【正文】 aking up for a misdeed ─ he is less likely to figure out himself how to acplish such a task. And, more generally, he is less likely to view life ─ as Americans do ─ as a series of situations in which one has to learn to think for oneself, to solve problems on one39。他玩得開心，而且在探索，這兩點才是我們真正看重的。這種自力更生的精神是美國中產(chǎn)階級最重要的一條育兒觀。從更廣泛的意義上說，他就不太可能——如美國人那樣——將人生視為一系列的情境，在這些情境中，一個人必須學(xué)會獨立思考，學(xué)會獨立解決問題，進(jìn)而學(xué)會發(fā)現(xiàn)需要創(chuàng)造性地加以解決的新問題。這件事表明了我們兩國在教育和藝術(shù)實踐上的重要差異。s rescue, they did not simply push his hand down clumsily or uncertainly, as I might have done. Instead, they guided him with extreme facility and gentleness in precisely the desired direction. I came to realize that these Chinese were not just molding and shaping Benjamin39。相反，他們極其熟練地、溫和地把他引向所要到達(dá)的確切方向。 10 The idea that learning should take place by continual careful shaping and molding applies equally to the arts. Watching children at work in a classroom setting, we were astonished by their facility. Children as young as 5 or 6 were painting flowers, fish and animals with the skill and confidence of an adult。我們觀看了孩子們在教室里學(xué)習(xí)藝術(shù)的情景，他們的嫻熟技藝令我們驚訝。有一次去兩位小藝術(shù)家的家里參觀，我們從孩子的父母處得知，他們每天練習(xí)數(shù)小時以完善他們的技藝。 and young Chinese being almost inseparable from the tradition, but, over time, possibly evolving to a point equally original. 創(chuàng)造力第一？ 從對創(chuàng)造力的態(tài)度來說，優(yōu)先次序似乎是顛倒了：西方的年輕人先是大膽創(chuàng)新，然后逐漸深諳傳統(tǒng)；而中國的年輕人則幾乎離不開傳統(tǒng)，但是，隨著時間的推移，他們同樣可能發(fā)展到具有創(chuàng)新的境界。 there is, on the other hand, no parable hurry to promote creativity. American educators fear that unless creativity has been acquired early, it may never emerge。我們兩種文化的差異也可以從我們各自所懷的憂慮中顯示出來。美國教育工作者則擔(dān)心，除非從一開始就發(fā)展創(chuàng)造力，不然創(chuàng)造力就有可能永不再現(xiàn)；而另一方面，技藝可于日后獲得。無論在過去還是在當(dāng)今，中國在科學(xué)、技術(shù)和藝術(shù)革新方面都展示了巨大的創(chuàng)造力。如果仔細(xì)審視任何一項創(chuàng)新，其對以往成就的依賴則都顯而易見（“站在巨人肩膀之上”的現(xiàn)象）。ll discover in reading about the First National Bank of Dave. 設(shè)法教育孩子珍惜錢財會是件難事。歐文說，方法也很簡單——開個銀行就行。 　Children and MoneyDavid Owen 1 Parents who decide that the time has e to teach their children about money usually begin by opening savings accounts. The kids are attracted at first by the notion that a bank will pay them for doing nothing, but their enthusiasm disappears when they realize that the interest rate is tiny and, furthermore, their parents don39。歐文 當(dāng)家長覺得該教孩子們懂得如何對待金錢的時候，他們通常先為孩子開個儲蓄賬戶。對一個孩子來說，一個儲蓄賬戶只不過是一個吞沒其生日禮金支票的黑洞。ll put that check straight into your savings account. Kid: But she gave it to me! I want it! Parent: Oh, it will still be yours. You just have to keep it in the bank so that it can grow. Kid (suspicious) : What do you mean by 39。? Parent: Well, if you leave your twentyfive dollars in the bank for just one year, the bank will pay you seventyfive cents. And if you leave all of that in the bank for just one more year, the bank will give you another seventyfive cents plus two and a half more cents besides. That39。咱們把支票直接存到你的賬戶上去。你只不過是要把錢放在銀行里，好讓它增多。要是你連本帶息在銀行里再放一年，銀行會再付給你75美分。這錢能幫你上大學(xué)。s nothing in them for the kids. College is a thousand years away, and they probably think they39。