出版時間:2012-1-1 出版社:新世界出版社 作者:[美]威廉?H.麥加菲 頁數(shù):327 譯者:依妮,蒼松
Tag標簽:無
前言
我有一個夢想“給孩子最好的教育”或許是每一個中國父母最大的愿望??墒牵裁礃拥慕逃亲詈玫哪??盧梭說:“教育就是成長?!蹦敲?,最好的教育就應該幫助孩子最好的成長。于是,我又產(chǎn)生一個疑問:什么樣的成長對于孩子來說是最好的呢?尤其是不久前我光榮的成為一名父親之后,尋找這個問題的答案就成了我最迫切的目標。起初,我覺得為小生命設計一條成長之路并不是一件困難的事情。我還記得初次抱起她時那種柔軟的感覺,仿佛一不小心就會融化在我的掌心里,也還記得她第一次握住我的大拇指時的那份依戀……但很快,我就發(fā)現(xiàn),小生命并不是像我想的那么簡單柔弱。尤其是在一個晴朗的夏日里,當我們四個大人威逼利誘、軟硬兼施,花了快一個小時的時間,都沒能讓小家伙穿上我們選定的那雙綴滿漂亮裝飾的小涼鞋——一歲多的她堅定地選擇了一雙花色暗淡的紅色小雨靴??粗┲暄タ鞓返呐軄砼苋サ纳碛?,我不禁問自己:我們的選擇真的是孩子自己的需要嗎?好吧,我承認,我有可能并不真正了解我的孩子。我所能做的,或許只能如埃默森所說:“保存兒童的天性,并且正是按照它所指出的方向,用知識把兒童天性武裝起來?!钡铱偟米鳇c什么,因為我還記得培根的一句話:“毫無疑問,從幼年開始的好習慣是最完美的,我們把這叫做'教育',因為教育其實就是一種早年開始的習慣。所以我們看到與以后的時期相比,幼年時代學語言,舌頭學習表達方式和發(fā)音時更柔順,學各種技巧動作時,關節(jié)更靈活?!庇绵嚑敔?shù)脑拋碚f,就是“教育要從娃娃抓起”。我有點明白了,如果我不能明白孩子真正想要什么,那我至少應該讓她自己能夠明白自己想要什么;如果我不能給孩子“最好的教育”,那我至少應該給孩子“最美的教育”。讓她的世界充滿美善而不是丑惡,讓好的習慣占據(jù)她人生的高地。就如我們的老祖宗所做的那樣:讓孩子的人生從《弟子規(guī)》、《三字經(jīng)》開始。于是,我開始行動起來。不過,請先原諒做父母的一點點小小的私心。雖然我已經(jīng)放棄了讓孩子復制我的人生或者彌補我生命中某種缺憾的想法,但我還是對她存在著一點點小小的期望:期望她能夠健康成長,開心快樂,長大后能夠成為地球村里一位合格的村民,在村里自由地轉來轉去。懷著這一點點國際化的期望,我將目光投向了國外。功夫不負有心人,我找到了一本書,看起來十分符合我的要求:美德、美語、美式教育。威廉?霍爾姆斯?麥加菲(William Holmes McGuffey),美國著名教育家,他曾經(jīng)用了二十多年的時間為美國的學生們編寫了一套“語文”教材——《麥加菲美德讀本》。這套教材為當時美國的大多數(shù)學校所采用,并持續(xù)銷售了一百多年,到1960年累計銷量就高達1.22億冊。美國媒體稱:“它至少影響了美國五代人,如果你能找到一個五世同堂的大家庭,你會驚奇地發(fā)現(xiàn),從高祖到重孫,他們能異口同聲地背誦《麥加菲美德讀本》中的優(yōu)秀篇章?!薄冻霭嬷芸穼⑵湓u為“人類出版史上第三大暢銷書”,認為它對美國青年的心靈塑造與道德培養(yǎng)產(chǎn)生了史無前例的影響。但令我心折的并不是因為它是美國小學生的“國語”課本,或是它驕人的銷量,而是它貼近人性的編選。與中國當前的教材不同,《麥加菲美德讀本》中并沒有選錄很多的寓言或者童話,在這里,人是絕對的主角,生活是當然的舞臺,生活中的許多場景都被收錄到了課文之中。有寫不出老師布置的作文,最后卻發(fā)現(xiàn)窗外的風景就是最好的作文的蘇茜,有因為貧窮而被同學嘲笑的戴維,有為了證明自己“勇敢”,而在大孩子的教唆下朝教室門口扔雪球的喬治……當然,為了讓那些高年級的同學欣賞文學的優(yōu)美,其中也有不少狄更斯、華盛頓?歐文等著名作家的名篇節(jié)選。而且,除了真、善、美,麥加菲先生也沒有回避生活中的艱難與困苦,但是更突出了困境之下的個人的堅守與成長。這樣的文章,更容易引起心靈的共鳴,于無聲處滋養(yǎng)心靈的成長?!皬纳钪衼?,到生活中去”,這正是我所期盼的教育。我將把這本書當做禮物送給我親愛的女兒,作為陪伴她成長的禮物。不過,為了不讓她被這厚厚的六卷本所嚇倒,我倒是可以發(fā)揮一下我的作用——從中精選出一些最為優(yōu)秀的文章作為她最早的啟蒙。依照《麥加菲美德讀本》的編選思路,我將這本書分成了“溫暖的家庭”、“美麗的世界”、“可愛的大自然”、“幸福的童年”、“美好的品德”、“五味的人生”和“培養(yǎng)良好的習慣”七個章節(jié)。每個章節(jié)都按照由淺入深的程度精選了多個小故事。在翻譯的過程中,為了更好地讓孩子們理解英文,首先追求“信”,基本采取直譯的方式,只是每個章節(jié)的后幾篇才部分采取意譯的方式,以追求“雅”的境界。為了保留原書中英文的原汁原味,書中一些早期現(xiàn)代英語的用法也給予了保留。