【中级听力】（文末附视频）I Rest My Case !

I Rest my Case

《文 末 附 视 频》

This may not be a word-for-word transcript.

DA: Albert Einstein once said, "Everybody's a genius..., but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, today on trial we have modern day schooling. Glad you could come. Not only does he make fish climb trees but also makes them climb down and do a 10 mile run.

DA: Tell me school, are you proud of the things you've done? Turning millions of people into robots, do you find that fun? Do you realize how many kids relate to that fish? Swimming upstream in class, never finding their gifts, thinking they are stupid, believing they are useless. But the time has come, no more excuses.

DA: I call school to the stand and accuse him of killing creativity, individuality and being intellectually abusive. He's an ancient institution that has outlived his usage. So your honour, this concludes my opening statement and if I may present the evidence of my case, I will prove it.

Judge: Proceed. 

DA: Exhibit A: Here's a modern day phone, recongnise it? Here's a phone from 150 years ago, big difference right? Stay with me. Here's a car from today and here's a car from 150 years ago. Big difference right? Well get this. Here's a classroom of today and here's a class we used 150 years ago. Now ain't that a shame? In literally more than a century, nothing has changed. Yet you claim to prepare students for the future? But with evidence like that I must ask - do you prepare students for the future? Or the past ?

DA: I did a background check on you and let the records show that you were made to train people to work in factories. Which explains why you put students in straight rows nice and neat. Tell them sit still. Raise your hand if you wanna speak. Give them a short break to eat and for eight hours a day. Tell them what to think. Oh, and make them compete to get an A. A letter which determines product quality. Hence grade A of meat. 

DA: I get it. Back then times were different. We all have a past, I myself am no Gandhi. But today we don't need to make robot zombies. The world has progressed and now we need people who think creatively, innovatively, critically, independently with the ability to connect. See every scientist will tell you that no two brains are the same. And every parent with two or more children will confirm that claim. So please explain why you treat students like cookie cutter frames or snapback hats. Giving them this 'one size fits all' crap.

Judge: Watch your language. 

DA: Sorry your honour.

DA: What if a doctor prescribe the exact same medicine to all of his patients. The results would be tragic. So many people would get sick. Yet, when it comes to school, this is exactly what happens. This... educational malpractice, where one teacher stands in front of 20 kids, each one having different strengths, different needs, different gifts, different dreams. And you teach the same thing the same way? That's horrific! 

DA: Ladies and gentlemen, the defendant should not be acquitted. This may be one of the worst criminal offenses ever to be committed. Unless you mention the way you treat your employees...

Attorney: Objection! 

Judge: Overruled! I wanna hear this. 

DA: It's a shame. I mean teachers have THE most important job on the planet yet they're underpaid? No wonder so many students are shortchanged. Let's be honest. Teachers should earn just as much as doctors. Because a doctor can do heart surgery, and save the life of a kid. What a great teacher can reach the heart of that kid and allow him to truly live.

DA: See teachers are heroes that often get blamed but they're not the problem.They work in a system without many options or rights. Curriculums are created by policy makers. Most of which have never taught a day in their life. Just obsessed with standardized tests..., they think bubbling in a multiple choice question will determine success. That's outlandish.

DA: In fact these tests are too crude to be used, and should be abandoned. But don't take my word for it, take Frederick. J. Kelly. The man who invented standardized testing, who said, and I quote, "These tests are too crude to be used and should be abandoned.” Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, if we continue down this road, the results will be lethal. I don't have much faith in school, but I do have faith in people. 

DA: And if we can customize healthcare, cars, and Facebook pages, then it is our duty to do the same for education. To upgrade it. Change it. Do away with school spirit, cos that's useless. Unless we are working to bring the spirit out of each and every student. That should be our task. 

DA: No more common core, instead..., let's reach the core of every heart in every class. Sure math is important, but no more than art or dance. Let's give every gift an equal chance. I know this sounds like a dream but countries like Finland are doing impressive things. They have shorter school days. Teachers make a decent wage. Homework is non-existent and they focus on collaboration instead of competition. But here's the kicker boys and girls.

DA: Their educational system outperforms every other country in the world. Other places like Singapore are succeeding rapidly. Schools like Montessori. Programs like Khan Academy. There is no single solution, but let's get moving. Because while students may be 20% of our population. They are 100% of our future. So let's attend to their dreams and there's no telling what we can achieve. This is a world in which I believe - a world where fish are no longer forced to climb trees. 

DA: I rest my case.

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