奥巴马演讲 Recognizing What Historically Black Colleges
文章来源:未知 文章作者:meng 发布时间:2010-03-06 05:42 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

Remarks by the President on Signing Executive Order on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
East Room
4:54 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  Please have a seat.  (Applause.)  Thank you very much.  Well, it is wonderful to be here.  And thank you for the outstanding introduction by Mr. Smart.  And I was complimenting(恭维) him on his bowtie(蝶形领结) -- (laughter)  -- as well as the excellent scholarship that he’s showing.  I want to thank all the student leaders from HBCUs and some of the fantastic men and women that I've named to serve on my HBCU advisory1 board.  So thank you, all of you, for what you are contributing to this important cause.

I have a few members of Congress that are in the audience that I want to acknowledge.  At least I think they’re here.  I haven’t spotted2 everybody.  First of all, one of our outstanding leaders in the House of Representatives, and the whip in the House of Representatives, James Clyburn -- James Clyburn is right here.  (Applause.)  One of the deans of the Congress and the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, John Conyers is in the house.  (Applause.)  A great friend from the great state of Maryland, Elijah Cummings.  (Applause.)  The chair of the Congressional Black Caucus3, Barbara Lee.  (Applause.)  A champion on behalf of D.C. statehood -- or at least voting rights -- Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton.  (Applause.)  Congressman4 Bobby Scott from the great state of Virginia.  (Applause.)  And one of our foremost exports -- experts on foreign policy, Congressman Donald Payne from New Jersey5.  (Applause.)

I also want to acknowledge Dr. Earl Richardson, who is finishing tenure6(任期,占有) as President of Morgan State University.  Please, sir.  (Applause.)  And a great friend, President of Hampton University for more than 30 years, Dr. William Harvey.  (Applause.)  I promised him I'd come back to Hampton, so I'm going to be speaking at his commencement this year.  (Applause.)

And then the Trojan Explosion Drum Line from Virginia State University.  (Applause.)  I'm told this is the first time there’s been a drum line in the White House.  (Laughter.)  This is what I've been told.  (Laughter.)

Before the Civil War and the creation of what we now call the Historically Black Colleges and Universities(高等学校) , an education –- much less a higher education -– just wasn’t possible for most African Americans.  Where it was happening, reading and writing were often taught in secret.  But as the Civil War ended and the 13th and 14th and 15th amendments7 were signed, a freed people demanded a freed mind.  And the war on illiteracy8(文盲,无知) and ignorance began.

There were some, like Booker T. Washington, a freed slave who walked 500 miles from the mines of West Virginia to study at Hampton, who argued that these colleges should focus on teaching blacks skilled trades and vocations9.  There were others, like W.E.B. DuBois, who studied at Fisk and became the first African American to earn a doctorate10(博士学位) from Harvard, who advocated(提倡,拥护) for education in the arts and the sciences to cultivate(培养,耕作) the leaders and teachers of the next generation.

Today, at America's 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, our young men and women prepare to do both.  They're the campuses where a people were educated; where a middle class was built; where a dream took hold.  They're places where generations of African Americans have gained a sense of their heritage, their history, and their place in the American story.

But like all colleges and universities, HBCUs face tough challenges today.  Endowments(禀赋,基金) and state budgets are shrinking, too many facilities are deteriorating11(退化 ,恶化) , enrollment13 is falling -– and the cost of education keeps going up.  And these schools feel the pain more acutely –- they do more with less, and they enroll12 higher proportions of low- and middle-income students.  And that's why the Recovery Act that was passed last year invested in their infrastructure14 and technology and nearly doubled the Pell Grant award.  And that's why the budget I've proposed this year increases HBCU funding by nearly $100 million at the Department of Education alone.

But helping15 HBCUs chart a new path in this new century will require much more on all of our parts.  And that's why today I'm signing an executive order strengthening the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.  (Applause.)

This initiative originated in President Carter’s administration; it expanded under President Reagan; and its been renewed by each President since, to help these schools give their students every chance to live up to their full potential.  And I’ve asked Dr. John S. Wilson, a Morehouse man, to lead it under my administration, and Dr. Harvey to serve as chairman of its #p#分页标题#e#advisory board(咨询委员会) .

And I want to be clear:  Strengthening America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities isn’t a task that falls to these men or to the Department of Education alone –- I expect agencies across the federal government to help support this mission.