在這里,我必須要感謝我的朋友依妮,正是她幫助翻譯完成了書中最難的部分,并讓它變得更“美”。什么是最好的教育?每個人的答案可能都不相同。我只想讓我的孩子接受最美的教育,讓她自己去判別什么是好,什么是壞。我相信,這本書可以幫助我做到這一點。我希望,我的孩子能夠喜歡我為她準備的禮物,并且永遠記住人生最初的這點美麗。在漫長的人生旅途中,無論經(jīng)歷歡笑或是挫折,高潮或是低谷,都能夠微笑著去面對。我并不期望她能夠做到最好,但至少,她的心中,要葆有一份美麗——這就是我的夢想。同時,也將這本書送給中國所有的父母,希望孩子們都能擁有一個美麗的童年。教育是人們靈魂的教育,而非理智知識和認識的堆積。教育的本質意味著:一棵樹搖動另一棵樹,一朵云搖動另一朵云,一個靈魂喚醒另一個靈魂。——雅斯貝爾斯
內(nèi)容概要
五代美國人的精神讀本
對美國人的心靈塑造與道德培養(yǎng)產(chǎn)生了史無前例的影響
《給孩子最美的教育——麥加菲美德讀本》是美國民族教育家麥加菲用了二十多年的時間為美國的學生們編寫的一套“語文”教材。這套教材為當時美國的大多數(shù)學校所采用,自1836年出版之初到1960年,累計銷量高達1.22億冊。當時,幾乎每一個美國家庭都曾擁有一套《給孩子最美的教育——麥加菲美德讀本》。美國媒體稱:“它至少影響了美國五代人,如果你能找到一個五世同堂的大家庭,你會驚奇地發(fā)現(xiàn),從高祖到重孫,他們能異口同聲地背誦《麥加菲美德讀本》中的優(yōu)秀篇章?!?br />美國《出版商周刊》將其評為“人類出版史上第三大暢銷書”,認為《給孩子最美的教育——麥加菲美德讀本》對美國青年的心靈塑造與道德培養(yǎng)產(chǎn)生了史無前例的影響。直至今日,《給孩子最美的教育——麥加菲美德讀本》仍被很多美國學校選為最佳課外讀物。
與中國當前的教材不同,《給孩子最美的教育——麥加菲美德讀本》中并沒有選錄很多的寓言或者童話,在這里,人是絕對的主角,生活是當然的舞臺,生活中的許多場景都被收錄到了課文之中。有寫不出老師布置的作文,最后卻發(fā)現(xiàn)窗外的風景就是最好的作文的蘇茜,有因為貧窮而被同學嘲笑的戴維,有為了證明自己“勇敢”,而在大孩子的教唆下朝教室門口扔雪球的喬治……當然,為了讓那些高年級的同學欣賞文學的優(yōu)美,其中也有不少狄更斯、華盛頓?歐文等著名作家的名篇節(jié)選。而且,除了真、善、美,麥加菲先生也沒有回避生活中的艱難與困苦,但是更突出了困境之下的個人的堅守與成長。這樣的文章,更容易引起心靈的共鳴,于無聲處滋養(yǎng)心靈的成長。
“最純粹的美德、最純正的美語和最原汁原味的美式教育”是《給孩子最美的教育——麥加菲美德讀本》的三大特點,而這正是與國際逐漸接軌的中國父母們所迫切需要為孩子們準備的。就讓美德根植于孩子的心靈,成為陪伴孩子成長的最好禮物吧。
教育是人們靈魂的教育,而非理智、知識和認識的堆積。教育的本質意味著:一棵樹搖動另一棵樹,一朵云搖動另一朵云,一個靈魂喚醒另一個靈魂。
——[德]雅斯貝爾斯
作者簡介
威廉·霍爾姆斯·麥加菲(William Holmes
McGuffey,1800年9月23日—1873年5月4日)美國著名教育家,曾出任美國多所著名大學的校長,被譽為美國的“民族教育家”。他出生于賓夕法尼亞州的克萊斯維爾,1826年畢業(yè)于華盛頓大學。
麥加菲一生鐘愛教育,十四歲時,就曾擔任俄亥俄州的“巡回教師”,之后擔任過邁阿密大學語言學教授等教職。他曾出任過辛辛那提大學、俄亥俄大學等大學的校長,但一直沒有離開過心愛的講臺。
麥加菲最卓越的貢獻就是用了二十多年的時間傾心編寫了系列教材——《麥加菲美德讀本》。這一系列教材自1836年第一次出版之后,就被眾多學校所采用,成為19世紀美國學生最為通用的課本,對美國青年的心靈塑造與道德培養(yǎng),乃至整個“美國精神”的建構,都產(chǎn)生了史無前例的影響。
《麥加菲美德讀本》自1836年出版之初到1960年,累計銷量高達1.22億冊,被美國《出版商周刊》評為“人類出版史上第三大暢銷書”。當時,幾乎每一個美國家庭都曾擁有一套《麥加菲美德讀本》,而且直至今日,它仍被美國的許多學校選為最佳課外讀本。
正因為此,麥加菲被譽為美國的“民族教育家”,《麥加菲美德讀本》也被美國人奉為可以代代相傳的經(jīng)典作品。
書籍目錄
CHAPTER 1溫暖的家庭
小鳥的晨曲
Birdie's Morning Song
圍爐夜話
The Fireside
晚安
Good Night
誰最愛媽媽
Which Loved Best?
好哥倆
A Kind Brother
喬治的盛宴
George's Feast
媽媽的禮物
Mamma's Present
蘇茜的作文
Susie's Composition
CHAPTER 2美麗的世界
春日
Spring
讓雨下吧
Let It Rain
樹葉的私語
What the Leaf Said?
