英語聽力教程LTW2Unit4

ListenThisWayBook2Unit4

EduationMattersPartIGetting

readyPartIIHomeschoolingPartIIIUKorUSeducation?PartIVMoreaboutthetopic:Co-educationalorSegregatedSchools?PartVMemorytest:PISAPartVIIWatchandenjoyPartIGettingreadyThenumberofprivateschoolsisincreasinginmanypartsoftheworld.Manyfamiliesarewillingtopaytaxestosupportthepublicschoolsandalsotopayforsomespecialkindofeducationfortheirchildren.Theywanttheirchildreninsmallerclassesthanthoseinthepublicschools.Butsomepeoplewonderwhethertheextraamountofmoneythey’vepaidisreallyworthitornot.*publicschools公立學(xué)校A.Thefollowingwordsandphraseswillappearinthisunit.Listencarefullyandstudythedefinitions.1.well-rounded:全面發(fā)展的，多才多藝的2.compulsory:義務(wù)的，必修的3.abstruse:深奧的，難懂的4.becutoutfor:適合于，是的材料5.burnone’sbridges:破釜沉舟，自絕后路6.segregation:（種族）隔離，分離7.dispel:驅(qū)趕，驅(qū)散8.cohort:同齡人，有共同點的一群人9.high-flyer:抱負極高的人，成功人士10.flunk:（考試）不及格，掛科B.TomandAnnarediscussingtheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofaprivateschool.Listentotheconversationcarefullyandthenreadthefollowingstatements.IfitisanopinionthatbothTomandAnnagreeon,usea“√”forit.Ifitisnot,thenusea“O”forit*gym體操房*well-roundededucation全面教育，促進全面發(fā)展的教育*convinced被說服的，信服的，確信的*debatingteam辯論隊*byanychance恰好，碰巧*captain隊長1.（）Aprivateschoolusuallyhassmallerclasses.

2.（）Thesportsfacilitiesinaprivateschoolareusuallybetterthanthoseinapublicschool.

3.（）Althoughprivateschoolsareexpensive,theyareworthit.4.（）Inaprivateschool,onecanhaveawiderchoiceofsubjects.5.（）Aprivateschoolissuretobebetterthanapublicschool.*體育設(shè)施，運動設(shè)施*科目，課程OOO√√AudioscriptC.ThefollowinglisteningmaterialisaboutSteve’sfirstmorningatthepolytechniccollege.Listencarefully.Thecomprehensionmaterialisfollowedbysomequestions.Findtherightanswersasquicklyaspossible.*polytechniccollege職校，高職院校

*Poly職校，工藝?？茖W(xué)校*haven’taclue不知道，一無所知*mate伙計*noticeboard布告欄，公告欄*businessstudiesforCateringstudents為餐飲專業(yè)的學(xué)生開始的企業(yè)管理課程Questions1.a.Inthemeetinghall b. Atthemainentrancec.InMustonFerry d. InHanksy2.a.1 b.2 c.3 d.43. a.Directorofthepolytechnicb.Headoftherear-servicedepartment

c.Headofstudents’servicesd.Astudentfromthethirdyeare.Anexperiencedteacherf.Headofphysicaleducation

g.Astudentfromthefirstyearh.Headofacademicbody

4. a.Tabletennis b.Sailing c.Hockey d.Boxing e.Tennisf.Footballg.Badminton h.Mountainclimbing i.Goingdown-caves

j.Swimming k.Rugby l.Fitness√√√√√√√√*曲棍球*學(xué)術(shù)團體*體育*后勤部門，行政部√√√√*健身*爬洞穴*英式橄欖球√5. a.Foreignlanguage b.Accounting

