VOA慢速英語:美國北達科他州迅速繁榮的石油業(yè)導(dǎo)致學(xué)校人滿為患

美國北達科他州迅速繁榮的石油業(yè)導(dǎo)致學(xué)校人滿為患

This is the VOA Learning English Education Report.

The oil industry is growing fast in the American States of North Dakota and Montana. Removing oil from the ground has made a lot of money for the area and provided many jobs. The industry also has brought thousands of people to rural towns that once has small populations. Williston, North Dakota is a good example.

這里是VOA慢速英語教育報道。石油業(yè)在美國北達科他州和蒙大納州發(fā)展迅速。從地面直接運送石油為使這個地區(qū)賺取了很多錢，同時也提供了很多就業(yè)崗位。該地區(qū)的石油工業(yè)也為原來人口很少的鄉(xiāng)鎮(zhèn)帶來了數(shù)以千計的人。美國北達科他州的威利斯頓就是個很好的例子。

The United States Census Bureau says the Williston area was the fastest growing place of its size and description from July 1, 2011 to July 1, 2012. It said the population growth was 9.3 percent. Adding many people means increased demand for roads, emergency services and other systems, like electricity, heating and water. And more children attending schools can mean crowding in the community’s classrooms.

美國人口普查局稱從2011年7月到2012年7月威利斯頓地區(qū)在類似大小的地區(qū)中是人口增長最快的。它的人口增長了9.3%。很多人口的加入就意味著，對道路交通，緊急服務(wù)，和其他系統(tǒng)等要求的更多，像電的供應(yīng)，采暖，水等。而更多的孩子要去上學(xué)就意味著社區(qū)中的學(xué)校教室會擁擠起來。

John Monger was born and raised in Williston. He is taught at the city’s Hagan elementary school for 24 years. For the last three years he is taught in a temporary structure called a trailer, the classrooms are smaller than usual. He started the year with 16 students. Now Mr. Monger has 18 in the small space.

約翰·蒙格是土生土長的威利斯頓人。他在這個城市的哈根小學(xué)教了24年的書，最近三年他在一個被叫做拖車式活動房的臨時搭建的教室中給孩子們上課，這個教室比一般教室要小。開始時他有16個學(xué)生，現(xiàn)在在這個小的空間里他有18個學(xué)生。

Viola LaFontaine is the leader of Williston public schools, that area of schools is the smallest in North Dakota, but it is also growing the fastest. She says the schools increased their population by more than 1000 students during the past four to five years. The majority are elementary school children. In addition, she says the students come from all over the world.

維奧拉·拉方丹是威利斯頓公立學(xué)校的校長，這個學(xué)校的面積是北達科他州中最小的，但卻是人口增長最快的。她說在過去四五年之內(nèi)，學(xué)校增加了1000多名學(xué)生。大多數(shù)都是小學(xué)生。而且，據(jù)她說，這些學(xué)生來自世界各地。

"I believe its seven different languages that we have spoken in school now. A majority are Spanish, but we have Cantonese, we have French," LaFontaine said.

拉方丹說：“我認(rèn)為現(xiàn)在在我們學(xué)校的學(xué)生們一共說七種語言，大多數(shù)學(xué)生說西班牙語，但我們也有學(xué)生說廣東話和法語。”

Ms LaFontaine says it’s difficult to deal with the continuing changes in student population.

拉方丹女士說處理持續(xù)不斷的學(xué)生流動是很困難的。

"The greatest challenge is the students coming in and out and throughout the entire school year, which something different as well as students leaving throughout the entire school year," LaFontaine said.

拉方丹說：“最大的挑戰(zhàn)就是整個學(xué)年都不斷的有學(xué)生入學(xué)或退學(xué)事件發(fā)生，這個和而且整個學(xué)年都不斷的有人離開還有些不一樣。”

The official says it is also hard to hire qualified teachers and to pay for larger and more modern schools. She notes that the state is receiving a lot of money from oil. She has asked the North Dakota government for education assistance.

她還說聘請合格的教師和投資建立更大更現(xiàn)代的學(xué)校也變得很困難。她強調(diào)國家從石油中獲得豐厚利潤，她已經(jīng)向北達科他州政府申請教育援助。

"North Dakota’s always been conservative. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. But now that you’ve got ample resources, let us have some of it. Whether it’s grants or loans or preferably grants that you could use to really support your schools," LaFontaine said.

拉方丹說：“北達科他州一直以來都很保守。我不認(rèn)為這是一件壞事。但是現(xiàn)在政府已經(jīng)得到豐厚的資金，能不能分給我們一些，無論是捐贈給我們還是給我們貸款都行，最好是捐贈給我們，這樣可以真正的支持本地區(qū)學(xué)校的教育事業(yè)。”

Voters in Williston District 1 recently approved a measure to build a new high school. The measure will increase property taxes. But education activists say Williston's taxes are less than those in similar North Dakota communities.

威利斯頓一號選區(qū)的選民們最近提出舉措來建一所新的高中。這個措施將會增加本地區(qū)的財產(chǎn)稅。但是教育人士表示威利斯頓地區(qū)的稅收要比北達科他州其他相似地區(qū)低。

And that’s the Education Report from VOA Learning English. I’m Jerilyn Watson.

這就是今天的VOA慢速英語教育報道。我是Jerilyn Watson