News Items from the Publishers of 2e: Twice-Exceptional Newsletter

FITTING EDUCATION TO THE CHILD. New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote today about what might happen if Shakespeare's character Henry V were, as a child, to attend American schools -- nursery school, elementary school, high school, college. Brooks concludes that the young king wouldn't fit in, listing some of the likely outcomes at each level of schooling. Brooks writes, "The education system has become culturally cohesive, rewarding and encouraging a certain sort of person: one who is nurturing, collaborative, disciplined, neat, studious, industrious and ambitious. People who dont fit this cultural ideal respond by disengaging and rebelling." Brooks goes on to note that most of the misfits are boys, and the solution is for schools to "engage people as they are," not just to engage those who seem to fit the mold. Find the column.

DISABILITIES IN COLLEGE. The  Council for Exceptional Children has published an interview with the author of a new book about the transition from high school to college for students with disabilities. In the interview, "disabilities" is used generically, but this interview focuses on what colleges and universities must do, may do, and should not do when it comes to issues like accommodations, identifying a student as disabled, privacy, etc. The author discusses planning for college and making sure that certain skills (academic and otherwise) are in place before college. Find the interview.

ATTENTION RESEARCH UPDATE. In a recent email to subscribers of this AD/HD-focused newsletter, David Rabiner announced that his relationship with Cogmed, a vendor of working memory training, is coming to a close. For five years, says Rabiner, he has received support (presumably monetary)  from Cogmed, but that arrangement ended July 1.

AS/HD IN GIRLS. A researcher followed girls diagnosed with AD/HD for over a decade. The study found that girls who have AD/HD in early childhood will have poorer executive functioning in adolescence and early adulthood, and that level of functioning is present whether or not symptoms of AD/HD went into remission during the time of the study. Find out more.

SLEEP APNEA IN KIDS. The effects on the brain of obstructive sleep apnea in children are reversible with treatment for the underlying OSA, according to a study. Treatment restores an imbalance of neuronal metabolites, improving verbal memory and attention. If you have a child with possible symptoms of OSA, read the article.

HELENE BARTZ was a gifted educator who founded two schools for the gifted in the Chicago area -- Creative Children's Academy (now Quest Academy) and the Science and Arts Academy. Both schools have educated their share of 2e students. Bartz died in late June at age 87. Read more.