如果没有的话，他们应该着手制定一个。

S: I’ll do that. And, if the school won’t help me, I’ll take the matter to the Department of Education!

Nothing is stronger than a mother’s love!

我会这么做！同时，如果学校不帮我，我会找教育部来处理这件事！没有什么是比母爱更强烈的。

－by David Needham

Vocabulary

单词发音

at a loss 不知如何是好, 茫然, 困惑 perplexed; puzzled

pick on【口】找...的碴儿; 对...唠叼; 指责

turn out 结果成为

bruise [bruz] n. 伤痕，青肿

off [ɔf] adj. 情况不好的

moody [ˋmudɪ] adj. 闷闷不乐的，郁郁寡欢的

withdrawn [wɪðˋdrɔn] adj. 沉默寡言的；怕羞的

insomnia [ɪnˋsɑmnɪə] n. 失眠

keep an eye on 照看；注意; 仔细看守好; 细心照顾

complaint [kəmˋplent] n.〔口头或书面的〕投诉

on record (指事实、事件等)记载下来的; (尤指)正式记录的

Sentence of the Day

Bully for her.

她做的很棒！

bully【口】好，妙