c.Computer d.Businessstudies6. a.Room316 b.Room361 c.Room613 d.Room1637. a.Onemaleandtwofemales b.Twomalesandonefemale c.Twomalesandtwofemalesd.Onemaleandonefemale8. a.Yes b.No*會計學(xué)√√√√AudioscriptHomepagePartIIHomeschoolingTraditionally,educationthatonegetsinschooliscalledformaleducation,whilelearningoutsideoftheclassroomiscalledinformaleducation.However,doyouknowthatnowadays,therearequitemanychildrenwhogettheirformaleducationathomeintheUnitedStates?*homeschooling在家上學(xué)，家庭學(xué)校A.Inthissectionyouaregoingtohearapassageabouthomeschooling.Whilelisteningforthefirsttime,addmorekeywordsintheleft-handcolumn.Afterthesecondlistening,answerthefollowingquestions.*compulsory義務(wù)的，必修的*comet彗星*meteor流星*critics評論家，批評家*opinion觀點，意見*narrowviews狹隘的觀念NotesQuestionscompulsorycometmeteor1.HowmanychildrenintheUnitedStatesareeducatedathome?_____________________2.Accordingtotheresults,inwhichtwosubjectsdohome-schooledchildrendobetterthanaverageonnationaltests?_____________________3.HowdoDavidGuterson’schildrenlearnknowledge?Thechildren’slearningusuallystartswiththeir_______and_________.4.Inthecritics’opinion,whatarethedisadvantagesofhomeschooling?1)Thehome-schoolerisan_________andmighthavedifficulties

___________otherpeoplewhenheisgrownup.2)Mostparentsarenot_____________toteachtheirchildren.3)Parentsmaypassontheirown____________totheirchildren.5.Whydoesthepassagesaymostchildrenwillgettheirformaleducationinschools?Becausemostparentsdon’thavethe_____or_______toteachtheirchildrenathome.Inreadingandmath.About300000.desiretimenarrowviewswellqualifiedmixingwithoutsiderquestionsinterests*compulsory義務(wù)的，必修的*comet彗星*meteor流星B.Nowtrythis:listentoamoreauthenticversionofthepassage.Whilelistening,payspecialattentiontohowandwhatDavidGutersonandhiswifetrytoteachtheirchildren.Thencompletethefollowingchartwithwhatyouhear.*missout錯失機會，坐失良機DifferentOccasionsHowandWhattoLearnonawinterdaywhenthereisheavy________discussingorreadingabout_________,snowremovalequipment,_______,polarbears,andwinter________ona______eveningwhilewatching_____settingupa_________andaskingquestionsabout_______,comets,meteors,andthe_____programat_______whenthereisnewsontheBrazilianrainforestsgettingoutthe______andencyclopedia,discoveringhowrainforests_______theclimate,whatthe“__________

effect”is,how________areformedandhowthepolar

_________affectoceanlevels*snowremovalequipment除雪設(shè)備*Alaska美國阿拉斯加州*polarbear北極熊*telescope望遠鏡*satellite衛(wèi)星，人造衛(wèi)星*rainforest雨林*atlas地圖冊*encyclopedia百科全書*greenhouseeffect溫室效應(yīng)*desert沙漠*polaricecaps極地冰冠icecapsdesertstourismAlaskaclimatedinnerstarsspringsnowfallgreenhouseinfluencespacesatellitestelescopeatlasAudioscriptHomepagePartIIIUKorUSeducation?IntheUK,ajuniorhighschoolstudentcomestoaforkintheeducationroad.Thestudentwhogoesdirectlyintoavocationalschoolgetsalittlemorethanageneraleducation.Andthestudentwhoplanstogotouniversityissenttoanothersortofschool,wherehegetsanintensiveacademiccourse.IntheUS,theeducationalsystemsaresomewhatdifferent.Mostofthestudentsgotopublicelementaryorsecondaryschoolswherecoursesforstudentswithallkindsofdifferentabilitiesareoffered.Whichwaydoyouthinkisbetter?*comes

toafork來到分岔路口*vocationalschool職業(yè)學(xué)校*intensiveacademiccourse更為強化的學(xué)術(shù)課程A.JohnJames,anAmericanandPeterDavies,anEnglishmanarearguingaboutwhetherspecializingearlyisgoodornot.Listencarefullytotheprosandcons.Whilelisteningforthefirsttime,writedownthekeywordsinthenotescolumn.Afterthesecondlistening,completethefollowingchartbyfillinginthemissinginformation.*specializingearly

過早專業(yè)化，過早選專業(yè)