浪花
The Waves
蕁麻的故事
The Nettle
暴風雨
The Thunderstorm
太陽的影響
The Influences of the Sun
考試
The Examination
CHAPTER 3可愛的大自然
麻雀先生
The Sparrow
講故事的人
The Story-Teller
詹妮的呼喚
Jenny's Call
貓頭鷹
The Owl
蜜蜂之歌
The Bee
獅子
The Lion
大象
The Elephant
印第安玉米
Indian Corn
人與動物
Man and the Inferior Animals
CHAPTER 4幸福的童年
小小戰(zhàn)士
Young Soldiers
七彩的泡泡
Bubbles
小古斯塔娃
Little Gustava
回聲的故事
The Echo
懂事的貝茜
Bessie
風箏事件
Ray and His Kite
安妮的夢
Annie's Dream
河口劇院
Rivermouth Theater
CHAPTER 5美好的品德
一塊小面包
The Little Loaf
美麗的手
Beautiful Hands
真正的勇敢
True Courage
善良的行為
Deeds of Kindness
通往快樂的道路
The Way to be Happy
最紳士的報復
The Noblest Revenge
小證人
The Young Witness
溫柔之手
The Gentle Hand
查爾斯國王二世和威廉?佩思
King Charles Ⅱ and William Penn
CHAPTER 6五味的人生
爭吵的后果
The Quarrel
可憐的戴維
Poor Davy
哈瑞和他的狗
Harry and His Dog
不滿的鐘擺
The Discontented Pendulum
哈瑞的財富
Harry's Riches
勇敢去做自己認為是對的事情
Dare to Do Right
小耐麗之死
Death of Little Nell
約翰?亞當斯的假想演講
Supposed Speech of John Adams
CHAPTER 7培養(yǎng)良好的習慣
一分鐘的自白
What the Minutes Say
弗蘭克和沙漏
Frank and the Hourglass
和藹地說話
Speak Gently
學會思考
I Will Think of It
瑪麗的壞習慣
The Torn Doll
小木匠約翰
John Carpenter
艾米沒有賺到的錢
The Money Amy Didn't Earn
優(yōu)秀的朗誦者
The Good Reader
如何去閱讀
A Definite Aim in Reading
A Definite Aim in Reading
章節(jié)摘錄
CHAPTER 1溫暖的家庭對于孩子來說,家庭應是歇憩的場所,培養(yǎng)豐富的人性的土壤以及明亮無比的孩子之夢的溫床?!猍日]池田大作小鳥的晨曲你是否也曾在母親溫情的呼喚中賴在床上不肯起來,享受著親情的縱容?任何時候,家庭總會給我們最溫暖的懷抱。兒時的歌謠很久不曾響起,但母親的愛卻永留心間。昔日的小鳥漸漸羽翼豐滿,什么時候讓我們也為母親唱一首歌,只愿,她能忘卻一天的勞累,在歌聲中安心入眠。醒一醒,小寶貝,小鳥們都出來了,而你還在巢里安睡!連最懶惰的小鳥都在四處蹦蹦跳跳,你該起來和它們一塊兒玩耍。醒一醒,小寶貝,快醒醒!哦,看看在你貪睡時所錯過的,閃亮的露珠,美麗的天空!你錯過的東西,我在歌中連一半也唱不完。你卻連“哼”都不“哼”一聲,醒一醒,小寶貝,快醒醒!媽媽已經(jīng)喚了你很久,我再也沒有耐心為你歌唱,小鳥們已經(jīng)做完它們要做的事,或許,它們就要來啄醒你!醒一醒,小寶貝,快醒醒!Birdie's Morning SongWake up, little darling, the birdies are out,And here you are still in your nest!The laziest birdie is hopping about;You ought to be up with the rest.Wake up, little darling, wake up!Oh, see what you miss when you slumber so long,The dewdrops, the beautiful sky!I can not sing half what you lose in my song;And yet, not a word in reply.Wake up, little darling, wake up!I've sung myself quite out of patience with you,While mother bends o'er your dear head;Now birdie has done all that birdie can do:Her kisses will wake you instead!Wake up, little darling, wake up!George Cooper蘇茜的作文蘇茜寫出了一篇很好的作文,但實際上,她只是寫出了她眼中看到的景色。沒錯,寫作文并不是讓我們?nèi)ゾ幑适?,文字的作用就是幫我們記錄下身邊或者世界上發(fā)生的事情還有自己內(nèi)心的感受。當你把寫作文當做任務時,它會是只難以逾越的攔路虎;而當你以平常心去看待它,你會發(fā)現(xiàn)它不過是只紙老虎。在人生的路上,你還會遇到很多類似的事情,比如考試,它將是攔路虎還是紙老虎,一切都取決于你。一天,蘇茜?史密斯放學回家,一進門就哭了起來。媽媽一邊把女兒摟到身邊,一邊笑著問道:“怎么了,我的寶貝?”“噢,媽媽,麻煩大了。”蘇茜啜泣著,“所有同學明天早上都要交作文,我從來就寫不出來。我們至少要寫十二行,可我憋了快一個下午才寫了幾個字。看看我才寫了點什么?。 笔访芩固闷鹛K茜手里皺巴巴、浸著淚漬的紙,看看上面都寫了什么。蘇茜慎重地寫下了三個主題:時間、自制和勤奮?!皶r間是短暫的,我們都應該充分利用時間?!薄白灾剖欠浅S杏玫?。”“在這個世界上我們想做任何事情都要很勤奮。”這就是她寫下的所有的句子。蘇茜說,“對這些主題我再也想不出一個詞了,我知道,明天上學一定交不出寫好的作文,我可不想從書上抄一篇或是求爸爸或你幫我寫?!薄斑@就對了,親愛的,”媽媽說,“自己寫的作文再糟糕,也比請別人代寫的漂亮文章讓你感覺更好。不過,開心起來吧。你沒有開好頭,你是在嘗試著寫自己根本不了解的題目。去花園里玩吧,半小時后我會叫你的。”“可是我的作文……”媽媽打斷蘇茜的話,說:“玩的時候別想作文的事,只管開心地去玩?!焙孟裰徊贿^玩了幾分鐘,蘇茜就聽到媽媽喊她。她立刻跑回屋里,手里捧著花,小臉紅撲撲的?!艾F(xiàn)在,蘇茜,我要你坐在窗前,取一張空白的紙和一支鉛筆,寫下你看到的東西?!眿寢尫愿勒f?!翱墒俏业淖魑哪兀瑡寢?,我什么時候開始寫我的作文???”蘇茜問道。媽媽說:“別想你的作文了,親愛的,先做我告訴你的,我們之后再談作文的事。”蘇茜雖然覺得媽媽的要求有點奇怪,但是她知道媽媽不論做什么事情總是有她的道理的。所以她拿起紙筆,坐到窗前?!安灰臀抑v話,往窗外看,寫下對你所看到的東西的感受?!碧K茜禁不住笑起來,這真是一件好玩的事情。她向外望去,首先看到的是西邊的天空和絢爛的晚霞?!芭叮瑡寢?,多壯觀的落日?。 碧K茜忍不住驚嘆道?!安灰f,而是寫下來。”媽媽回答。“那我就寫落日好了。”鉛筆開始在紙上飛快地劃過。幾分鐘后她說:“媽媽,我念給你聽我寫的東西好嗎?”“不,現(xiàn)在不行。我要去餐廳了,你坐下來繼續(xù)寫,等我回來?!眿寢寚诟勒f。蘇茜繼續(xù)寫下去。她開始對自己做的事情感興趣了。有那么一會兒,她完全忘了可怕的作文。她描寫了晚霞,那遠處的山丘、樹木、河流,寫下了開滿鮮艷花朵的花園和飛過窗口的小鳥。就在她都快寫滿一張紙的時候,媽媽進來了,笑著問:“蘇茜,你的作文怎樣了?”蘇茜驚道:“作文?你可是告訴我別去理會作文的啊,我還沒有想呢。我剛才只是非常開心地寫下了我從窗戶里看到的一切。”史密斯太太拿過蘇茜的稿紙,大聲朗讀起蘇茜寫的文字:“我坐在窗前的一張小矮凳上,窗戶半開著,從這里可以聞到花園里飄來的縷縷花香。天空給落日染得絢爛極了,呈現(xiàn)出紫色、粉色和金色的顏色。我相信沒有誰的顏料盒里會有這么漂亮的顏色?!薄拔铱吹揭欢湓撇?,高高在上,像一艘大輪船航行在蔚藍的海面上。若是它不會讓我眩暈的話,我真想坐在云彩上?,F(xiàn)在,就在我寫下這些的時候,云彩正變幻著不同的顏色和形狀,每次都非常漂亮。”“綠色山丘的山尖上鑲著金邊,看上去像披著金色的外衣。我可以看到遠處的河流,遠遠看去非常寧靜,盡管我知道它正飛快地奔向大海。”“鳥兒飛過窗口,急著趕回家照顧小寶寶。我真高興小鳥一點都不害怕住在我家花園里,它還在我家的樹上筑巢呢?!薄拔覀兊幕▓@里種滿了各種花:石竹、百合和玫瑰。我的生日再有一周就到了。到那時我們就可以用我們想要的花來編花環(huán)裝飾野餐會了?!笔访芩固f:“蘇茜,你看,這其實是一篇很好的作文?!?“一篇作文!”蘇茜激動地喊道:“可以稱得上作文嗎?”“是的,親愛的,還是一篇好作文呢。”媽媽回答說。“就是還差一個題目?!薄拔覀儊斫o它安一個題目吧。我確信你的老師會和我一樣非常喜歡這篇作文的。你看,親愛的,”媽媽接著說:“如果你描寫自己感興趣的事物,寫作文其實是件很容易的事情。”第二天早晨,蘇茜整整齊齊謄抄了作文,高高興興地準備去上學了。當她和媽媽吻別的時候,蘇茜說:“親愛的媽媽,想想多有意思啊,我寫了那么長的一篇作文,自己竟然都沒有意識到?!庇⒄Z的起源英語的語源其實是德語。公元410年,羅馬人結束了對英國的占領。隨后,來自德國北部平原的三個日耳曼部落:盎格魯人、撒克遜人和朱爾特人開始到不列顛定居。英語就是盎格魯-撒克遜人的語言。但是后來這個民族曾經(jīng)被很多個民族征服過,所以它包含了很多外來詞匯,很多又難又拗口的詞多數(shù)來自拉丁語和法語。