(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
I'm Faith Lapidus. And I'm Steve Ember with People in America in VOA Special English. Today we tell about the world's most famous doctor for children, Benjamin Spock. Benjamin Spock's first book caused a revolution in the way American children were raised. His book, "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care," was published in nineteen forty-six. The book gave advice to parents of babies and young children. The first lines of the book are famous. Doctor Spock wrote: "Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do".
This message shocked many parents. For years, mothers had been told that they should reject their natural feelings about their babies. Before Doctor Spock's book appeared, the most popular guide to raising children was called "Psychological Care of Infant and Child." The book's writer, John B. Watson, urged extreme firmness in dealing with children. The book called for a strong structure of rules in families. It warned parents never to kiss, hug or physically comfort their children.Doctor Spock's book was very different. He gave gentle advice to ease the fears of new parents. Doctor Spock said his work was an effort to help parents trust their own natural abilities in caring for their children. Doctor Spock based much of his advice on the research and findings of the famous Austrian psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud.
Doctor Spock's book discusses the mental and emotional development of children. It urges parents to use that information to decide how to deal with their babies when they are crying, hungry, or tired. For example, Doctor Spock dismissed the popular idea of exactly timed feedings for babies. Baby care experts had believed that babies must be fed at the same times every day or they would grow up to be demanding children. Doctor Spock said babies should be fed when they are hungry. He argued that babies know better than anyone about when and how much they need to eat. He did not believe that feeding babies when they cry in hunger would make them more demanding. He also believed that showing love to babies by hugging and kissing them would make them happier and more secure. "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" examined the emotional and physical growth of children. Doctor Spock said he did not want to just tell a parent what to do. He said he tried to explain what children generally are like at different times in their development so parents would know what to expect.
Doctor Spock's book did not receive much notice from the media when it was published in nineteen forty- six. Yet, seven hundred fifty thousand copies of the book were sold during the year after its release. Doctor Spock began receiving many letters of thanks from mothers around the country.
Doctor Spock considered his mother, Mildred Spock, to be the major influence on his personal and professional life. He said his ideas about how parents should act were first formed because of her. He reacted to the way in which his mother cared for him and his brother and sisters. Doctor Spock described his mother as extremely controlling. He said she believed all human action was the result of a physical health issue or a moral one. She never considered her children's actions were based on emotional needs. Doctor Spock later argued against this way of thinking. Yet, he praised his mother's trust of her own knowledge of her children. In his book, "Spock on Spock," he wrote about his mother's ability to correctly identify her children's sicknesses when the doctors were wrong.
Benjamin Spock was born in nineteen-oh-three. He was the first of six children. The Spock family lived in New Haven, Connecticut. His father was a successful lawyer. Benjamin was a quiet child. He attended Phillips Academy, a private school in Andover, Massachusetts. Later he attended Yale University in New Haven. He joined a sports team at Yale that competed in rowing boats. In nineteen twenty-four, he and his team members competed in rowing at the Olympic Games in Paris, France. They won the gold medal. Benjamin Spock worked at a camp for disabled children for three summers during his years at Yale. He said the experience probably led to his decision to enter medical school. He began at Yale Medical School, but he completed his medical degree at Columbia University in New York City. He graduated as the best student in his class in nineteen twenty-nine.
Benjamin Spock had married Jane Cheney during his second year in medical school. They later had two sons, Michael and John. Doctor Spock began working as a pediatrician, treating babies and children in New York City in nineteen thirty-three. During the next ten years he tried to fit the theories about how children develop with what mothers told him about their children. In nineteen forty-three, a publisher asked him to write a book giving advice to parents. He finished the book by writing at night during his two years of service in the United States Navy.
Jane Spock helped her husband produce the first version of "Baby and Child Care." She typed the book from his notes and spoken words. During the nineteen fifties, Doctor Spock became famous. He wrote several other books. He wrote articles for a number of magazines. He appeared on television programs. He taught at several universities. And he gave speeches around the country to talk to parents about their concerns. During this time, he discovered things he wanted to change in the book. He wanted to make sure parents knew they should have control over their children and expect cooperation from them. So, in nineteen fifty-seven the second version of the book was published. He continued to make changes to "Baby and Child Care" throughout his life. In the nineteen sixties, Benjamin Spock began to be active in politics. He supported John F. Kennedy in his campaign for president. He joined a group opposed to the development of nuclear weapons.
