There is a Need 有必要（必要性）
Does school prepare children for the real world? "Study hard and get good grades and you will find a high-paying job with great benefits," my parents used to say.
学校（怎样）让孩子们准备好面对真实的世界了吗？我的（穷爸爸），经常这样说。努力学习，考一个好分数，这样你将找到一个高薪的优越工作。
Their goal in life was to provide a college education for my older sister and me, so that we would have the greatest chance for success in life.
他们人生的目标是为我和我姐姐提供大学教育，这样在我们的人生中，就会拥有最大的取得成功的机会。
When i finally earned my diploma in 1976-graduating with honors, and near the top of my class, in accounting from Florida State University-my parents had realized their goal.
1976年我终于以荣誉毕业生的身份，取得了佛罗里达州立大学会计专业的本科学位并且成绩在班里名列前茅，此时我的父母也实现了他们的人生目标。
It was the crowning achievement of their lives. In accordance with the "Master Plan," I was hired by a "Big 8" accounting firm, and I looked forward to a long career and retirement at an early age.
（我和姐姐都大学毕业），这是他们生命中最大的成就。按照“大师”的规划（作者的父亲是老师，此处有讽刺意味），我被八大会计事务所中的一家雇佣。我盼望着一个漫长的的职业生涯，同时也盼望着尽早退休。
My husband, Michael, followed a similar path. We both came from hard-working families, of modest means but with strong work ethics.
我的丈夫，迈克尔，也是遵循同样的人生轨迹。我们都来自勤劳的家庭，虽然只是中等收入，但是具有很强的职业道德。
Michael also graduated with honors, but he did it twice:first as an engineer and then from law school.
迈克尔也是荣誉毕业生，不过他获得了两次荣誉称号，第一次是作为一名工程师，然后（第二次）来自法学院。
He was quickly recruited by a prestigious Washington,D.C., law firm that specialized in patent law, and his future seemed bright, career path well-defined and early retirement guaranteed.
他很快就被一家很有声望法律事务所招募，这家事务所位于华盛顿特区，专注于专利法方面的事务。他的未来看起来一片光明，职业道路非常好，此外还能保证提前退休。
Although we have been successful in our careers, they have not turned out quite as we expected.
尽快我们已经在事业上取得了成功，但结果却与我们预期的不同。
We both have changed positions several times-for all the right reasons-but there are no pension plans vesting on our behalf. Our retirement funds are growing only through our individual contributions.
我们都基于所有合理的理由，调换过几次自己的职位，但是依然没有得到单位的退休金计划。我们的退休基金增长，只能通过我们个人出资。
Michael and I have a wonderful marriage with three great children. As I write this, two are in college and one is just beginning high school. We have spent a fortune making sure our children have received the best education available.
迈克尔和我有一个非常美满的婚姻，还有三个很好的孩子。当我写到这里的时候，两个正在上大学，一个刚刚开始上高中。我们已经花一大笔钱，确保我们的孩子能够得到最好的教育。
One day in 1996, one of my children came home disillusioned with school. He was bored and tired of studying. "Why should I put time into studying subjects I will never use in real life?" he protested.
1996年的一天，我的一个孩子对学校大失所望，然后回到家。他非常厌烦和讨厌学习。为什么我要把时间花在学一些，我在现实社会中永远不会用到的东西上？他抗议道
Without thinking, I responded, "Because if you don't get good grades, you won't get into college."
我不假思索的回答道：“因为，如果你没有一个好分数，你就无法上大学。
"Regardless of whether I go to college," he replied, "I'm going to be rich."
无论我是否去上大学，我都要发财的。
"If you don't graduate from college, you won't get a good job," I responded with a tinge of panic and motherly concern. "And if you don't have a good job, how do you plan to get rich?"
如果你不是大学毕业，你将找不到好工作。我带着一阵恐慌和母亲的关怀答道，”如果你没有好工作，你又打算如何变的富有？
My son smirked and slowly shook his head with mild boredom. We have had this talk many times before.
我儿子无奈的笑笑，慢慢地遥遥头，带着一丝厌倦，我们之前谈论过这个话题很多次了。
He lowered his head and rolled his eyes. My words of motherly wisdom were falling on deaf ears once again.
他低下头，眨眨眼睛，我母性的智慧话语，再次被他当作耳旁风了。
Though smart and strong-willed, he has always been a polite and respectful young man.
尽管儿子聪明有强烈的个人意愿，但仍然是一个有礼貌尊重他人的年轻人
"Mom," he began. It was my turn to be lectured. "Get with the times! Look around; the richest people didn't get rich because of their educations.
我知道，该我被他说教了，他说，妈妈，跟上时代吧，看看周围，那些最有钱的人，不是靠他们的教育变的富有的。
Look at Michael Jordan and Madonna. Even Bill Gates, who dropped out of Harvard, founded Microsoft; he is now the richest man in America,and he's still in his 30s.
看看迈克尔乔丹和麦当娜，甚至比尔盖茨，他从哈佛退学后，才创建的微软。他现在是美国最有钱的人，可他只有30多岁。
There is a baseball pitcher who makes more than $4 million a year even though he has been labeled `mentally challenged.' "
有一个棒球投手，尽管他被贴上智障的标签，可他一年挣的钱超过400万美元。There was a long silence between us.
我们都沉默了很长时间。
It was dawning on me that I was giving my son the same advice my parents had given me. The world around us has changed, but the advice hasn't.
我意识到，我正在给孩子的建议和我父母给我的一样。我们周围的世界已经变了，但建议却一成不变。
Getting a good education and making good grades no longer ensures success, and nobody seems to have noticed,except our children.
接受好的教育，考一个考分数，再也不能确保你能成功了，看起来除了我们的孩子，没有人注意到这个事实，
"Mom," he continued,"I don't want to work as hard as you and dad do.
You make a lot of money,and we live in a huge house with lots of toys.
他继续道，妈妈，我不想像你和爸爸一样努力工作。你挣了很多钱，我们住在一个有很多玩具的大房子里。
If I follow your advice, I'll wind up like you, working harder and harder only to pay more taxes and wind up in debt.
如果我按照你的建议，我会像你一样像上紧的发条，工作越来越努力只是为了付更多的税，然后债台高筑。
There is no job security anymore; I know all about downsizing and rightsizing.
我知道再也没有安稳的工作了，到处都在精简和裁员。
I also know that college graduates today earn less than you did when you graduated.
我也知道今天的大学毕业生挣的比你大学毕业时要少。
Look at doctors. They don't make nearly as much money as they used to. I know I can't rely on Social Security or company pensions for retirement. I need new answers."
看那些医生，他们挣的钱不像过去那样多。我知道，我不能依赖社会保障或公司的退休金退休。我需要新的答案。
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