語言學家們一般把英語的歷史分為三個時期:古英語,中古英語,現(xiàn)代英語。古英語時期(又稱盎格魯-撒克遜時期 the Anglo-Saxon Period):公元449年至1100年;中古英語時期:公元1100年至1500年;現(xiàn)代英語時期(Modern English):公元1500年至今?,F(xiàn)代英語時期又細分為:早期現(xiàn)代英語時期——1500年至1700年;后期現(xiàn)代英語時期——1700年至今。Susie's CompositionSusie Smith came home from school one day, and had no sooner entered the sitting room than she burst into tears. ““What is the matter, my dear child?”“ said her mother, drawing her daughter to her side and smiling.““O mother, matter enough,”“ sobbed Susie. ““All our class must bring in compositions to-morrow morning, and I never, never can write one. We must write twelve lines at least, and I have written only a few words after trying nearly all the afternoon. See what work I have made of it!”“Mrs. Smith took the rumpled, tear-stained paper which Susie held in her hand, and glanced at what she had written. In a careful hand she had tried to write upon three themes: ““Time,”“ ““Temperance,”“ and ““Industry.”“““Time is short. We should all improve our time.”“ ““Temperance is a very useful thing.”“ ““We should all be industrious if we wish to do anything in the world.”“ These sentences were all she had written.““Now,”“ said Susie, ““I can't think of another word to say upon any of these subjects, and I know I shall have to go to school without a composition, for I won't be so mean as to copy one from a book, or to ask you or papa to write one for me.”“““That is right, my dear,”“ said her mother. ““You will be far happier with a poor composition, if it is all your own, than with a fine one written by somebody else. But cheer up. You have not begun right-you have been trying to write upon subjects that you know nothing about. Run into the garden and play. I will call you in half an hour.”“““But my composition,”“ began Susie. ““Don't think about your composition while you are gone,”“ said Mrs. Smith, ““but have as pleasant a time as you can.”“It seemed but a few minutes to Susie before she heard her mother's voice calling her. She went into the house at once-her hands full of sweet flowers, and her cheeks rosy with exercise.““Now, Susie,”“ said her mother, ““I want you to sit by the window with this nice sheet of paper and a pencil, and write something about what you can see.”“ ““But my composition, mother,”“ said Susie; ““when shall I begin that?”“ ““Never mind your composition, my dear; do this to please me, and we will talk about that by and by.”“Susie thought her mother's request was a strange one; but she knew that she always had a good reason for everything she did: so she took the paper and pencil, and sat by the window.““Do not talk to me at all,”“ said her mother. ““Look out of the window, and then write down your thoughts about everything you see.”“Susie could not help laughing, it seemed such a funny thing to be doing. As she looked out, she first saw the western sky and some bright, sunset clouds. ““O mother!”“ she exclaimed, ““what a splendid sunset!”“ ““Don't talk,”“ said her mother, ““but write.”“““I'll write about the sunset, then,”“ said she, and the pencil began to move rapidly across the paper. In a few moments she said, ““Mother, shall I read you what I have written?”“ ““No, not now,”“ answered her mother; ““I am going into the dining room. You may sit and write until I return.”“As Susie went on writing, she became very much interested in her occupation, and for a time forgot all about the dreaded composition. She wrote about the sunset clouds, the appearance of the distant hills, the trees, the river, the garden with its gay flowers, and the birds flying past the window.Just as she had reached the bottom of the page, her mother came in. ““Well, Susie,”“ said she, with a smile, ““how does that composition come on?”“ ““Composition!”“ exclaimed Susie; ““you told me not to think about my composition, and I have not thought of it once; I have had such a nice time writing about what I could see from the window.”“Mrs. Smith took the paper and read aloud what Susie had written: ““I am sitting on a low seat at the bay window, one half of which is open, so that I can smell the sweet flowers in the garden. The sky is all bright with sunset; I can see purple, and pink, and golden. I do not believe that anyone on earth has a paint box with such lovely colors in it.”