Doctor Spock also took part in demonstrations to protest the Vietnam War. In nineteen sixty-eight, he was found guilty of plotting to aid men who were refusing to join the American armed forces.
Doctor Spock appealed the ruling against him. Finally, it was cancelled. However, the legal battle cost Doctor Spock a lot of money. The events damaged public opinion of the once very trusted children's doctor. Fewer people bought his books. Some people said Doctor Spock's teachings were to blame for the way young people in the nineteen sixties and seventies rebelled against the rules of society. A leading American religious thinker of that time called Doctor Spock "the father of permissiveness." In nineteen seventy-two, Doctor Spock decided to seek election as president of the United States. He was the candidate of the small "People's Party." He spoke out on issues concerning working families, children and minorities. Doctor Spock received about seventy-five thousand votes in the election that Richard Nixon won.
Doctor Spock's marriage had been suffering for some time. For years, Jane Spock drank too much alcohol and suffered from depression. She reportedly felt her husband valued his professional and political interests more than he valued her. In nineteen seventy-five, Benjamin and Jane Spock ended their forty-eight-year marriage. One year later, Mary Morgan became his second wife. 'Baby and Child Care' by Doctor Benjamin SpockMore than fifty million copies of Doctor Spock's "Baby and Child Care" book have been sold since it was published. It has been translated into thirty-nine languages. The eighth edition was published in two thousand four. It includes the latest medical information about nutrition, physical disorders and behavior. It also deals with social issues such as working mothers, day care centers single parents and gay and lesbian parenting. Benjamin Spock died in nineteen ninety-eight at the age of ninety-four. Yet his advice continues to affect the lives of millions of children and their parents.
重点解析
1.ease 减轻，缓和
I gave him some brandy to ease the pain.
我给了他一些白兰地以减轻疼痛。
2.dismiss 不予理会
Mr. Wakeham dismissed the reports as speculation.
韦克厄姆先生把这些报道当作臆测而不予理会。
3.demanding 苛求的；要求高的；吃力的
Ricky was a very demanding child.
里基是个非常苛求的孩子。
4.consider 考虑；认为
I had always considered myself a strong, competent woman.
我曾一直以为自己是个坚强能干的女人。
5.argue against 反对；据理反对；争辩
They always argue against us on how to conduct the air pollution.
