VOA慢速英语20116--美国家长在子女学校当志愿者

AS IT IS 2016-08-29 Group Wants Fathers to Volunteer at US Schools 美国家长在子女学校当志愿者

A group called the National Center for Fathering launched¹ a program for American men almost 20 years ago.

The program is called Watch D.O.G.S. D.O.G.S. stands for Dads of Great Students.

The program tries to get men to spend more time serving as volunteers at schools across the United States. Most of the men are fathers. But they can also be grandfathers, uncles and step-fathers.

The program was the idea of two men, both dads. They launched Watch D.O.G.S. after two boys, aged² 13 and 11, shot and killed four people at an Arkansas school in 1998.

Studies show that children generally do better in school when fathers are engaged in their day-to-day activities.

One study in 2013 found that a father’s engagement³ can help a child succeed in school. It can also increase the child’s chances of finishing high school, while reducing his or her risk of drug abuse⁴. The U.S. Centers for Disease⁵ Control and Prevention reported the findings⁶.

The Watch D.O.G.S. program now operates in more than 5,000 schools. It requires that men serve as school volunteers at least one full day during the school year.

The men do a little bit of everything during their volunteer days. Some help to direct cars and other vehicles entering school property to drop off children. Others will have a meal with small groups of children. This seems to help boys and girls behave better while out of the classroom.

During the rest of the day, the men can read to students, help teachers with activities or assist⁷ with small group projects.

Adam Mehmud volunteers at a school in northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. Mehmud is a single father with three sons. His own father died when he was very young. So Mehmud says he wants to be sure to be a good father.

He has been a Watch D.O.G.S. volunteer for three years. These days, he says, technology can take over a child’s life. It is harder for parents to find time to connect with their children. But the school day is free from video games and smart phones.

Adam Mehmud said he and other men see how interactions⁸ that may seem small can help children learn the right way to do things.

“I see my sons do very thoughtful⁹ things, and hopefully part of the reason for that is because I try to do things for others, too,” Mehmud said.

Words in This Story

engage – v. to become involved with (someone or something)

dad – n. a father

bit – n. piece

1 launched   

v.发射( launch的过去式和过去分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• He launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation. 他对年轻一代发起了猛烈的抨击。
• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide. 这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。

2 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

3 engagement   

n.订婚，婚约，约定，约会

参考例句：

• I can't see you on Monday because I have a previous engagement.星期一我不能见你，因为我有约在先。
• It was my mother's very own engagement ring.这正是我母亲自己的订婚戒指。

4 abuse   

vt.滥用；辱骂；诋毁；n.滥用；恶习；弊端

参考例句：

• You can't make personal abuse on her.你不可对她进行人身攻击。
• She screamed abuse at me.她尖声责备我。

5 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

6 findings   

n.发现物( finding的名词复数 )；调查（或研究）的结果；（陪审团的）裁决

参考例句：

• It behoves us to study these findings carefully. 我们理应认真研究这些发现。
• Their findings have been widely disseminated . 他们的研究成果已经广为传播。

7 assist   

vt.协助，帮助，促进；vi.帮忙，参加

参考例句：

• He asked us to assist him in carrying through their plan.他要我们帮助他实施他们的计划。
• We'll assist at your wedding.我们将出席你们的婚礼。

8 interactions   

一起活动( interaction的名词复数 )； 合作； 互相影响； 互动

参考例句：

• Only then will we be able to design appropriate interactions and interfaces. 只有那时，我们才能够设计合适的交互行为和界面。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• These interactions are typically supported by clear cursor hinting. 一般来说，清晰的光标暗示辅助支持这样的交互。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

9 thoughtful   

adj.思考的，沉思的，体贴的，关心的

参考例句：

• She is thoughtful for her friends.她很体贴她的朋友们。
• This is a thoughtful essay.这是一篇具有思想性的随笔。