“““I can see one cloud, far above the rest, that looks like a ship sailing in the blue sea. I should like to sail on a cloud, if it would not make me dizzy. Now, while I have been writing, the clouds have changed in color and form, but they are just as beautiful as they were before.”“““The green hills are tipped with light, and look as if they were wearing golden crowns. I can see a river a great way off, and it looks quite still, although I know it is running as fast as it can to get to the ocean.”“““The birds are flying past the window to go home and take care of their little ones. I am glad the birds are not afraid to live in our garden, and to build nests in our trees.”“““Our garden is full of flowers-pinks, lilies, and roses. Mother calls this the month of roses. My birthday will come in a week, and we can have all the flowers we wish for wreaths and bouquets.”“““There, Susie,”“ said Mrs. Smith, ““that is a very nice composition, indeed.”“ ““A composition!”“ exclaimed Susie, ““is that a composition?”“ ““Yes, my dear, and a very good one, too,”“ replied her mother. ““When it hasn't even a subject?”“““We can find one for it, and I do not doubt it will please your teacher, as it does me. You see, my dear,”“ continued her mother, ““that it is easy enough to write if you have anything interesting to write about.”“The next morning Susie copied her composition very neatly, and started to school with a happy heart, saying, as she gave her mother a kiss, ““Just think how funny it is, dear mother, that I should have written so long a composition without knowing it.”“真正的勇敢膽大并不等同于勇敢,勇敢來自于對真理、對自我的堅持,尤其是在得不到周圍的人認同的情況下,能夠做到勇敢的堅持,才是真正的勇敢。也許我們都曾有過類似于喬治的經(jīng)歷,希望下次遇到相似的情況時,我們能勇敢的說一聲”不“。一個寒冷的冬天,三個小男孩經(jīng)過一所學校。最大的那個是一個品行不端的孩子,不僅自己經(jīng)常麻煩不斷,還總想讓別的孩子去做壞事。最小的男孩叫喬治,他是個安分守己的孩子。喬治不想做錯事,但他想讓自己更大膽一些。另外兩個孩子一個叫亨利,一個叫詹姆斯。他們一邊走路,一邊說著話。亨利:要是用雪球砸一下教室的門,一定會把老師和學生嚇一跳,我想一定很好玩。詹姆斯:如果你真砸的話,你才會跳起來呢。即使老師抓不到你,他也會告訴你的父親是你干的,你就會挨一頓鞭子,我想你會比那些學生跳得更高的。亨利:不會的,在老師打開門之前,我們就跑遠了,他根本不知道是誰干的。這兒有一個結實的雪球,喬治就可以干這事,當他砸門后也不會被捉住。詹姆斯:你讓他試試,他根本不敢扔出去的。亨利:來,喬治,拿著這個雪球,讓詹姆斯瞧瞧你不是膽小鬼。喬治:我不是不敢,只是我不想,我覺得這不是什么好事,更沒有什么樂趣可言。詹姆斯:瞧,我跟你說過他不敢扔的。亨利:不會吧,喬治,你怎么變膽小了。我覺得你什么都不會怕的。來,別讓人看扁了,就扔一下,我知道你不會害怕的。喬治:好吧,我不害怕,給我雪球,我可以砸一下門而不被捉住的。砰!雪球重重地砸在了門上,幾個小男孩拔腿就跑。亨利盡情嘲笑著喬治,說喬治像個傻子般被他給耍了。喬治為他的愚蠢挨了一頓鞭子,這是他應得的。他才是個膽小鬼呢,因為他害怕別人說他膽小。他不敢拒絕亨利讓他做的壞事,只因為他怕被人嘲笑。如果他是一個真正勇敢的男孩,他會說:“亨利,你以為我會因為你讓我去做,我就傻傻的去扔雪球嗎?如果你想扔,你可以自己扔呀!”亨利也許還會嘲笑他是個膽小鬼,但是喬治可以對他說:“你想我會在乎你的話嗎?我覺得用雪球砸門是不對的,我不做我覺得不對的事,即使全城的人都來笑我也不會?!边@才是真正的勇氣。如果亨利看到的是這樣的情形,他就不會笑喬治了,因為喬治擁有一顆堅強的心。這個故事告訴我們,即便你身陷困境,你都要有一種無畏的勇氣,你應該而且必須堅持自我,不去做那些你不喜歡做的事情。True CourageOne cold winter's day, three boys were passing by a schoolhouse. The oldest was a bad boy. always in trouble himself, and trying to get others into trouble. The youngest, whose name was George, was a very good boy.George wished to do right, but was very much wanting in courage. The other boys were named Henry and James. As they walked along, they talked as follows:Henry: What fun it would be to throw a snowball against the schoolroom door, and make the teacher and scholars all jump!James: You would jump, if you should. If the teacher did not catch you and whip you, he would tell your father, and you would get a whipping then; and that would make you jump higher than the scholars, I think.Henry: Why, we would get so far off, before the teacher could come to the door, that he could not tell who we are. Here is a snowball just as hard as ice, and George would as soon throw it against the door as not.James: Give it to him, and see. He would not dare to throw it.Henry: Do you think George is a coward? You do not know him as well as I do.Henry: George, take this snowball, and show James that you are not such a coward as he thinks you are.George: I am not afraid to throw it; but I do not want to. I do not see that it will do any good, or that there will be any fun in it.James: There! I told you he would not dare to throw it.Henry: Why, George, are you turning coward? I thought you did not fear anything. Come, save your credit, and throw it. I know you are not afraid.George: Well, I am not afraid to throw. Give me the snowball. I would as soon throw it as not.Whack! went the snowball against the door; and the boys took to their heels. Henry was laughing as heartily as he could, to think what a fool he had made of George.George had a whipping for his folly, as he ought to have had. He was such a coward, that he was afraid of being called a coward. He did not dare refuse to do as Henry told him, for fear that he would be laughed at.If he had been really a brave boy, he would have said, ““Henry, do you suppose that I am so foolish as to throw that snowball, just because you want to have me? You may throw your own snowballs, if you please!”