Star Trek, Theses, Ed Policy, More

“DATA.” So you’ve got a 7yo boy who is extremely intelligent, extremely literal, has trouble reading emotions in others, and is obsessed with numbers. How will you teach him social skills? One “enterprising” mom uses Star Trek: The Next Generation to help do that, and specifically the character Data. (More about Data.) Could Star Trek help you? Find out more.

RESOURCE. Want to know what gifted-related matters have been the subjects of graduate theses and dissertations over the last few years? The World Council for Gifted and Talented Children has a list on its website; find it.

EDUCATION POLICY, LAWS, FUNDING
— The World Council for Gifted and Talented Children has information on its website about gifted-related policies and provisions for countries around the world. Does a particular country have national legislation in place? Does the country make funding available? Find the answers.
— Education Week explores the question “Should there be a federal right to education?” Find the article.
— The U.S. government is just finishing up appropriations for the budget for the 2020 fiscal year, underway since Q4 of 2019, but the White House is about to submit its FY2021 budget proposal in a few weeks. CEC notes that in the past few years the White House has proposed significant cuts to education spending, but Congress has actually increased education funding levels. Read more.
— Local education policy and spending is determined at the school district level, and in School Library Journal you can find an article explaining how school board elections are often not just local anymore — and how this can upset tradition. The article explains what school boards are, how board members are elected, what the boards do, and how to influence a board. We’d say that this article would be useful for anyone in the 2e community who might want to influence policy and practice to be more beneficial to, say, 2e students. Find the article.

GIFTED AND DISTRACTIBLE. The January edition of Julie Skolnick’s newsletter is out, featuring Julie’s blog and pointers to 2e-related articles and resources. Find the newsletter.

AND FINALLY, THIS — an article in the Washington Post lengthily titled “This teacher was worried children weren’t getting bedtime stories. So she began reading them — on Facebook.” Sound interesting? Find it.

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