We’re not doing this because these schools -- well, we're not only doing this because these schools are a gateway16 to a better future for African Americans; we’re doing it because their success is vital to a better future for all Americans.  We know that Americans with college degrees far out-earn those without.  We know that our businesses too often can’t find qualified17 candidates for open positions.  We know that other countries are out-educating their kids to out-compete ours.  And yet, year after year, a stubborn(顽固的,顽强的) gap persists between how well African Americans are doing compared to their white classmates.  Year after year, American students trail their foreign peers in too many areas.  And year after year, those students who do make it to college often find themselves unprepared for its rigors18(严格,寒颤) .

That’s why education reform has been a top priority of my administration.  We launched a national competition to improve our schools by investing only in reform that closes the achievement gap, and inspires students to excel in math and science, and turns around failing schools that steal the future from too many young Americans.  We’re working with states and governors to develop and implement19(实现,执行) standards that better position all our students to graduate high school prepared for college and careers.

I’ve urged the Senate to pass a bill that will make college more affordable20 by ending unnecessary taxpayer21 subsidies22 that go to financial intermediaries for student loans, revitalize(复活,复兴) our community colleges that serve as career pathways for the children of so many working families, and invest more than $2 billion in Minority Serving Institutions, including HBCUs.  All of this will help achieve our goal of ensuring that America once again has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020 -– and keeping our HBCUs strong is vital to achieving that goal.

Still, there are some who question the continued relevance23(中肯,关联) of HBCUS; who say that they’ve fulfilled their purpose; who say that after all the progress that we’ve made, their reason for being is now somehow obsolete24(老式的,废弃的) .  But it was because of these schools that a young prankster(爱开玩笑的人,顽皮的人) discovered the sense of purpose that led him ultimately to sit on the Supreme25 Court.  It was because of these schools that a young broadcaster with a funny name –- Oprah –- (laughter) -- could make that name into an empire.  It was because of HBCUs that a young preacher grew into a king that shared his dream with all of America.

It was because of these schools that America's middle class was filled with black doctors and educators and judges and lawyers and engineers and entrepreneurs(企业家) .  And today, it's because of these schools that one out of every two wide-eyed freshmen26 who who arrives on their campuses with big backpacks and bigger dreams is the first in his or her family to go to college.

And that's why we're here today -– to ensure that these schools remain the beacons27(指向标,信号灯) that they've been for more than a century and a half:  Crucibles28 of learning where students discover their full potential and forge(伪造,锻造) the character required to realize it; catalysts29 of change where young people put their hands on the arc of history and move this nation closer to the ideals of its founding; and the cradles of opportunity where each generation inherits the American Dream -– and keeps it alive for the next.

That's what HBCUs are about, and that's why I'm proud to now sign this executive order.  (Applause.)

(The executive order is signed.)

There we go.  (Applause.)