“Henry would, perhaps, have laughed at him, and called him a coward.But George would have said, ““Do you think that 1 care for your laughing? I do not think it right to throw the snowball. I will not do that which 1 think to be wrong, if the whole town should join with you in laughing.”“This would have been real courage. Henry would have seen, at once, that it would do no good to laugh at a boy who had so bold a heart. You must have this fearless spirit, or you will get into trouble, and will be, and ought to be, disliked by all.勇 敢bold、brave、courageous都含有”勇敢的“意思bold側重指面對困難或危險時勇往直前、勇于進取的勇敢精神。Mr. Brown made a bold speech. 布朗先生進行了一次大膽的演講。brave含義廣發(fā),指天生的勇敢,無所畏懼地面對困難與危險,側重膽識與果斷。The business folded up despite its barve start.生意開始時雖然很成功,但終究失敗了。courageous是正式用詞,側重指在一切情況下都有膽量、無所畏懼,強調(diào)基于道德信念,經(jīng)深思熟慮后所產(chǎn)生的勇敢。It was courageous of him to oppose his chief.他敢發(fā)對他的上司,真是勇敢。約翰?亞當斯的假想演講丹尼爾?韋伯斯特(1782~1852),出生于美國新罕布什爾州的索爾茲伯里。他曾經(jīng)在菲利普-??巳貙W院待了幾個月,但很快轉入達特茅斯學院就讀,并于1801年以優(yōu)異的成績畢業(yè)。畢業(yè)之后,他先在小學和中學里任教了幾個學期。1805年,韋伯斯特通過律師執(zhí)照考試后,在接下來的十一年中進行了無數(shù)次的法庭辯論,成為美國歷史上最有名的辯護律師。1812年,他被選為聯(lián)邦眾議員。1816年,他移居波士頓,并在1827年當選為聯(lián)邦參議員,并在這個位置上待了十二年。1841年,他被任命為美國國務卿。1850年,他重新出任美國國務卿直到他去世。1852年,韋伯斯特在馬薩諸塞州的馬什菲爾德去世。他的聲望主要來自于他的演講和國家報告。作為一名演講家,他用清楚、純正的英語,彰顯其高貴與莊重。在其一生中,韋伯斯特對農(nóng)業(yè)有很大興趣,他也十分喜歡戶外運動。沉淪或掙扎,生活或死亡,生存或毀滅,我對我的投票完全虔誠。的確,開始時我們的目的不是獨立,但是“神明決定我們的命運。”是英格蘭的侵犯迫使我們舉起武器。而且她被自己的利益蒙蔽了雙眼,她負隅頑抗,直到獨立就在我們的掌握之中?,F(xiàn)在,我們只需傾身向前,它就是我們的了。那么,我們?yōu)槭裁匆七t宣言?哪個男人如此孱弱,仍在希望與英格蘭和解?這樣做,既不會為國家和它的解放者帶來安全,也不會為他自己的生命和榮譽帶來任何保障!是不是你,先生,坐在那把椅子里的那位先生(指約翰?漢考克,大陸會議主席),是不是他,坐在你旁邊的、我們受人愛戴的同僚(指塞繆爾?亞當斯。在康科德和萊克星頓戰(zhàn)役之后,蓋奇總督宣布只要起義的人放下武器,就原諒他們,除了約翰?漢考克和塞繆爾?亞當斯之外),你們兩個是不是已經(jīng)注定是懲罰和報復的目標?不要再對皇家的仁愛抱有任何幻想,即使英格蘭人仍然當政,他們也是非法的,那時你們是什么?你們能成為什么?如果我們推遲獨立,我們是要繼續(xù)戰(zhàn)爭,還是放棄?我們是不是要投降,承認我們應該被碾為粉末,我們的國家和國家的權利應該被踩進泥里?我知道,我們不是要投降,我們決不應該投降!難道我們要違背人類最莊嚴的、我們在上帝面前對華盛頓的諾言?我們曾經(jīng)許諾說,不論是在危險的戰(zhàn)爭中,還是在政治災難中,我們都要將自己的命運和生命交付于他。我知道,這里的每一個人,都寧愿一場大火或地震把我們埋葬,也不愿看到諾言的任何一部分被違背。正是我自己,十二個月前,在這里,說服你們?yōu)榱嗣绹慕夥胚x舉喬治?華盛頓為軍隊總司令。如果我對給予他的支持稍有猶豫,就讓我的手斷掉、舌碎掉!戰(zhàn)爭必須繼續(xù)。我們必須堅持戰(zhàn)斗。如果戰(zhàn)爭必須繼續(xù),為什么要推遲獨立宣言的發(fā)表?這樣做,會使我們更加團結有力。它會讓我們的名聲傳遍世界。之后,國家會與我們交往,而如果我們承認自己只是拿著武器反對自己君主的臣民,其他國家永遠不會這樣做。不,如果我們獨立,我相信英格蘭自己也很快會與我們謀求和平,而不是否定她之前的行為,承認她曾經(jīng)壓迫并虐待過我們。這樣,與向她的反叛的臣民屈服相比,她的驕傲也會受到較小傷害。如果能與我們謀求和平解決,她會認為這是命運,而如果她是在與自己叛變的臣民對話,她會感到深深的屈辱。那么,為什么我們不把這場內(nèi)戰(zhàn)變?yōu)橐粓鰢覒?zhàn)爭?而且,既然我們必須堅持戰(zhàn)斗,我們?yōu)槭裁床皇棺约耗軌蛳硎艿剿羞@些勝利的好處呢?如果我們失敗的話,也不會更糟。但是,我們不會失敗。這一事業(yè)會帶來陸戰(zhàn)隊,這一事業(yè)會帶來海軍。而人民——如果我們對人民真心相待的話,人民會幫助我們,幫助他們自己完成這場光輝的戰(zhàn)斗。我不在乎其他民族是多么無情。我了解這些殖民地上的人民,我了解,對不列顛侵犯的仇視,深植于他們的心中,無法抹去。先生,獨立宣言會鼓舞這些人民,使他們的氣勢更加高漲。持續(xù)、血腥的戰(zhàn)爭,使他們重新獲得平等的權利,使正義得到伸張,使豁免權得到承認,從英王的手下,為他們獲取完全的獨立,這將重新賦予他們生活的意義。在軍隊面前宣讀這份宣言,士兵們會高擎著劍,莊嚴發(fā)誓誓死捍衛(wèi)。在教堂的講臺前宣讀,信徒們會支持它,人們對宗教自由的熱愛會使他們擁護它,決心保衛(wèi)它。將它張貼在公共禮堂,在那里宣讀,他們的兒子和兄弟戰(zhàn)死于龐克山的田野里,或萊克星頓和康科德的街道上,現(xiàn)在他們的親人看到我們的宣言,他們一定會給我們支持。先生,通過這些天發(fā)生的事,我發(fā)現(xiàn)事情是多么變幻無常,但是,你和我有朝一日真的可能會對此后悔不已。我們可能等不到獨立宣言發(fā)表的那一天。我們會死亡,作為殖民地居民死亡,作為奴隸死亡,或者也可能不光彩地死于絞刑架。那么就這樣吧,就這樣吧。不論何時,如果上天希望我為我的國家獻上我卑微的生命,我絕不會猶豫。但在我還活著的時候,讓我擁有一個國家吧,或至少讓我能盼望一個國家吧,一個自由的國家。不論我們的命運怎樣,請確保宣言矗立不倒。那需要財富,那需要鮮血,但是只要它矗立不倒,無論是財富還是鮮血,都是值得的。透過現(xiàn)實的迷霧,我看到未來的希望,它的光芒像天堂中的太陽。我們能夠讓它成為輝煌、不朽的一天。當我們已長眠于墳墓,我們的后代會記得。他們會充滿感激地用歡宴、篝火和燈彩慶祝。每年的這一天,他們會流下熱淚——一籟籟而出的熱淚,不是因為他們的臣民或奴隸身份,不是因為痛苦或窮困,而是因為喜悅,因為感激,因為歡樂。先生,在上帝面前,我確信,這一時刻正在到來。我的判斷證實了這點,我將所有精力投入其中。我將我所擁有的一切,將我的人格、我的希望都作為賭注。在我開始的那一刻,已經(jīng)將生死置之度外,現(xiàn)在,我的一切努力都是為了獨立宜言。它是我活著的信念,而且,但愿上帝保佑,在我離開塵世時,它仍是我的信念?,F(xiàn)在獨立,永遠獨立。美國獨立日7月4日 獨立日是美國主要法定節(jié)日之一。1776年7月4日,由杰斐遜起草的《獨立宣言》在費城大陸會議上正式通過,莊嚴地宣布美利堅合眾國脫離英國而獨立?!丢毩⑿浴肥蔷哂惺澜鐨v史意義的偉大文獻,通過《獨立宣言》的這一天也成為美國人民永遠紀念的節(jié)日,定為美國獨立日。這一天,也是美國的國慶日。每年的獨立日這一天,全美大小教堂鐘聲齊鳴,而頭一個敲響的是費城的自由鐘。