*prosandcons

利弊，贊成及反對意見*career職業(yè)，事業(yè)*cope應(yīng)付，對付*steadily穩(wěn)定地，穩(wěn)步地*Alevels(英國普通中等教育文憑考試的)高級程度,(英國大學(xué)入學(xué)考試的)甲級考試，英國高考*naturalscience自然科學(xué)*socialscience社會科學(xué)*stuck卡住，陷入泥潭*alternative可供替代的選擇*cutoutfor...適合于，是的材料*burnyourbridges自絕后路，破釜沉舟*changehorsesinmid-stream在河道中間換馬，中途換將competentfairidealoseyearsbeginningonethingnarrowwanttodoeverything*交換，改變*勝任的，有能力的*合理的想法，較為清晰的觀念swapAudioscriptB.Inthissection,JohnJamesandPeterDaviesgoontoargueaboutwhetheroneshouldstudyawiderangeofsubjects.Listentotheprosandconsofitcarefully.Whilelisteningforthefirsttime,writedownthekeywordsinthenotescolumn.Afterthesecondlistening,completethefollowingchartbyfillinginthemissinginformation.*stuff東西，內(nèi)容*artssubjects人文科目，文科學(xué)科*on-the-jobexperience在職經(jīng)驗，工作經(jīng)驗*broader更寬泛的*underestimate低估*allthemorereason更有理由，更加正當?shù)睦碛蒘houldonestudyawiderangeofsubjects?ConsPros1.Peoplewithafirstdegreedon'thavethe______ofknowledgetheyshouldhave.1.Peoplemaycomeoutwithaprettygood_______knowledgeina_____area.2.ThemajorityofBritishstudentsneveruse____ofwhattheystudiedatuniversity.3.Peoplehavetohaveafairamountof______learning,particularlyin________and_________area.3.Alotofsciencepeoplewholearnatuniversityisso_________andabstrusethatit'llneverbeputto

_____________.4.Peoplewillbemore________intheirjobs,andableto_____________moreeasily.5.Thesedays,childrenhavetolearn_________thingsthanbefore.5.Thesedays,peoplehavetobe________tochangetheirjobsandlearn___________astechnologymovesahead.depthnewskillspreparedswitchjobsflexiblepracticaluseacademic90%widegeneralfarmorescientifictechnicalpure*academic純理論的，純學(xué)術(shù)性的，脫離實際的*abstruse深奧的，難懂的*puttopracticaluse運用到實際中*switchjobs換工作，跳槽AudioscriptHomepagePartIVMoreaboutthetopic:Co-educationalorSegregatedSchools?Althoughmostchildrengotoco-educationalschoolswherebothboysandgirlsstudytogether,therearestillsomewhogotosegregatedschoolswhereonlyboysoronlygirlscanbeenrolled.Arethesepeopleinsegregatedschoolshappyaboutit?Dotheylearnbetterthanthoseinco-educationalschools?*co-educationalschools

男女混合的學(xué)校*segregatedschools（種族/性別）隔離的學(xué)校*enrolled招收Youaregoingtohearapassageaboutco-educationalandsegregatededucation.Whilelisteningforthefirsttime,takedownsomekeywordsinthenotescolumn.Afterthesecondlistening,completethefollowingoutline.*tosaytheleast至少可以說，最起碼*impose強加于*abnormalconditions非正常狀況*isboundto必定要，一定會*stuff塞滿，填滿*foremost最重要的，首要的*athleticachievement運動成績，運動成就*extracurricularactitivities課外活動*everythingfallsintoitsproperplace一切都歸于正常*contribution貢獻，好處*well-adjustedadult適應(yīng)性很強的成年人*copewith對付，應(yīng)付OutlineI.Onechiefaimofeducation

_______futurecitizenswithallthey______totaketheirplaceinadultsocietyII.DisadvantagesofasegregatedschoolA.possible_______forpeoplewhentheyenteradultsocietyB.boysandgirlsbeingmadetofeelthattheyarearace