END
5:03 P.M. EST



点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 advisory lKvyj     
adj.劝告的,忠告的,顾问的,提供咨询
参考例句:
  • I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
  • He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。
2 spotted 7FEyj     
adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的
参考例句:
  • The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
  • Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。
3 caucus Nrozd     
n.秘密会议;干部会议;v.(参加)干部开会议
参考例句:
  • This multi-staged caucus takes several months.这个多级会议常常历时好几个月。
  • It kept the Democratic caucus from fragmenting.它也使得民主党的核心小组避免了土崩瓦解的危险。
4 Congressman TvMzt7     
n.(美)国会议员
参考例句:
  • He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
  • The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。
5 jersey Lp5zzo     
n.运动衫
参考例句:
  • He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
  • They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致,都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。
6 tenure Uqjy2     
n.终身职位;任期;(土地)保有权,保有期
参考例句:
  • He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
  • Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。
7 amendments 39576081718792f25ceae20f3bb99b43     
(法律、文件的)改动( amendment的名词复数 ); 修正案; 修改; (美国宪法的)修正案
参考例句:
  • The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
  • Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。
8 illiteracy VbuxY     
n.文盲
参考例句:
  • It is encouraging to read that illiteracy is declining.从读报中了解文盲情况正在好转,这是令人鼓舞的。
  • We must do away with illiteracy.我们必须扫除文盲。
9 vocations bd35d8380ee2ae73e19e0d106d4c66c4     
n.(认为特别适合自己的)职业( vocation的名词复数 );使命;神召;(认为某种工作或生活方式特别适合自己的)信心
参考例句:
  • The term profession originally denoted a limited number of vocations. 专业这个术语起初表示数量有限的职业。 来自辞典例句
  • I understood that Love encompassed all vocations, that Love was everything "." 我明白爱含有一切圣召,爱就是一切。 来自互联网
10 doctorate fkEzt     
n.(大学授予的)博士学位
参考例句:
  • He hasn't enough credits to get his doctorate.他的学分不够取得博士学位。
  • Where did she do her doctorate?她在哪里攻读博士?
11 deteriorating 78fb3515d7abc3a0539b443be0081fb1     
恶化,变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
  • I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚,大家情绪低落,各个工厂越搞越坏。
12 enroll Pogxx     
v.招收;登记;入学;参军;成为会员(英)enrol
参考例句:
  • I should like to enroll all my children in the swimming class.我愿意让我的孩子们都参加游泳班。
  • They enroll him as a member of the club.他们吸收他为俱乐部会员。
13 enrollment itozli     
n.注册或登记的人数;登记
参考例句:
  • You will be given a reading list at enrollment.注册时你会收到一份阅读书目。
  • I just got the enrollment notice from Fudan University.我刚刚接到复旦大学的入学通知书。
14 infrastructure UbBz5     
n.下部构造,下部组织,基础结构,基础设施
参考例句:
  • We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
  • We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设,发展各类群众文化。
15 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
16 gateway GhFxY     
n.大门口,出入口,途径,方法
参考例句:
  • Hard work is the gateway to success.努力工作是通往成功之路。
  • A man collected tolls at the gateway.一个人在大门口收通行费。
17 qualified DCPyj     
adj.合格的,有资格的,胜任的,有限制的
参考例句:
  • He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
  • We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。
18 rigors 466678414e27533457628ace559db9cb     
严格( rigor的名词复数 ); 严酷; 严密; (由惊吓或中毒等导致的身体)僵直
参考例句:
  • The rigors of that lonely land need no further description. 生活在那个穷乡僻壤的困苦是无庸赘言的。
  • You aren't ready for the rigors of industry. 你不适合干工业的艰苦工作了。
19 implement WcdzG     
n.(pl.)工具,器具;vt.实行,实施,执行
参考例句:
  • Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划,除非你能完成这项计划。
  • The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。
20 affordable kz6zfq     
adj.支付得起的,不太昂贵的
参考例句:
  • The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
  • There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。
21 taxpayer ig5zjJ     
n.纳税人
参考例句:
  • The new scheme will run off with a lot of the taxpayer's money.这项新计划将用去纳税人许多钱。
  • The taxpayer are unfavourably disposed towards the recent tax increase.纳税者对最近的增加税收十分反感。
22 subsidies 84c7dc8329c19e43d3437248757e572c     
n.补贴,津贴,补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
  • Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 relevance gVAxg     
n.中肯,适当,关联,相关性
参考例句:
  • Politicians' private lives have no relevance to their public roles.政治家的私生活与他们的公众角色不相关。
  • Her ideas have lost all relevance to the modern world.她的想法与现代社会完全脱节。
24 obsolete T5YzH     
adj.已废弃的,过时的
参考例句:
  • These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了,在市场上卖不了高价。
  • They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。
25 supreme PHqzc     
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。
26 freshmen bcdb5f5d859647798b83af425baa69ee     
n.(中学或大学的)一年级学生( freshman的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • We are freshmen and they are sophomores. 我们是一年级学生,他们是二年级学生。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • University freshmen get lots of razzing, but they like the initiation. 大一新生受各种嘲弄,但是他们对这种入门经验甘之如饴。 来自辞典例句
27 beacons dfb02f84b16e33c347ba417c44745ea7     
灯塔( beacon的名词复数 ); 烽火; 指路明灯; 无线电台或发射台
参考例句:
  • A chain of beacons was lit across the region. 整个地区点起了一系列灯塔。
  • Lighthouse and beacons flash at night. 晚上灯塔与信号台闪着光。
28 crucibles 9be16b02402853ce414c404899e1b926     
n.坩埚,严酷的考验( crucible的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Gooch crucibles or similar filters are used for such measurements. 在这样的测定中,采用Gooch坩埚或类似的过滤器。 来自辞典例句
  • Have you really measured the world by scrutinies, or through alembics and crucibles? 那么,这是否因为您是从蒸馏器和坩埚上来研究人类的呢? 来自互联网
29 catalysts 677fdea123458fc2ff92eb84d07254e9     
n.催化剂( catalyst的名词复数 );触媒;促进因素;有感染力的人
参考例句:
  • The first catalytic converters were called conventional oxidation catalysts. 最初的转化器叫做常规氧化催化器。 来自辞典例句
  • Many processes that are essential to the chemical industry use heterogeneous catalysts. 很多重要的化学工业过程就是使用多相催化剂的。 来自辞典例句
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