——關(guān)注留守兒童 來(lái)自《中國日報》
If we seriously believe the oft-made claim that children are future of the country, then we truly have something to worry about.
如果我們還相信“孩子是祖國的未來(lái)”這句被反復提及的宣言，那么我們是該有一些擔心了。
The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) report on the conditions of children left behind by parents working away from home paints a grim picture that we cannot afford to understate.
全國婦女聯(lián)合會(huì )關(guān)于留守兒童（父母在外務(wù)工，兒童留守家中）狀況的報告為我們描繪了一幅不可等閑視之的慘淡圖景。
Many of us have heard about the so-called left-behind children. But not as many people could have anticipated what the ACWF report reveals - more than a quarter of Chinese children who are 17 or younger live apart from one or both of their parents because they are working in places other than in their hometown.
許多人都聽(tīng)到過(guò)所謂的留守兒童一詞。但是不會(huì )有多少人估計到全國婦聯(lián)報告中結識的真實(shí)狀況——在中國，四分之一以上的17歲以下兒童由于他們的父母一人或全部在異鄉打工而留守家中。
This is no small matter. 這并不是一件無(wú)足輕重的事情。
In the eyes of developmental psychology, the early years of life play an essential part not just in forming one's personality, but also in the acquisition of the knowledge and skills that last a person's entire life. Out of respect for their special vulnerability, children in this age group need particular parental care. Few of those left behind are home alone - most are left in the custody of grandparents - but the separation from their parents will inevitably affect their development in less-than-positive ways.
在發(fā)展心理學(xué)看來(lái)，青少年時(shí)期對于一個(gè)人性格的形成和知識技能的掌握發(fā)揮著(zhù)重要的作用并將影響其一生。出于對其心理脆弱特點(diǎn)的考慮，這一時(shí)期的兒童尤其需要父母的關(guān)懷。除了極少數獨守家中，大部分留守兒童有他們的祖父母監護，但是遠離父母仍將不可避免地對他們的成長(cháng)產(chǎn)生諸多消極的影響。
The ACWF has spearheaded a series of initiatives to promote awareness of the situation. Thanks to its persistent endeavors, various countermeasures are now at work in different communities.
全國婦聯(lián)已經(jīng)率先開(kāi)展了一系列活動(dòng)以提高對這種形勢的認識。由于他們不懈的努力，許多相似的活動(dòng)已經(jīng)在不同的社團開(kāi)展起來(lái)。
It is inspiring to see local authorities providing welfare and educational guarantees. Such efforts offer an indispensable compensation for the otherwise unbearable sense of loss these youngsters must cope with as a result of living without parental care.
鼓舞人心的是許多地區政府正在努力為他們提供生活和教育方面的保障。這些努力對于這些留守兒童因遠離父母而造成的難以承受的缺失感也是一種必要的慰籍。
But parents are parents. No outside intervention can take their place to ensure the healthy growth of their children, so it would be ideal if fewer children had to live without their parents around.
可憐天下父母心。沒(méi)有什么能夠取代孩子的健康成長(cháng)在他們心目中的位置。那么讓更少的孩子離開(kāi)他們的父母生活將使我們的理想。
Most Chinese parents foster high hopes for their children. They are tireless custodians, keen on offering meticulous care and support so that their children can lead successful careers and lives.
大多數中國父母對自己的孩子都懷有很高的希望。他們是孜孜不倦的監護人，始終給予孩子無(wú)微不至的關(guān)懷和支持，一切為了讓自己的孩子有一分成功的事業(yè)和一個(gè)光輝的人生。
Few parents leave their children home because they want to dodge responsibilities. It is more a matter of necessity. Most parents of left-behind children take jobs in cities, where local schools are supposed to focus on serving registered local residents. Non-residents are either left out or face extra charges, which are usually exorbitant even by urban standards.
很少有父母是為了逃避責任而把自己的孩子留在家中。更確切地說(shuō)那是一件不得以的事。大多數留守兒童的父母在城市工作，而當地的學(xué)校則主要招收有當地戶(hù)口的孩子。非城市的學(xué)生或者被拒之門(mén)外，或者要交納通常高于城市標準的借讀費。
In such circumstances, most parents choose to leave their kids at home, where they can receive affordable schooling.
在這種情況下，大多數父母選擇將孩子留在家鄉，因為那里的學(xué)費才是他們能夠承擔的。
This is yet another demonstration of the embarrassing mismatch between the system and reality.
這也從另一個(gè)方面體現了體制與現實(shí)之間令人尷尬的不和諧。
