1 How-To’s and How-Not-To’s
‘Justifying Gifted Education: A Critique of Needs Claims and a Proposal’ critiques the common practizes of claiming needs of gifted children to be met. Grant dismantles the logic of such claims and suggests rather to advocate giving different reasons as "It helps society" etc. This article is best reas a day before an advocacy discussion to prepare for the arguments of the opponents (GrantGrant2002).
‘Parents and Teachers working together for Advocacy through Public Relations’ by Frances Karnes lists how people can get started in supporting and advocating for gifted education. The article is very practical and comprehensive. The focus is on state level advocacy, but the methods could be transferred into other levels (Karnes, Lewis, & StephensKarnes et al.1999).
‘Public Relations: A necessary Tool for Advocacy in Gifted Education’ by the same author is a shorter but similar article on the ERIC database. Practical advise is given (Karnes & LewisKarnes & Lewis1997)
‘Public Relations for Gifted Education’ by Leslie Kiger is another practical advisor for advocates-to-be. Some basic rules to follow are given and readers are cautioned that success might take time o occur - and that advocacy is never over (KigerKiger1998).
‘The Role of Active Advocate: Creating Change for Gifted Children Throughout the World’ compacts a list of methods and things to consider as an advocate for parents and teachers (RileyRiley1999). ‘Parent Advocates: Creating Opportunities for Gifted Students’ describes successful advocacy in form of an interview with parents responsible for the foundation of a parent group. The process of advocating for the own children using a talent search as tool (and emphasizing this strongly) are mentioned as well as countywide advocacy with their group (CTDCTD2004)
‘How to be a pushy parent’ Is a nice, short, encouraging article aimed at parents who do not dare to advocate. ‘pushy’ is redefined as ‘caring’, the bad consciousness is being taken from the parents who are engaged in their kids’ education (SilvermanSilverman2004)
‘Parental Advocacy for the Gifted’ consists of two distinct articles. One of them is a collection of case studies about gi Ingredients for Succes: Two Case Studies of Advocacy at the State Level’ describes two cases of successful advocacy by organizations and what caused them to be successfull. Also Barriers to advocacy are mentioned (DelcourtDelcourt2003).
‘Gifted Education Without a State Mandate: The Importance of Vigorous Advocacy’ describes a situation similar to the current one in Illinois: No state mandate. The article lists which provisions for gifted still work and where the fallstricks are (IrvineIrvine1991),
In ‘Peeling off the Elitist Label: Smart Politics’ a teacher reports how she successfully introduced a program for the gifted describibg her attitudes toward the subject (PetersonPeterson1993).
‘How to be an Advocate for Gifted Children’ lists four strategies for successfull advocacy in all levels (RobertsRoberts2001).
‘A National Study of Local and State Advocacy in Gifted Education’ is a statistical analysis with description of advocacy events within the whole United States (RobinsonRobinson2003).
‘Advocacy for Gifted Programs: An Interview with NAGC Executive Director Peter D. Rosenstein’ lists ways the NAGC has successfully advocated and used methods for advocacy. This article is very useful for people planning to advocate on national or state level.
References
[DelcourtDelcourt2003]Delcourt, M. A. (2003). Five Ingredients for Succes: Two Case Studies of Advocacy at the State Level. Gifted Child Quarterly, 47(1).
[GrantGrant2002]Grant, B. (2002). Justifying Gifted Education: A Critique of Needs Claims and a Proposal. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 25(4), 359-74.
[HanninenHanninen1994]Hanninen, G. E. (1994)cy in Gifted Education. ERIC EC Digest # E542.
[Karnes, Lewis, & StephensKarnes et al..1999]Karnes, F. A., Lewis, J. D., & Stephens, K. R. (1999). Parents and Teachers Working Together for Advocacy Through Public Relations. Gifted Child Today, 22(1).
[KigerKiger1998]Kiger, L. (1998). Public Relations for Gifted Education. Gifted Child Today, 21(5).
[CTDCTD2004]Parent Advocates: Creating Opportunities for Gifted Students. (2004). Website of the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University, Chicago.
[NAGCNAGC2004]Parent Information. (2004). http://www.nagc.org/ParentInfo/indeg.html.
[PetersonPeterson1993]Peterson, J. (1993). Peeling off the Elitist Label: Smart Politics. Gifted Child Today.
[RileyRiley1999]Riley, T. (1999). The Role of Active Advocate: Creating Change for Gifted Children Throughout the World. Gifted Child Today, 22(2).
[RobertsRoberts2001]Roberts, J. L. (2001). How to be an Advocate for Gifted Children. CLUE Home page, www.memphis-schools.k12.tn.us/admin/curriculum/clue/tag2001.html.
[RobinsonRobinson2003]Robinson, A. (2003). A National Study of Local and State Advocacy in Gifted Education. Gifted Child Quarterly, 47(1).
[SilvermanSilverman2004]Silverman, L. K. (2004). How to be a pushy parent. Gifted Development Center.
[Strip & HirschStrip & Hirsch2001]Strip, C., & Hirsch, G. (2001). Trust and Teaching. Gifted Child Today, 24(2).
[VestalVestal1993]Vestal, J. C. (1993). Parental Advocacy for the Gifted. Gifted Child Today.
[WinebrennerWinebrenner1998]Winebrenner, S. (1998). Above and Beyond. Understanding our Gifted.
