CNN 2010-03-11

Now we talke about a radical¹ plan. Money so tight in Kansas City, Missouri. The school district might close almost half its schools. There's a plan to  close 29 of 61 schools to deal with a $50 million budget short fall. Superintendents² talking about cutting 700 jobs. That's more than a quarter of the payroll³. The school board votes on the plan Wednesday.

You can expect the community to have a lot to say about this plan before then.

As far as California's education crunch⁴ goes，Governor Schwarzenegger can expect a lot of letters from some concerned citizens, letters written in pencil, unlined paper, no cursive, and his name might be a little butchered. Here's CNN's THELMA GUTIERREZ.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is no secret that the State of California is having money problems or that schools are having a tough time surviving, but what exactly does the budget crisis mean to schoolchildren. We came to Wonderland School in Hollywood Hills to see what the kids have to say.

 

GUTIERREZ (voice-over): After all, they are the ones dealing⁵ with this mess.

UNIDENTIFIED BOY: They are cutting the library. They are cutting the music.

UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: I am really worried about this.

GUTIERREZ: The school has already lost office staff and assistant principal, and they stand to lose several teachers at the end of the year.

(INAUDIBLE)

GUTIERREZ: So, the kids in this second grade classroom at Wonderland Avenue Elementary School are about to launch a protest in the way seven and eight year-olds can, they are writing letters to the man in charge.

(on-camera): Who are you writing to?

UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Governor Sorzenegger (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED BOY: Snortsnaggers (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED BOY: Governor Snortsanegger (ph).

GUTIERREZ: OK. So, they don't know his name, but they do have a serious message to send him.

UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: At my school. I would not want to lose the librarian and coach, teachers and the nurse, I am concerned because people are cutting money from our school.

ETHAN BLITZ, SECOND GRADER: I love my school. So, can you stop cutting budgets? I really want to keep my school.

SOO IN CHOO, SECOND GRADER: I am concerned that you will make our teachers, coaches, our mom and dad and other people that are poor and lose their jobs. Please don't make them lose their jobs.

MOSES BARYOTAM, SECOND GRADER: So, this is what I'm saying, please don't take money from our school. I would even help you, if you can do this one favor. So, please, can you do it? So, I am begging.

GUTIERREZ (on camera): Well, that is really a good letter. I can tell you to put a lot of thought into it. Yeah? All right. Soo, in her letter is one of about 500 that were written here at the school. Where did the teacher go? Jody Hoffman is a second grade teacher here. Jody, if I could ask you a quick question.

JODY HOFFMAN, SECOND GRADER TEACHER: Hey. Sure.

GUTIERREZ: Tell me, why this letter-writing campaign? What are you hoping to do?

HOFFMAN: Well, we are hoping to show the governor how important the schools are and how well these children are doing and how much they care.

GUTIERREZ: In writing to the governor. Do you think you can make a difference?

GILLIAN BALK⁶, SECOND GRADER: Yes, I do.

GUTIERREZ: Why?

BALK: I don't think that just parents should worry about it. I think that kids and parents should worry about it.

GUTIERREZ: So, beware, governor, hundreds of letters are heading your way. They should be in your mailbox soon. I talked to the principal of the school, he says that 500 letters are now on their way to Sacramento, the students' next project, YouTube videos to the California legislators --THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN, LOS ANGELES.

 

1 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

2 superintendents   

警长( superintendent的名词复数 )； （大楼的）管理人； 监管人； （美国）警察局长

参考例句：

• Unlike their New York counterparts, Portland school superintendents welcomed McFarlane. 这一次，地点是在波特兰。
• But superintendents and principals have wide discretion. 但是，地方领导和校长有自由裁量权。

3 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

4 crunch   

n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声

参考例句：

• If it comes to the crunch they'll support us.关键时刻他们是会支持我们的。
• People who crunch nuts at the movies can be very annoying.看电影时嘎吱作声地嚼干果的人会使人十分讨厌。

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

6 balk   

n.大方木料；v.妨碍；不愿前进或从事某事

参考例句：

• We get strong indications that his agent would balk at that request.我们得到的强烈暗示是他的经纪人会回避那个要求。
• He shored up the wall with a thick balk of wood.他用一根粗大的木头把墙撑住。