Why open a school? To close a prison | Nadia Lopez

譯者: Conway Ye 審譯者: Jin Wu

When I opened Mott Hall Bridges Academy in 2010,

當我在 2010 年 創辦莫特山學院的時候，

my goal was simple:

我的目標很簡單：

open a school to close a prison.

開辦一所學校來關閉一所監獄。

Now to some, this was an audacious goal,

這可能對於一些人來說， 是個很冒險的目標，

because our school is located in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn --

因為我們的學校坐落在 布魯克林的布朗斯維爾，

one of the most underserved and violent neighborhoods

這是整個紐約城服務與設施 最匱乏和暴力的社區之一。

in all of New York City.

和很多擁有高貧困率的 城區學校一樣，

Like many urban schools with high poverty rates,

we face numerous challenges,

我們面臨著諸多挑戰，

like finding teachers who can empathize

比如尋找能同情弱勢社區 複雜情況的老師，

with the complexities of a disadvantaged community,

lack of funding for technology,

缺少科技教育設施資金，

low parental involvement

家長參與度低，

and neighborhood gangs that recruit children as early as fourth grade.

和會早在孩子四年級 就開始吸收的社區幫派。

So here I was,

所以，我來了，

the founding principal of a middle school that was a district public school,

一個地區公立初中的創始校長，

and I only had 45 kids to start.

而且我只有 45 個學生，

Thirty percent of them had special needs.

30% 的學生還有特教需要，

Eighty-six percent of them were below grade level

86% 的學生數學和英語不達標，

in English and in math.

And 100 percent were living below the poverty level.

全部學生都過著赤貧的生活。

如果這些學生不在我們的教室裡，

If our children are not in our classrooms,

how will they learn?

他們怎麼學習？

And if they're not learning,

如果他們不學習，

where would they end up?

他們最後會流落何方？

It was evident when I would ask my 13-year-old,

在我問我 13 歲的學生時， 這暴露無遺，

"Young man,

「年輕人，

where do you see yourself in five years?"

你覺得五年後你會在幹嘛？」

And his response:

然後他回答：

"I don't know if I'm gonna live that long."

「我不知道我會不會活那麼久？」

Or to have a young woman say to me

或者是有一個年輕女士對我說，

that she had a lifelong goal of working in a fast-food restaurant.

她人生的目標就是在速食店工作。

To me, this was unacceptable.

對我來說，這是無法接受的，

It was also evident that they had no idea

這暴露無遺，他們不知道 在社區外有無數的機會，

that there was a landscape of opportunity

that existed beyond their neighborhood.

We call our students "scholars," because they're lifelong learners.

我們稱呼學生「學者」， 因為他們終生都會在學習。

And the skills that they learn today

而且他們今天學習的東西

will prepare them for college and career readiness.

會為他們的大學和職業生涯做準備，

I chose the royal colors of purple and black,

我選擇了皇家的紫色和黑色，

because I want them to be reminded that they are descendants of greatness,

因為我希望提醒他們， 他們是偉人的後代，

and that through education,

通過教育，

they are future engineers,

他們是未來的工程師、

scientists,

科學家、

entrepreneurs

企業家，

and even leaders who can and will take over this world.

甚至能夠掌控且 將會掌控全球的領導者。

To date,

現在，

we have had three graduating classes,

我們已經有三個畢業班，

at a 98 --

還有 98% ──

(Applause)

（鼓掌）

At a 98-percent graduation rate.

還有 98% 的畢業率。

這是將近 200 個孩子，

This is nearly 200 children,

who are now going to some of the most competitive high schools

他們將要進入紐約一些 競爭最激烈的高中，

in New York City.

(Applause)

（鼓掌）

It was a cold day in January

那是一月寒冷的一天，

when my scholar, Vidal Chastanet, met Brandon Stanton,

我的「學者」 維多．莎絲坦內特 見到了布蘭登．斯坦登，

the founder of the popular blog "Humans of New York."

他是紐約流行博客「紐約人」 (Humans of New York) 的創始人，

Brandon shared the story of a young man from Brownsville

布蘭登分享了一個故事， 關於一個來自布朗斯維爾德年輕人，

who had witnessed violence firsthand,

他親眼目睹過暴力事件：

by witnessing a man being thrown off of a roof.

一個人從屋頂上被扔下來。

Yet he can still be influenced by a principal

然而他還是可以被那個創辦了 相信所有學生的校長所影響。

who had opened up a school that believes in all children.

Vidal embodies the story of so many of our underprivileged children

維多代表著諸多貧困學生 掙扎著活下去的故事，

who are struggling to survive,

which is why we must make education a priority.

這就是為什麼我們要以教育為先。

Brandon's post created a global sensation

布蘭登的報導轟動全球，

that touched the lives of millions.

感動了百萬人，

This resulted in 1.4 million dollars being raised

籌集了 140 萬美金的募捐，

for our scholars to attend field trips to colleges and universities,

給我們的學生實地參觀大學和學院，

Summer STEAM programs,

參與暑期 STEAM 計畫， （科學技術工程藝術數學）

as well as college scholarships.

以及大學的獎學金。

You need to understand

你要明白，

that when 200 young people from Brownsville visited Harvard,

當 200 個來自布朗斯維爾的 年輕人拜訪哈佛大學，

they now understood

他們才知道，

that a college of their choice was a real possibility.

選擇上大學能給他們無限可能，

And the impossibilities that had been imposed upon them

他們因為生活在弱勢社區 而強加在他們身上的無望感，

by a disadvantaged community

were replaced by hope and purpose.

被希望和目標所替代。

The revolution in education is happening in our schools,

教育革命正在我們的學校進行，

with adults who provide love,

成年人提供關愛、

structure,

指導、

support

支持，

and knowledge.

以及知識。

These are the things that inspire children.

這些是能夠啟發孩子的東西。

But it is not an easy task.

這並不簡單，

And there are high demands

而且在這並不完美的教育系統中，

within an education system that is not perfect.

很多人迫切需要。

But I have a dynamic group of educators

但我有一個積極的教育工作者團體，

who collaborate as a team to determine what is the best curriculum.

我們團隊合作， 制定出最適合的課程表。

They take time beyond their school day,

他們在課外抽出時間，

and come in on weekends

在週末工作，

and even use their own money to often provide resources

甚至經常花自己的錢 來提供我們缺少的資源。

when we do not have it.

And as the principal,

作為校長，

I have to inspect what I expect.

我需要監督我們的期望。

So I show up in classes

我會出現在課堂上，

and I conduct observations to give feedback,

觀察並寫出反饋，

because I want my teachers to be just as successful

因為我希望我的老師們 和莫特山學院一樣成功。

as the name Mott Hall Bridges Academy.

And I give them access to me every single day,

而且我讓他們每天都能夠聯繫到我，

which is why they all have my personal cell number,

這就是為什麼他們都有 我的私人電話號碼，

including my scholars and those who graduated --

包括那些學生和已經畢業的，

which is probably why I get phone calls and text messages

這可能也是為什麼我會在早上三點

at three o'clock in the morning.

收到電話和簡訊。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

But we are all connected to succeed,

但是我們一起成功，

and good leaders do this.

這是成功的領導者會做的。

Tomorrow's future is sitting in our classrooms.

我們的未來正坐在我們的教室裡，

And they are our responsibility.

而且，他們是我們的責任。

That means everyone in here,

這意謂著在場的所有人，

and those who are watching the screen.

和那些正在看這段影片的人，

We must believe in their brilliance,

我們一定要相信他們的才智，

and remind them by teaching them

通過教育來提醒他們，

that there indeed is power in education.

教育真的很有力量。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（鼓掌）