"The Heart of the Matter," the just-released report by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences(AAAS),
美国艺术和科学研究院刚发布的"问题核心"报告，
deserves praise for affirming the importance of the humanities and social sciences to the prosperity and security of liberal democracy in America.
肯定了人文和社会科学对美国的繁荣和保障自由民主的重要性，这一点是值得赞扬的。
Regrettably, however, the report's failure to address the true nature of the crisis facing liberal education may cause more harm than good.
但令人遗憾的是，报告没能说明自由教育所面临的危机的实质。这就可能弊大于利。
In 2010, leading congressional Democrats and Republicans sent letters to the AAAS
2010年，民主党和共和党国会主要领导人致信美国艺术和科学研究院，
asking that it identify actions that could be taken by "federal, state and local governments, universities, foundations, educators,
要求其确定为保持国家在人文和社会科学学术和教育的卓越成就，联邦、州、地方政府、大学、基础学校、教育者、
individual benefactors and others" to "maintain national excellence in humanities and social scientific scholarship and education."
个人捐助者和其它一些机构或个人可以采取的行动。
In response, the American Academy formed the Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences.
美国学会通过组织人文和社会科学委员会做出回应。
Among the commission's 51 members are top-tier-university presidents, scholars, lawyers, judges, and business executives,
委员会的51名成员中有一流大学的校长、学者、律师、法官、企业高管们
as well as prominent figures from diplomacy, filmmaking, music and journalism.
以及外交、电影制作人、音乐和新闻界的杰出人物。
The goals identified in the report are generally admirable.
报告中被确定的目标总的来说是值得赞扬的。
Because representative government presupposes an informed citizenry, the report supports full literacy;
由于代议制政府是以见多识广的公民为前提条件的，所以这个报告支持全面的素养，
stresses the study of history and government, particularly American history and American government;
强调历史和政体的学习，尤其是美国历史和政体的学习，
and encourages the use of new digital technologies.
并且鼓励使用新电子技术。
To encourage innovation and competition, the report calls for increased investment in research,
为了鼓励创新和竞争，报告中呼吁增加对此项研究的投资，
the crafting of coherent curricula that improve students' ability to solve problems and communicate effectively in the 21st century,
系统的课程制定可以提高学生在21世纪下解决问题和有效交流的能力，
increased funding for teachers and the encouragement of scholars to bring their learning to bear on the great challenges of the day.
给教师增加资助以及鼓励学者增加他们的学识以承受当今巨大的挑战。
The report also advocates greater study of foreign languages, international affairs and the expansion of study abroad programs.
这份报告同样大力提倡学习外语、国际事务以及拓展出国留学项目。
Unfortunately, despite 2? years in the making, "The Heart of the Matter" never gets to the heart of the matter:
不幸的是，尽管花了两年半的时间去研究，"核心问题"报告从来没有成为核心问题：
the illiberal nature of liberal education at our leading colleges and universities.
我们一流的学院与大学自由教育狭隘的本质。
The commission ignores that for several decades America's colleges and universities
委员会不顾这样的现象：几十年来，美国的大学和学院
have produced graduates who don't know the content and character of liberal education and are thus deprived of its benefits.
产生了许多不知道自由教育内容和特点的毕业生，因此失去了享受此份利益。
Sadly, the spirit of inquiry once at home on campus has been replaced by the use of the humanities and social sciences
悲哀的是，人文和社会科学代替了美国校园内的探求精神，
as vehicles for publicizing "progressive," or left-liberal propaganda.
用于宣传"进步"或者"左倾自由主义"。
Today, professors routinely treat the progressive interpretation of history and progressive public policy as the proper subject of study
如今，教授们习惯性地把对历史渐进的解释和渐进的公共政策当作恰当的研究主题，
while portraying conservative or classical liberal ideas--such as free markets and self-reliance
同时把保守或古典自由思想--比如自由市场和自力更生
as falling outside the boundaries of routine, and sometimes legitimate, intellectual investigation.
描述为日常惯例范围之外的，但有时是合法的思想调查。
The AAAS displays great enthusiasm for liberal education.
美国艺术和科学研究院展示出了对自由教育极大的热情。
Yet its report may well set back reform by obscuring the depth and breadth of the challenge that Congress asked it to illuminate.
然而，由于美国艺术和科学研究院的报表模糊了国会要求阐明的自由教育挑战的深度和广度，所以它阻碍了改革。