_____III.Advantagesofaco-educationalschoolA.offeringchildrena____versionofsocietyinminiature

1.boysandgirlshavingtheopportunityto__________eachother2.boysandgirlshavingtheopportunitytolearnto_____________3.boysandgirlsbeingabletocomparethemselveswitheachotherindifferentareas4.boysbeingabletoplaythemalepartsandgirlstoplaythe______partsinaplayB.encouraging_____________tolife1.helpingdispelillusionsthatwomenare____________________

2.helpingdispelillusionsthatmenare___________________3.helpingovercomesomeofthe________and________problemsattheawkward

stageofadolescence

IV.ConclusionemotionalphysicalromanticheroesmysteriouscreatureshealthyattitudefemalelivetogethergettoknowtrueapartshockrequiretoequipAudioscriptHomepage*震驚，打擊*如同不同種族的人*社會的縮影，微型版的社會*消除錯覺*青春期

*尷尬的

PartVMemorytest:PISATheProgramforInternationalStudentAssessment(PISA)isaninternationalassessmentthatmeasures15-year-oldstudents’reading,mathematics,andscienceliteracy.PISAalsoincludesmeasuresofgeneralorcross-curricularcompetencies,suchasproblemsolving.Itemphasizesfunctionalskillsthatstudentshaveacquiredastheyneartheendofcompulsoryschooling.PISAwasfirstadministeredin2000andisconductedeverythreeyears.*assessment評價，評估*scienceliteracy科學(xué)素養(yǎng)*cross-curricularcompetencies跨課程能力*compulsoryschooling義務(wù)教育*administered施行，實施In2009,agroupofteenagersfromShanghai,China,participated,forthefirsttime,intheProgramforInternationalStudentAssessment(PISA).Listentothereport.Answerthequestionswithkeywords.*numeracy運算能力，計算能力*resilience彈性，順應(yīng)力，應(yīng)變力*high-flyer成功人士*cohort同齡人，有共同點的一群人*passwithflyingcolors勝利通過*creamofthecrop尖子，精英，最優(yōu)秀的人*puttheirthinkingcapson認真思考，好好思索*flunk失敗，不及格1.WhatdoChina’sresultsinPisatestsindicate?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2.AccordingtoMr.Schleicher,whydoChinesestudentsgettopmarks?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3.InEurope,whatdomanystudentsthinktheiracademicsuccessdependon?__________________________________________________________________4.AccordingtoMr.Schleicher,whatkindofphilosophyispracticedinmanywesterncountries?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________China’seducationsystem—aboveaverage/overtakingtheperformanceofmanyWesterncountries.Theybelievetheiracademicsuccessdependsontheefforttheyputin.Iftheyworkhard,theycansucceed.Itdependsonsocialheritage—father—aplumber/I’mgoingtobeaplumber.Expectingthebeststudentswithinagrouptosucceedratherthanawholegrouppasswithgoodmarks*趕上，超過*水管工

