Last year, I had the chance to study at a British secondary school 23 an exchange student. Every secondary school student in the UK must study English, Maths and the Science subjects: Biology, Chemistry and Physics. In year ten, students usually have to study nine subjects, and they can also choose 24 (study) other subjects, such as History, Art and Business. I enjoyed most of the classes, but some of them were quite 25 (challenge). Technology classes were fun. I made a clock to take home. The teacher helped me put the parts together. I like it so much 26 I still use it as my alarm! There 27 (be) not as much homework as I was used to, but it was still tough for me. 28 (fortunate), my teachers and classmates were always helpful and gave me lots of 29 (encourage). My language skills improved over time. After school, there were many clubs to join. 30 attracted me most was the Rugby Club. Also, I enjoyed 31 (act) in the Theatre Club. Joining clubs was a great way 32 (meet) British students and make friends with them.
To most of us, school means classes, teachers, schedules, grades and tests. But for the children at Sudbury Valley School, Massachusetts, school is very different.
Firstly, there are no lessons. All the children, aged between 4 and 19, do whatever they want to. There are no teachers—only “staff (员工) members”. The idea behind this is that you do not need to make children learn, because children want to learn anyway. “You do not need to say to a three-year-old, ‘Go to explore your environment.’ You can’t stop him or her!” says Daniel Greenberg, a founder of the school. “But if you make children do what you want all day, they will lose all taste for learning and can’t realize their potential.”
At Sudbury Valley School, you will permit children to talk, read, paint, cook, work on computers, study French, play the piano, climb trees, or just run around. Two boys spent three years just fishing!
The other way in which Sudbury Valley School is different is that the children can decide the rules. Every week, there is a school meeting where both children and staff have one vote each—even the four-year-olds. They decide the school rules, how to spend the school budget (预算), and even which staff members they want and do not want any more.
When the school first opened in 1968, people said it would never work. But today, the school has 200 students, and 80% of its students go on to college. Even the two boys who went fishing all the time have successful careers today. One of them is a musician and the other is a computer scientist.
My teacher held up a piece of broken glass and asked, “Who broke this window?”
Thirty boys tried to think about not only what they had done, but also what the teacher might have found out. She seldom became angry, but she was this time.
“Oh,” I thought. I was the one who broke the window. It was caused by a naughty throw of a baseball. If I admitted guilt, I would be in a lot of trouble. How would I be able to pay for a big window like that? I didn’t even get an allowance. “My father is going to have a fit as a result of it,” I thought. I didn’t want to raise my hand, but some force much stronger than I was pulled it skyward (朝向天空). I told the truth, “I did it.” It was hard enough to say what I had done.
My teacher took down a book from one of our library shelves and I had never known my teacher to strike a student, but I feared she was going to start with me.
“I know how much you like birds,” she said as she stood looking down at my guilt-ridden face. “Here is the field guide about birds that you are constantly checking out. It is yours now. It’s time we got a new one for the school anyway. You will not be punished, but remember that I am not rewarding you for your misdeed (恶行), but I am rewarding you for your truthfulness.”
I couldn’t believe it! I wasn’t being punished and I was getting my own bird field guide — the very one that I had been saving up money to buy.
The lesson my teacher taught me stays with me every day, and it will echo forever.
Being first in your class is a goal that you can achieve. 41 .Try these tips along your way to help you get that first rank in your school.
Read beyond assigned reading. 42 .But to pull ahead to the first rank, you also need to read books that can provide extra information you need. If you're studying World War Ⅱ, for example, read biographies(传记) of the important people.
Participate in teamwork in class. Be a part of group discussion, and volunteer for extra projects and teams. 43 . If the class has a debating team, take part in it often and come prepared with notes for every debate.
44 If you feel that you are having trouble grasping certain topics, don't struggle until your grades begin to slip. Turn to the teachers if necessary.
Stay physically fit. Get plenty of exercise either through team or individual activities. Eat well, drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep. 45 .But be self-disciplined(自律的).
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