s overspending seems to mimic their own), parents devise ways to lock up their children39。t real money and that all cash should either be spent immediately or hidden in a drawer. 這類儲蓄計劃的主要缺陷在于，孩子本人一無所獲。實際上，這類計劃的真正目的通常不是促進(jìn)儲蓄而是限制消費(fèi)。毋怪乎孩子們很快就認(rèn)定，大額錢款不是實實在在的錢，有了現(xiàn)錢要么趕緊花掉，要么藏在抽屜里。s called the First National Bank of Dave. I set up an account for each child, using the same puter program I use to keep track of my checkbook. Because I wanted my kids39。t accept deposits from strangers.) Allowances are deposited automatically on the first day of each month. The kids can make other deposits, or withdrawals, whenever they like. 為了避免我的兩個孩子產(chǎn)生這一問題，我開設(shè)了自己的銀行，名叫戴夫第一國家銀行。因為我希望孩子存款增長的速度足以引起他們的注意，便給他們一個誘人的利率——月息5厘。（不，我不接受外來存款。孩子們也可以把別的錢存進(jìn)來，想存就存，想取就取。 accounts grew so fast that after two years I had to roll back my monthly interest rate to three per cent. The kids protested when I announced the change, but they nodded solemnly when I explained that the law of supply and demand applies even to the supply of money. The kids help me calculate their interest a useful lesson in averaging and percentages. (3) I give them unlimited access to their funds, no questions asked, and I provide printed statements on demand. 戴夫銀行經(jīng)營了4年，一下子就把我的兩個孩子變成了熱心的儲蓄者?！眱蓚€孩子的存款增長很快，兩年之后，我不得不將月利率降至3厘。兩個孩子幫我一起計算他們的利息——這可是學(xué)習(xí)計算平均值與百分比的頗為有用的一課。 6 The high rate of interest is not the only attractive feature of the Bank of Dave. Equally important from the kids39。 when they want to spend, they don39。在孩子看來同樣重要的是，他們的存款屬于他們自己。孩子對自己的錢沒有自主權(quán)，就沒有什么東西激勵他們不去伸手要錢，不把到手的錢花個光。ll usually give my kids an extra twenty bucks or so, which I deposit in their accounts. I tell them that they can spend the extra money on a Tshirt, save it, spend it before we leave, or do anything else they want with it but that while we are on vacation, they won39。s Vineyard a couple of summers ago my son quietly studied the unpromising merchandise while a friend of his loudly cajoled his parents into paying five dollars for a toy gun, which fell apart almost before we got back to the car. My son ended up spending thirtythree cents for an unopened geode, which he later cracked open by hitting it with a hammer a good value, it seemed to me. If he had been spending my money instead of his, he undoubtedly would have wanted a toy gun instead. 幫助孩子們成為理性消費(fèi)者的方法是，交給他們更多的，而不是更少的自主權(quán)。我告訴他們，他們可以在我們出發(fā)前用這筆額外的錢買T恤衫、存起來，或者花掉，或隨便他們派什么別的用場——但在度假期間，他們就不會從我這兒再拿到任何額外的零用錢了（根據(jù)慣例被認(rèn)為是度假享受的共同消費(fèi)除外，如糖果、冰淇淋、電影票等）。兩年前的一個夏天，在瑪莎葡萄園的一家紀(jì)念品商店，我兒子一聲不響地仔細(xì)察看那些不起眼的商品，他的一個朋友則吵著讓父母花5美金買了一把玩具槍，可幾乎還沒等我們回到車上，槍就壞了。要是他花的是我的而不是他自己的錢，毫無疑問，他肯定也會要買一把玩具槍的。s usually because for reasons of their own they have managed to make saving seem painful and dull. Money is fun, and it39。只要給予足夠的自由活動余地，他們很快就會成為精明的理財者。金錢是有趣的，而且?guī)缀跬耆遣恢v自明的。 Unit2Does being rich mean you live a pletely different life from ordinary people? Not, it seems, if your name is Sam Walton. 有錢是否意味著過一種完全不同于普通人的生活？看來未必，如果你的名字叫薩姆 THE RICHEST MAN IN AMERICA, DOWN HOMEArt Harris 1 He put on a dinner jacket to