I for one have heard quite enough about the 21st century skills that are sweeping the nation. Now, for the first time, children will be taught to think critically (never heard a word about that in the 20th century, did you?), to work in groups (I remember getting a grade on that very skill when I was in third grade a century ago), to solve problems (a brand new idea in education), and so on. Let me suggest that it is time to be done with this unnecessary conflict about 21st century skills. Let us agree that we need all those forenamed skills, plus lots others, in addition to a deep understanding of history, literature, the arts, geography, civics, the sciences, and foreign languages.
关于风靡全国的21世纪技能，我已经听得够多了。现在，有史以来第一次，应该教孩子们批判性思考（20世纪从未听过这个词，对吧？），团队工作（我记得一个世纪前，借此技能我还得过高分），解决问题（教育界的全新理念），诸如此类。我认为，眼下是结束这些毫无必要的关于21世纪技能冲突的时候了。让我们一致同意，我们需要上述所有技能，而且除了更深刻地理解历史、文学、艺术、地理、公民、科学、外语，还需要很多其他技能。
But allow me also to propose a new entity that will ad vance a different set of skills and understandings that are just as important as what are now called 21st century skills. I propose a Partnership for 19th Century Skills. This partnership will advocate for such skills, values, and understandings as:
也请允许我提议一个新东西，能够促进与所谓21世纪技能旗鼓相当的另一系列技能和理解。我提议19世纪技能伙伴关系。这种合作关系倡导以下技能、价值和认识：
The love of learning
The pursuit of knowledge
The ability to think for oneself (individualism)
The ability to work alone (initiative)
The ability to stand alone against the crowd (courage)
The ability to work persistently at a difficult task until it is finished (industriousness) (self-discipline)
热爱学习
追求知识
为自己思考的能力（个人主义）
独自工作的能力（主动性）
与大多数人相左的能力（勇气）
坚持不懈地克服难题直至攻破的能力（勤奋）（自律）
The ability to think through the consequences of one’s actions on others (respect for others)
The ability to consider the consequences of one’s actions on one’s well-being (self-respect)
The recognition of higher ends than self-interest (honor)
The ability to comport oneself appropriately in all situations (dignity)
The recognition that civilized society requires certain kinds of behavior by individuals and groups (good manners) (civility)
思考自己所作所为对他人影响的能力（尊重他人）
考虑自己所作所为对自己影响的能力（自尊）
认可比自利更崇高的终极意义（荣誉）
在任何情况下都举止适宜的能力（尊严）
认可文明社会需要个人和集体的某些行为（礼貌）（文明）
The ability to believe in principles larger than one’s own self-interest (idealism)
The willingness to ask questions when puzzled (curiosity)
The readiness to dream about other worlds, other ways of doing things (imagination)
The ability to believe that one can improve one’s life and the lives of others (optimism)
The ability to speak well and write grammatically, using standard English (communication)
相信纪律重于个人利益的能力（理想主义）
困惑时愿意提问（求知欲）
愿意想象其他世界以及做事情的其他方法（想象力）
相信自己可以改善自己的生命和他人的生命（乐观主义）
语言修养强，写作符合语法要求，使用标准英语的能力（沟通）
I invite readers to submit other 19th century skills that we should cultivate assiduously among the rising generation, on the belief that doing so will lead to happier lives and a better world.
我欢迎读者指出我们应该在新一代中努力培养的其他19世纪技能，因为我们相信这样做会使生活更幸福，世界更美好。
