新西兰英语 07 Youth Policies

　　This week, the leaders of both main political parties gave their plans if they win the election later this year. John Key, the leader of the Opposition¹ (the National Party) talked about young people and crime. The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, talked about young people and education.
John Key said the National Party had a plan to deal with young criminals. They plan to lower the age for young criminals who have to attend a Youth Court to 12 years old because some 12 and 13 year olds are already involved in crime. The worst young criminals would have to attend a programme called Fresh Start, for one year. Part of that time these criminals would have to stay in a military camp and attend a programme run by the army to learn discipline. They would also learn reading, writing and maths skills. John Key said it would be a positive programme to help these people change their lives. Parents of young criminals would have to attend programmes to help them become better parents.
John Key did not think it was a good idea to force young people to stay in school until they were 18. He said many 16 and 17 year olds learn more working at a job than they do at school but he also said that if they are not in school or working, they would not get an unemployment benefit.
Helen Clark, however, said the government planned to make it compulsory² for all young people to be in some kind of education or training until they were 18. At the moment, it is compulsory to be at school until the age of 16. She said the government would make it easy for young people to start training for a job while they are still at school. They could learn the skills needed for jobs like motor mechanics³, builders, electricians⁴, plumbers⁵ and house painters.
Helen Clark said that New Zealand needs more skilled workers and this is one way of training more young people. Some teachers, though, are worried that this will not solve the problem of 13 and 14 year olds who are truant⁶ because they hate school. They just stay home or get into trouble with their friends.
It is strange that both leaders chose to talk about the problems with young people. The plans of both the National and Labour Parties would cost a great deal of money.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 compulsory   

n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的

参考例句：

• Is English a compulsory subject?英语是必修课吗？
• Compulsory schooling ends at sixteen.义务教育至16岁为止。

3 mechanics   

n.力学，机械学；结构

参考例句：

• The mechanics of fixing a car are very long.修理一部汽车的过程很长。
• The mechanics of the machine are very old.这台机器的机件非常老。

4 electricians   

n.电工，电气专家( electrician的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These women electricians really know their job. 这些女电工真能干。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The electricians have performed wonders in recording these long dead voices from old wax onto modern plastic surfaces. 电气技师们很出色地把这些早已失传的声音从老唱片中转录到现代的塑料薄膜唱片上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 plumbers   

n.管子工，水暖工( plumber的名词复数 )；[美][口]（防止泄密的）堵漏人员

参考例句：

• Plumbers charge by the hour for their work. 水管工人的工作是以小时收费的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Plumbers, carpenters, and other workmen finished the new house quickly. 管道工、木工及其他工匠很快完成了这幢新房子。 来自辞典例句

6 truant   

n.懒惰鬼，旷课者；adj.偷懒的，旷课的，游荡的；v.偷懒，旷课

参考例句：

• I found the truant throwing stones in the river.我发现那个逃课的学生在往河里扔石子。
• Children who play truant from school are unimaginative.逃学的孩子们都缺乏想像力。