Supposed Speech of John AdamsDaniel Webster (b. 1782, d. 1852) was born in Salisbury, N.H. He spent a few months of his boyhood at Phillips Academy, Exeter, but graduated from Dartmouth College in 1801. He taught school several terms, during and after his college course. In 1805, he was admitted to the bar in Boston, and practiced law for the succeeding eleven years. In 1812, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. In 1816, he removed to Boston, and in 1827 was elected to the United States Senate, which position he held for twelve years. In 1841, he was appointed Secretary of State. In 1850, he was reappointed Secretary of State and continued in office until his death. He died at his residence, in Marshfield, Mass. Mr. Webster's fame rests chiefly on his state papers and speeches. As a speaker he was dignified and stately, using clear, pure English. During all his life he took great interest in agriculture, and was very fond of outdoor sports.Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote. It is true, indeed, that, in the beginning, we aimed not at independence. But““There's a divinity that shapes our ends.”“The injustice of England has driven us to arms; and blinded to her own interest, she has obstinately persisted, till independence is now within our grasp. We have but to reach forth to it, and it is ours. Why then should we defer the declaration? Is any man so weak as now to hope for a reconciliation with England, which shall leave either safety to the country and its liberties, or security to his own life and his own honor! Are not you, sir, who sit in that chair, is not he, our venerable colleague, near you, are you not both already the proscribed and predestined objects of punishment and of vengeance? Cut off from all hope of royal clemency, what are you, what can you be, while the power of England remains, but outlaws?If we postpone independence, do we mean to carry on, or to give up, the war? Do we mean to submit, and consent that we shall be ground to powder, and our country and its rights trodden down in the dust? I know we do not mean to submit. We NEVER shall submit! Do we intend to violate that most solemn obligation ever entered into by men, that plighting, before God, of our sacred honor to Washington, when, putting him forth to incur the dangers of war, as well as the political hazards of the times, we promised to adhere to him in every extremity with our fortunes and our lives? I know there is not a man here, who would not rather see a general conflagration sweep over the land, or an earthquake sink it, than one jot or tittle of that plighted faith fall to the ground. For myself, having twelve months ago, in this place, moved you that George Washington be appointed commander of the forces raised, or to be raised, for the defense of American liberty; may my right hand forget her cunning, and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I hesitate or waver in the support I give him.The war, then, must go on. We must fight it through. And if the war must go on, why put off the Declaration of Independence? That measure will strengthen us. It will give us character abroad. Nations will then treat with us, which they never can do while we acknowledge ourselves subjects in arms against our sovereign. Nay, I maintain that England herself will sooner treat for peace with us on the footing of independence, than consent, by repealing her acts, to acknowledge that her whole conduct toward us has been a course of injustice and oppression. Her pride will be less wounded by submitting to that course of things, which now predestinates our independence, than by yielding the points in controversy to her rebellious subjects. The former, she would regard as the result of fortune; the latter, she would feel as her own deep disgrace. Why, then, do we not change this from a civil to a national war? And since we must fight it through, why not put ourselves in a state to enjoy all the benefits of victory, if we gain the victory.If we fail, it can be no worse for us. But we shall not fail. The cause will raise up armies; the cause will create navies. The people-the people, if we are true to them, will carry us, and will carry themselves, gloriously through this struggle. I care not how fickle other people have been found. I know the people of these colonies; and I know that resistance to British aggression is deep and settled in their hearts, and