他们总是与我们辩论如何处理大气污染问题。
6.be to blame 该受责备，应承担责任
The policy is partly to blame for causing the worst unemployment in Europe.
欧洲出现了最严重的失业情况，这应当部分归咎于这项政策。
参考译文
我是菲丝·拉伯蒂斯。我是史蒂夫·恩贝尔。这里是VOA慢速英语栏目《美国人物志》。今天我们将讲述世界最著名儿科医生本杰明·斯伯克的故事。本杰明·斯伯克的第一本书引发了美国儿童养育方式的改革。他的书《幼儿保健常识》出版于1946年。这本书给了父母们很多育儿建议。本书开篇第一句话非常有名。斯伯克医生写到：“相信自己。你知道的比你所想象的还要多。”很多父母被这句话所震惊。多年来，母亲们都被告知她们不应该对自己的孩子流露自然情感。斯伯克医生的这本书出版前，最流行的育儿指导是《婴幼儿心理卫生》。这本书的作者约翰·布罗德斯·华生要求父母们在处理孩子的问题时要极其坚定。这本书要求在家庭中建立强硬的规则。这本书还警告父母不要亲吻、拥抱或安抚他们的孩子。斯伯克医生的书非常不同。他给出温和的建议消除新生儿父母的恐惧。斯伯克医生说他的工作是努力帮助父母信任自己在照料孩子方面的天生能力。
斯伯克医生的多数建议都是基于著名奥地利心理分析学家西格蒙德·弗洛伊德的研究和发现。斯伯克医生的书讨论了儿童的心理和情感发展。这本书要求父母们利用这条信息决定，当孩子们哭闹、饥饿或疲惫时，该如何应对。例如，斯伯克医生反对每天在固定时间给孩子喂食的这一流行想法。婴儿护理专家认为每天应该在固定时间给婴儿喂食，否则他们可能会变得挑剔。斯伯克医生说应该在饿的时候给他们喂食。他反驳称婴儿比任何人都清楚该何时吃多少食物。他认为孩子哭闹的时候给他们喂食不会让他们变得挑剔。他还认为通过拥抱和亲吻表达对孩子的爱会让孩子更开心更有安全感。《幼儿保健常识》对儿童情感和身体发育进行调查。斯伯克医生表示他不希望只是简单地告诉家长该做什么。他说他试图解释不同阶段的孩子通常是什么样的，这样父母就知道该抱有怎样的期待。
1946年，斯伯克医生的书刚出版的时候，并没有收获多少关注。但是出版后的一年，卖出了七万五千本。斯伯克医生开始收到各国母亲的感谢信。斯伯克医生认为他的母亲米尔德里德·斯伯克对他的个人和职业生涯有着主要影响。因为她，他才有了父母该如何扮演好自己角色的想法。他只是对他的母亲照顾他以及他的兄弟姐妹的方式做出反应。斯伯克医生将他的母亲描述为一个极具控制欲的人。他说她认为所有人类行为都是某种身体健康问题或道德问题结果。她从不认为自己孩子的行为是基于情感需求的。斯伯克医生之后反驳了这种想法。但是，他赞扬他的母亲对自己孩子的见解。在《Spock on Spock》一书中，他写道在医生判断失误时，他母亲可以准确判定孩子的疾病。
本杰明·斯伯克出生于1903年。他是六个孩子中的老大。斯伯克一家住在康涅狄格州纽黑文市。他的父亲是一名成功的律师。本杰明是个安静的孩子。他在马萨诸塞州安多弗的一间私立学校上学。之后他去了纽黑文市的耶鲁大学。他加入了耶鲁的划艇运动队。1924年，他和队员参加了法国巴黎的奥运会划船项目。他们获得了金牌。在耶鲁读书的时候，本杰明·斯伯克的三个暑假都在一家残疾儿童夏令营工作。他说这个经历或许让他决定要去医学院。开始他在耶鲁医学院，但是他在纽约的哥伦比亚大学拿到医学学位。1929年，他作为班上最优秀学生从大学毕业。在医学院的第二年，本杰明·斯伯克就和简·切尼结婚了。之后，他们有了两个儿子，迈克尔和约翰。1933年，斯伯克医生成为一名儿科医师，在纽约治疗婴儿和儿童。在接下来的十年里，他尝试着遵照母亲的那些关于儿童的理论。1943年，一名出版商让他写一本书，给父母们一些建议。在美国海军服役的两年里，他利用晚上的时间写完了这本书。简·斯伯克帮助她的丈夫整理第一版《幼儿保健常识》。她将他的笔记和口头叙述整理成文字。
上世纪50年代，斯伯克医生变得很有名。他写了几本其他的书，也给很多杂志写文章。他还上一些电视节目，在几间大学教书。并且他还在全国演讲，和父母们交谈。那段期间，他发现了书中几处地方需要修改。他想确保父母们知道他们应该管住自己的孩子，也能和孩子们合作。所以1957年，这本书的第二版出版了。他一生都在不断对《幼儿保健常识》进行修改。上世纪60年代，本杰明·斯伯克开始在政坛活跃。在总统助选中，他支持约翰·肯尼迪。他加入了一个反对核武器团体。斯伯克医生还参加了反对越战的示威活动。1968年，他因密谋救助拒绝加入美军的人而被判有罪。斯伯克医生进行上诉。最终，被判无罪。但是这场官司花了很多钱。此次事件曾一度摧毁了这位非常值得信赖的医生的公众形象。几乎没人购买他的书。一些人说斯伯克医生的教育言论应对上世纪60/70年代年轻人反抗社会规则的行为负责。那时美国主要宗教思想家称斯伯克医生是“放任之父”。
1972年，斯伯克医生决定参选美国总统。他是一个小党派“人民党”的候选人。他大胆地说出了工人家庭、儿童和少数群体关心的问题。斯伯克医生在选举中获得了七万五千票，那场选举，理查德·尼克松赢了。有一段时间里，斯伯克医生的婚姻也遭遇问题。多年来，简·斯伯克有酗酒和抑郁症问题。据称，她觉得自己的丈夫更看重职业和政治利益，而不在乎她。1975年，本杰明和简·斯伯克结束了他们8年的婚姻。一年后，玛丽·摩根成了他的第二任妻子。自出版以来，《幼儿保健常识》共售五百多万本。它被翻译成39种语言。第八版于2004年出版。其中包括营养学、身体不适及行为的最新医学信息。书中还讨论了一些社会问题，比如职场母亲、日托班、单亲父母以及同性父母。1998年，本杰明·斯伯克去世，年98岁。但是他的建议仍影响着成千上万的儿童和他们的父母。
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