The Greatest Person Was Once Recognized as a Bad Boy伟人也曾经是公认的“坏孩子”

黄晓琴

我们印象中的丘吉尔是一位了不起的英国首相，但你知道他小时候曾也是个“坏孩子”吗？

In October 2002， Winston Churchill was elected by the British people as the “greatest British man". The great British men behind him were Shakespeare， Newton， and Darwin. Churchill became a great figure in the eyes of the British people， but many people did not know that Churchill was a recognized bad boy when he was a child.

At the age of seven， Winston Churchill was sent by his parents to a boarding school for noble children named St.

George. The school's administration is a 2pastor of the church. The education method is typically English-style rigid and harsh. The ruthless corporal punishmentis like a jailer beating and scolding prisoners. Churchill was stubborn， crying and kicking desperately when he was beaten， and once even crushed the principal's straw hat. At the end of the semester， he returned home with a report card and scars all over his body. The school's comments were “naughty"and “greedy". In view of the damage to his health， the parents 3）transferred Churchill to another school in Breton on the advice of the family doctor.

At the age of twelve， his father sent him to Harrow Public School， which is the cradle of training English gentlemen. Because he failed the entrance exam， he was placed in the last group of the class with the worst grades. His 4academic performance has always been the bottom of the class. He gave many people the impression of low energy， weirdness， and lawlessness. Fortunately， he still has a friend， his grandfather.The American 5）millionaire who has experienced the world said， "Let him go！ As long as boys have the opportunity to show their talents， they will naturally become better." Churchill kept the words of his grandfather in mind， and secretly looked for it in his heart. The opportunity to show your talents. Therefore， Churchill can only find confidence in his grandfather.

Decades later， Churchill was already a successful politician and writer. He has worked as a journalist， as Secretary of the Navy， as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.  He said， “My grandfather taught me that boys must choose their own path. All I get from my parents is my name but not property. I must look for opportunities. My special talents are not b）inherited but worked hard.I can't remember one dayI was idle. To this day， I don't want to let it go."

5） millionaire 【，mlja'ner】 n.百萬富翁;大富豪

6） inherit 【un'hert】 v.继承

1） recognize 【'rekegnalz】 v.认识;意识到

2） pastor 【paestar】 n.牧师

3） transfer 【traensf3：r】v.转让;转接;移交

4）academic 【，aeke'demlk】 adj.学术的;学院的

2002年10月，温斯顿。丘吉尔被英国人选为“最伟大的英国人”，排在他身后的英国伟人，依次为莎士比亚、牛顿、达尔文等。丘吉尔成为英国人民心目中的伟大人物，但是，许多人并不知道，丘吉尔小时候却是公认的“坏孩子”。

七岁那年，温斯顿。丘吉尔被父母送到一所名为圣乔治的贵族子弟寄宿学校读书。主持校政的是教会的一名牧师，教育方式是典型的英国式的刻板和严厉，无情的体罚则犹如狱卒打骂犯人。丘吉尔性格倔犟，在挨打时拼命哭叫、踢打，有一次甚至把校长的草帽踩得粉碎。学期结束时，他带着一张成绩单和满身的疤痕回到家里。学校给他的评语是“淘气”和“贪吃”。鉴于他的健康受到损害，根据家庭医生的建议，父母将丘吉尔转学到了布雷顿的另一所学校。

十二岁时，父亲又将他送进哈罗公学，这是培养英国绅士的摇篮。因为入学考试成绩不理想，他被编在成绩最差的一个班中的最末一个组。他的学业成绩也一直是班上倒数。这孩子给很多人的印象是低能、怪僻、无法无天，幸亏他还有一个知音，即他的外祖父。这位经历过大世面的美国百万富翁说：“让他去吧！男孩子只要有显示才能的机会，自然会变好的。”丘吉尔牢牢记住了外祖父的这句话，心底暗暗寻找能显示自己才能的机会。丘吉尔只有在外祖父那里才能找到自信。

几十年后，丘吉尔已是一位成功的政治家和作家。他做过记者，做过海军大臣，做过英国首相。丘吉尔说：“我外祖父教育我，男孩子必须选择自己的道路。我从父母那里得到的只是我的名字而不是财产，我必须寻找机会。我的特殊才能不是继承来的，而是我通过拼搏争取来的。我记不得有哪一天是闲散的。直到今天，我也不肯白白地放过一天。”