can not be eradicated. Sir, the Declaration of Independence will inspire the people with increased courage. Instead of a long and bloody war for the restoration of privileges, for redress of grievances, for chartered immunities, held under a British king, set before them the glorious object of entire independence, and it will breathe into them anew the spirit of life.Read this declaration at the head of the army; every sword will be drawn, and the solemn vow uttered to maintain it, or perish on the bed of honor. Publish it from the pulpit; religion will approve it, and the love of religious liberty will cling around it, resolved to stand with it or fall with it. Send it to the public halls; proclaim it there; let them see it who saw their brothers and their sons fall on the field of Bunker Hill and in the streets of Lexington and Concord, and the very walls will cry out in its support.Sir, I know the uncertainty of human affairs, but I see-I see clearly through this day's business. You and I, indeed, may rue it. We may not live to see the time this declaration shall be made good. We may die; die colonists; die slaves; die, it may be, ignominiously and on the scaffold. Be it so: be it so. If it be the pleasure of Heaven that my country shall require the poor offering of my life, the victim shall be ready at the appointed hour of sacrifice, come when that hour may. But while I do live, let me have a country, or at least the hope of a country, and that a FREE country.But whatever may be our fate, be assured-be assured that this Declaration will stand. It may cost treasure, and it may cost blood; but it will stand, and it will richly compensate for both. Through the thick gloom of the present I see the brightness of the future as the sun in heaven. We shall make this a glorious, an immortal day. When we are in our graves, our children will honor it. They will celebrate it with thanksgiving, with festivity, with bonfires, and illuminations. On its annual return they will shed tears,-copious, gushing tears; not of subjection and slavery, not of agony and distress, but of exultation, of gratitude, and of joy.Sir, before God I believe the hour is come. My judgment approves the measure, and my whole heart is in it. All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it; and I leave off as I began, that, live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and, by the blessing of God, it shall by my dying sentiment; independence now, and INDEPENDENCE FOREVER.
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它至少影響了美國五代人,如果你能找到一個五世同堂的大家庭,你會驚奇地發(fā)現(xiàn),從高祖到重孫,他們能異口同聲地背誦《麥加菲美德讀本》中的優(yōu)秀篇章?!绹襟wI received them when I was 10 years old and I'm now in my 30's and I still read through them. I have a 5 years old that has learned to read from them and we both love to take turns reading aloud from the books. The books are classic and timeless and there is nothing wrong with learning some simple wholesome values from the past!——Amazon’s Reader A. G. Buschman 翻開書,你會發(fā)現(xiàn),一篇篇小故事充滿趣味且浸透著美德。每一個小故事都非常貼近生活,這也是本書的最大優(yōu)點。我們常常忽視關于孩子的生活習慣、處世做人等問題的教育,但這些問題恰恰普遍存在于當今的獨生子女當中?!敭斁W(wǎng)讀者 月光琥珀什么是最好的教育?每個人的答案可能都不相同。我只想讓我的孩子接受最美的教育,讓她自己去判別什么是好,什么是壞。我相信,這本書可以幫助我做到這一點。——本書譯者 蒼松教育是人們靈魂的教育,而非理智、知識和認識的堆積。教育的本質意味著:一棵樹搖動另一棵樹,一朵云搖動另一朵云,一個靈魂喚醒另一個靈魂?!猍德]雅斯貝爾斯
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《麥加菲美德讀本:給孩子最美的教育》編輯推薦:如果你不知道什么是最好的教育,那么就請給孩子最美的教育,“給孩子最好的教育”或許是每一個中國父母最大的愿望。可是,什么樣的教育是最好的呢?盧梭說:“教育就是成長?!蹦敲?,最好的教育就應該幫助孩子最好的成長。于是,這又產(chǎn)生一個疑問:什么樣的成長對于孩子來說是最好的呢?隨著孩子的成長,父母們可能會逐漸產(chǎn)生挫敗感,他們會發(fā)現(xiàn)他們認為的“最好”和付出的苦心并不能得到孩子們的認同,孩子們還會因此和父母產(chǎn)生對抗和疏離。這根源于我們很多時候并不真正了解自己的孩子,畢竟,最了解自己的人只有自己。父母們所能做的,或許只能如埃默森所說:“保存兒童的天性,并且正是按照它所指出的方向,用知識把兒童天性武裝起來?!薄督o孩子最美的教育——麥加菲美德讀本》是美國民族教育家麥加菲用了用了二十多年的時間為美國的學生們編寫的一套“語文”教材。這套教材為當時美國的大多數(shù)學校所采用,自1836年出版之初到1960年,累計銷量高達1.22億冊,持續(xù)銷售了一百多年。美國媒體稱:“它至少影響了美國五代人,如果你能找到一個五世同堂的大家庭,你會驚奇地發(fā)現(xiàn),從高祖到重孫,他們能異口同聲地背誦《麥加菲美德讀本》中的優(yōu)秀篇章。”美國《出版商周刊》將其評為“人類出版史上第三大暢銷書”,認為《給孩子最美的教育——麥加菲美德讀本》對美國青年的心靈塑造與道德培養(yǎng)產(chǎn)生了史無前例的影響?!白罴兇獾拿赖隆⒆罴冋拿勒Z和最原汁原味的美式教育”是《給孩子最美的教育——麥加菲美德讀本》的三大特點,而這正是與國際逐漸接軌的中國父母們所迫切需要為孩子們準備的。就讓美德根植于孩子的心靈,成為陪伴孩子成長的最好禮物吧。正如《給孩子最美的教育——麥加菲美德讀本》的譯者所說:“什么是最好的教育?每個人的答案可能都不相同。我只想讓我的孩子接受最美的教育,讓她自己去判別什么是好,什么是壞。我相信,這本書可以幫助我做到這一點?!?/pre>圖書封面
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