*社會遺傳AudioscriptHomepagePartVIIWatchandenjoy*prestigious享譽盛名的，久負盛名的*amoreenlightenedfuture更有意義的未來*assignment作業(yè)*noman’sland女兒國*editorial社論*reference引用*withallduerespect恕我直言，盡管（對您）尊敬之至*file檔案*co-captain副隊長*horticulturesociety園藝社團*pompousass華而不實的傻瓜*pre-law法律預(yù)科*fiveslots五個名額*unofficially內(nèi)定，非正式地*slide幻燈片，圖片*stylisticdifference風格上的差異1.WhydidMissWatsongiveJoan’sassignmentaC?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2.HowdidMissWatsonencourageJoanforamoreenlightenedfuture?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Joanjustcopiedanotherexpert’sideainsteadofwritingherown.ShesaidtoJoanthatshecouldgotoYaletostudylawandatthesametimetogetmarried.Shealsogavehertheapplicationform.HomepageVideoscriptTom:Whatkindofschooldidyougoto,Ann?Ann: Well,Iwenttoapublicprimaryschoolandthentoaprivatehighschool.Tom:Sowhichdoyouthinkisbetter?Ann: Actually,Ipreferprivateschoolsbecauseofthesmallerclassesand…usuallyyouhaveawiderchoiceofsubjects.Tom:Yeah,Isupposethat’strue.Ann: Andthenthereareusuallybettersportsfacilities.Forexample,theschoolIwenttohadaswimmingpoolandahugegym.Tom: Yeah…well,thepublichighschoolIwenttohadgreatsportsfacilities.Besides,privateschoolsarereallyexpensive.Ann:Yeah,butIthinkthey’reworthit.Tom: Idon’tknow.Ithinkyouhavetojudgeeveryschoolindividually,whetherit’spublicorprivate.Ann: Thatmaybetrue…butchildrengenerallygetabetter,more…well-roundededucationinaprivateschool.Tom: Maybe,butI’mnottotallyconvinced.Bytheway,Ann,wereyouonthedebatingteaminhighschool,byanychance?Ann:Isurewas!Iwasthecaptain!AudioscriptSteve’sfirstmorningStevewasrathernervousabouthisfirstdayofthepolytechnic.Hedidn’tknowanyotherstudentsandhedidn’tknowhiswayaroundthebuilding.At9o’clock,hewasatthemainentrancewithacrowdofhundredsofotherstudents.AllofthemseemtoknowwhattodoexceptSteve.Thenhefoundanotice.Therewasameetingforallthefirst-yearstudents.Hefoundthemallwaitinginthelargehall.First,thedirectorofthePolytechnicwelcomedthem.Thentheheadofstudents’services,andfinallytheheadofphysicaleducation.Headofphysicaleducation:I’mheretotellyouaboutthesportyoucandoatthePoly.HereinEdington,wehaveafitnessroomwhereyoucandoexercisetokeepfit,andweeklyyoucandoallsortsofsports,suchastennis,football,hockeyandbadminton.Buttherearealsomanyotheractivities.Youcangosailing.Youcangodown-caves.Youcangoclimbingandmanymore.Wehopeallofyouwilltakepartinatleastoneofthese.Ifyouwanttojoin,comeonweeklyonWednesdayafternoon.Anyquestions?Astudent:Whataboutswimming?Headofphysicaleducation:Wedon’thaveourownpool.ButyoucanswiminthepublicpoolsinHanksyorMustonFerry.Afterthemeetingwasover,Stevelookedatthistimetable.Hisfirstclasswasbusinessstudies,andwasinroom316.ButwherewasRoom316?Steve: Excuseme.DoyouknowwhereRoom316is?Malestudent1: Oh,Ihaven’tacluemate.Steve: DoyouknowwhereRoom316is?Femalestudent1:No,doyou?Steve: I’mlookingforRoom316.Malestudent2: Oh,notanotherfirstyear.Lookatthenoticeboard.Steve: Butwhereisthenoticeboard?Malestudent2: Don’taskme.Steve: CouldyoutellmewhereRoom316is?Femalestudent2:YoumeanbusinessstudiesforCateringstudents?Steve: That’sit.Femalestudent2:Oh,I’mlookingforitformyself.You’reafirst-year?Steve: Yes.Femalestudent2:SoamI.Let’sseeifwecanfindittogether.Questions：1.WherewasSteveat9o’clock?2.Howmanypeoplemadewelcomespeechesatthemeetingforallthefirstyearstudents?3.Whoarethey?4.WhatkindsofsportsareavailableinEdingtonPolytechnic?5.WhatwasSteve’sfirstclass?6.Wherewillhehavetheclass?7.HowmanystudentsdidSteveaskwhenhetriedtofindhisclass?8.Didhegettheanswer?AudioscriptQuestionsAlthougheducationiscompulsoryintheUnitedStates,itisnotcompulsoryforallchildrentogettheireducationatschool.Anumberofparentsbelievethattheycanprovideabettereducationfortheirchildrenathome.Childrenwhoareeducatedathomeareknownas“home-schoolers.”Thereareabout300000home-schoolersintheUnitedStatestoday.Interestingly,resultsshowthathome-schooledchildrentendtodobetterthanaverageonnationaltestsinreadingandmath.DavidGutersonisanAmericanwriter.Heandhiswifeteachtheirthreechildrenthemselves.Gutersonsaysthathischildrenlearnverydifferentlyfromchildreninaregularschool.Learningstartswiththechildren’sinterestsandquestions.Forexample,whenthereisheavysnowfallonawinterday,itmaystartadiscussionorreadingaboutclimate,snowremovalequipment,Alaska,polarbears,andwintertourism.Oraspringevening,whenthefamilyiswatchingthestars,isagoodtimeforsettingupatelescopeandaskingquestionsaboutsatellites,comets,meteors,andthespaceprogram.Atdinner,iftheBrazilianrainforestsareonthenews,itcouldbeaperfecttimetogetouttheatlasandencyclopedia.Thentheremightbetwohoursormoreofeating,askingquestions,lookingupanswers,discoveringhowrainforestsinfluencetheclimate,whatthe“greenhouseeffect”is,howdesertsareformedandhowthepolaricecapsaffectoceanlevels.Althoughhomeschoolingoffersanexperiencethatisoftenmoreinterestingthanregularschools,criticspointoutthathome-schoolersmissoutonmanyimportantthings.Thehome-schoolerisanoutsiderwho,becauseheorsheneverattendedschool,mightbeuncomfortablemixingwithotherpeopleinadultlife.Criticsalsosaythatmostparentsarenotwellqualifiedtoteachtheirchildrenandmaypassontheirownnarrowviewstotheirchildren.However,mostparentsdon’thavethetimeordesiretoteachtheirchildrenathome,soschoolswillcontinuetobewheremostchildrengettheirformaleducation.AudioscriptJohnJames: Idisagree,Peter.Idon’tthinkitreallymatterswhatyoureducationalbackgroundis.Anyonewhoisbrightenoughisgoingtodowellwhatevertheireducation.PeterDavies: ButJohn,… JohnJames: Infact,Ithinksomepeoplecarryonwiththeireducationwhentheywoulddoalotbettertogetoutandstartbuildingtheirowncareersbylearningthingsinreallife.PeterDavies: Yes,butthewholepointis,lifeisgettingsomuchmorecomplicatedthesedaysthatunlessyoucarryonwithyourstudiesyoujustcan’tcope.JohnJames: Forcertainthings,andcertainpeople,OK,buttomymind,thebigproblemineducationisthatyouspecializetooquickly.Imean,inEngland,youstartspecializingfromthethirdyearinsecondaryschool,whenyou’reabout14.Anditgetssteadilynarroweruntilyoudoyour“A”levelsinonlytwoorthreesubjects.Youeitherdolanguages,ornaturalsciences,orsocialsciences.PeterDavies: Butsurelythesedaysyouhaveto,John—youcan’tpossiblystudyeverythingbecausethere’sjusttoomuch.JohnJames: Yes,buthowmanykidsattheageofsixteenreallyknowwhattheywanttodo?Howmanyofthemareconvincedthatthethreesubjectsthey’vechosen,orhavebeenrecommended,aretheonesthatwillletthemfollowthecareerstheyeventuallydecideon?PeterDavies: Oh,Ithinkmostyoungpeoplewhostayonatschoolhaveafairideaofwhattheywanttodo.JohnJames:I’mnotsosure,Peter,Andafterall,that’snottheendofit.WhentheygettouniversityinEngland,thesubjectstheystudyaresonarrowthattheyareonlygoodforonething,sotheyarestuckwithit. PeterDavies:ButIdon’treallyseethatthereisanyalternativeifpeoplearegoingtolearnenoughtobecompetentintheirsubject.They’vegottospecializeearly,andIsupposethosethatrealizethey’vemadeamistakecanalwaysswaptosomethingelse.JohnJames:Ah,butthat’sjustit.Youcan’t.Supposeyoustudylanguagesatuniversityandthendecidethatyouarenotcutoutforitandwouldliketobeadoctor.You’veburntyourbridges.Youcan’tjustchangehorsesinmid-stream;you’vegottogorightbacktothebeginningandyouloseyears.IthinktheAmericansystemismuchbetter.AudioscriptJohnJames: …IthinktheAmericansystemismuchbetter.PeterDavies: Inwhatway?JohnJames: Well,foryourfirstdegreeyou’vegottostudyafairlywiderangeofsubjects,andyoucanchoosethemyourself,withincertainlimits.PeterDavies: Fine,butdoesn’tthatmeanthatAmericanstudentswithafirstdegreedon’thavethedepthofknowledgetheyshouldhave?JohnJames: Shouldhaveforwhat?PeterDavies: Well,theyoftenaren’tacceptedforpostgraduateworkinEnglandwithjustafirstdegree.JohnJames: Maybenot,butIdon’treallythinkthat’simportant.Theycomeoutwithaprettygoodgeneralknowledgeinawidearea.Afterall,whenyouthinkaboutalotofthestuffEnglishstudentshavetostudy,whatgoodisittothemafterwards?I’msurethemajorityofBritishstudentsneveruse90percentofwhattheystudiedatuniversity.PeterDavies: Thatmaybetrueofsomeartssubjects,butwhataboutthesciences?JohnJames: Eventhere,alotwhattheydoatuniversityissoacademicandabstrusethattheywillneverbeabletoputittoanypracticaluse.I’msuretheywouldbenefitfarmorefromon-the-jobexperience.Andifthey’vehadabroadercourseofstudythey’vegottwoadvantages.PeterDavies: Howdoyoumean?JohnJames: Firstofall,theywillhaveabetterunderstandingoftheworldingeneral,sotheywillbemoreflexibleintheirjobs,andthenifthingsdogowrongtheywillbeabletoswitchjobseasily.PeterDavies:Thatallsoundsverysimple,butIthinkyou’restillunderestimatingtheamountofpurelearningthatyouneedthesedays,particularlyintechnicalandscientificareas.Imeanevenatschoolthesedays,childrenhavetolearnfarmorethingsthanwedidwhenwewereatschool.JohnJames:Allthemorereasonweshouldnottrytoconcentrateonsuchafewthingsatsuchanearlyage.Thingsarechangingsorapidlythesedaysthatwehavetochangewiththem.Whenwewereyounger,therewasaprettygoodchancethatwewouldbeabletocarryonintheprofessionwe’dchosenuntilweretired.Butthesedays,peoplehavegottobepreparedtochangetheirjobsandlearnnewskillsastechnologymovesahead.Takejusttheareaoftheoffice,forexample.Howmanyoffices…AudioscriptImaginebeingaskedtospendtwelveorsoyearsofyourlifeinasocietywhichconsistedonlyofmembersofyourownsex.Howwouldyoureact?Unlesstherewassomethingdefinitelywrongwithyou,youwouldn’tbesohappyaboutit,tosaytheleast.Itisallthemoresurprisingthereforethatsomanyparentsintheworldchoosetoimposesuchabnormalconditionsontheirchildren—conditionswhichtheythemselveswouldn’tputupwithforoneminute!Anydiscussionofthistopicisboundtoquestiontheaimsofeducation.Stuffingchildren’sheadfullofknowledgeisfarfrombeingforemostamongthem.Oneofthechiefaimsofeducationistoequipfuturecitizenswithalltheyrequiretotaketheirplaceinadultsociety.Nowadultsocietyismadeupofmenandwomen,sohowcanasegregatedschoolpossiblyoffertherightsortofpreparationforit?Anyoneenteringadultsocietyafteryearsofsegregationcanonlybeinforashock.Aco-educationalschoolofferschildrennothinglessthanatrueversionofsocietyinminiature.Boysandgirlsaregiventheopportunitytogettoknoweachother,tolearntolivetogetherfromtheirearliestyears.Theyareputinapositionwheretheycancomparethemselveswitheachotherintermsofacademicability,athleticachievementandmanyoftheextra-curricularactivitieswhicharepartofschoollife.Whatapracticaladvantageitis(togivejustasmallexample)tobeabletoputonaschoolplayinwhichthemalepartswillbetakenbyboysandthefemalepartsbygirls!Whensegregated,boysandgirlsaremadetofeelthattheyarearaceapart.Inaco-educationalschool,everythingfallsintoitsproperplace.

Butperhapsthegreatestcontributionofco-educationisthehealthyattitudetolifeitencourages.Boysdon’tgrowupbelievingthatwomenaremysteriouscreatures.Girlsdon’tgrowupimaginingthatmenareromanticheroes.Yearsoflivingtogethe