TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE GIFTED & TALENTED Member 01 The National Association tor Gifted Children (NAGel The ASSOciation for Gdle<! ITAG) Vol. II No. I TAGTTempo March 1981 Contents: TAGT Hosts T AGT Legislative Reception/Dinner. .. 1 State Legislators Editor's Page .................................. 2 TAGT hosted a receptionj dinner on Thursday. TAGT Executive Board - 1981 ................... 2 February 12, 1981, for all its membership and "friends of President's Report .............................. 3 the gifted" in Austin. Parents ..................................... '. 3 In addition to many of OUf state senators, representatives and their aides who attended, more than Regional Reports. .. 4 50 percent of the members of the Texas State Board of Legislative Report ............................ " 5 Education were present. The support from parents and G /T Calendar ................................ 6-7 educators around the state was impressive. Under the able direction of Dr. Charles Patterson, State G/T News ................................ 7 Asst. Superintendent for Instruction, Killeen ISO, TAGTI ........................................ 8 approximately 300 individuals participated in a very important legislative activity for TAGT. The overwhelming feeling of support for gifted education was apparent in the informal one-ta-one interaction. Action Needed Immediately communicate to the Budget and Authorizing Comnmittees the total unacceptability of the Reagan-OMB Budget proposal which recommends a 20 percent reduction in federal education funds and the consolidation of 57 education programs. Correspond to: President Ronald Reagan. The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Washington, DC 20500. MESSAGE: The 20 percent reduction in education funds represents an unacceptable withdrawal of the federal commitment to the education of exceptional children. In fact, such a reduction to P.L. 94-142 would result in a figure Jess than 10 percent of the national average per pupil expenditure (NAPPE) when Congress is authorized to pay 40 percent of the NAPPE. Secondly. the current proposal to consolidate programs and wholly replace existing legislation threatens the very goals for which acts like P.L. 94-142, The Gifted and Talented Act of 1978, and Section (L. to R.) Andra Williams, Carolyn Lewis, Pam Smith, Carolyn Lane, Jay 504 were written--to help endure the necessary resourses and protections Hilliard & ,'ennie Vahrenkamp, all REACH tt'achers from Richardson ISO, for the education of our nation's exceptional populations. These guar­ antees would be altered substantially and funds originally promised to these populations would no longer be guaranteed but rather could be extended for other purposes. PARENTS President's Report Parent Bibliograpby At the January 17th meeting of the executive board. 1980 several important decisions were made that should GIFTED contribute to the ongoing thrust of appropriate education for gifted children in our state. Final plans for the from PARENTll'<G THE GIFTED: An Insen'ice Model. legislative dinner were completed, ways to improve the by Ella Mae Gogel & Janet McCumsey dissemination of the T AGT newsletter were discussed. and a plan of action for the Association was developed. Barbe. W. & Renzulli. J. PSYCHOLOGY AND EDU­ With this plan. certain areas of high priority were CATION OF THE GIFTED. Halsted Press. 1975. addressed. There is an expressed need for an improved Bridges. Sydney. PROBLEMS OF THE GIFTED public relations effort to increase awareness about the CHILD. IQ 150. Russak and Co .. Inc .. 1973. needs of gifted children and special programs to meet Brumbaugh. F. & Roshco. B. YOUR GIFTED CHILD: these needs. Plans to assist in every way possible to secure A GU IDE FOR PARENTS. Henry Holt & Co . Inc .. increased appropriations for gifted programs were agreed 1959 to. and ways to increase membership in the Association Clark. Barbara. GROWING UP GIFTED. Charles E. and to increase parent participation in all phases of the Merrill Publishing Co .. Bell & Howell Co .. 1979. association's work were discussed. Having these specific Coffey. K.. et al. PARENTSPEAK ON GIFTED AND goals in mind should help us to respond responsibly to the TALENTED CHILDREN. Ventura County Schools. growing interest in gifted education in our state. Ventura. CA 93001.1976. Advocacy groups at the local level. joint efforts of Cutts. Norma & Mosely. N. BRIGHT CHILDREN: A parents, educators and interested citizens, are GUIDE FOR PARENTS. G. Putnam's Sons. 1953. encouraged. Members of the executive board are ready to Delp. Jeanne & Martinson. Ruth. THE GIFTED AND assist local groups in any way possible. We can offer TALENTED: A HANDBOOK FOR PARENTS. guidance and assistance at any organizational level. Ventura County Superintentdent of Schools. Book No. 6) T AGT is enhanced by the dedication of the members of Dickinson. Ritha M. CARING FOR THE GIFTED. the executive board. But. the real strength of any North Quincy. The Christopher Publishing House. organization lies in the leadership offered by all its 1970 members. not just the elected few. Only you can help us by Dodson. Fitznugh. HOW TO PARENT. New American encouraging others to join us in our efforts for gifted Library (Signet). 1971. children. You are our best voice in contacting legislators Gallagher. J. J. TEACHING THE GIFTED CHILD. to thank them for their support thus far. and hopefully to Allyn & Bacon. Inc .. 1975. help us increase our services to·other districts. The fact Gardner. John W. EXCELLENCE: CAN WE BE that we have members in every corner of the state is a EQUAL AND EXCELLENT TOO" Harper & Row. special plus in tis this regard. You are our best source of 1961. information as to what is happening in your locality. Send Ginsberg. Gina. IS YOUR CHILD GIFTED') Simon & this information to the TAGTTempo editor. Schuster. 1976. We have large tasks ahead of us this year. but with your Ginsberg. G. & Harrison. C. H. HOW TO HELP YOUR support these tasks can be successfully attended to. GIFTED CHILD; A HANDBOOK FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS. Monarch Press. 1977. Judy Judy Goertzei. V. CRADLES OF EMINENCE. Little. 1962. President Gowan. John c.; Khatena. J.; & Torrance. E. P .. eds. EDUCATINGTHEABLEST: A Book of Readings on the Education of Gifted Children. F. E. Peacock. 1971. JOIN TACT TODAY Heller. Sherrie Z. WHAT MAKES YOU SOSPECIAL" Thinking "CAPS" Inc. Box 7239. Phoenix 85011. 1979. Maynard. Fredelle. GUIDING YOUR CHILD TO A Kanigher. Herbert. EVERYDAY ENRICHMENT FOR MORE CREATIVE LIFE. Doubleday. 1973. GIFTED CHILDREN AT HOME AND SCHOOL. Renzulli. J. S. WHAT MAKES GIFTEDNESS: A National/ State Leadership Training Institute on the Reexamination of the Definition of the Gifted and Gifted and Talented. 1977. Talented. N/S LT!. Ventura. 1979. Kaufmann. F. YOUR GIFTEDCHILDAND YOU. The Sanderlin. Owen ita. TEACHING GIFTED CHILDREN. Council for Exceptional Children. Reston. VA. A. S. Barnes. 1973. Khatena. Joe. THE CREATIVELY GIFTED CHILD; Strang. Ruth HELPING YOUR GIFTED CHILD. E. P. SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR PARENTS AND Dutton & Co .. 1960. TEACHERS. Vantage Press. 1978. Torrance. E. Paul. CREATIVITY. Fearon. 1969. Krueger. Mark L. ON BEING GIFTED Written by par­ Torrance. E. Paul. GUIDING CREATIVE TALENT. ticipants in the National Student Symposium on the Prentice Hall. 1962 Education of the Gifted/Talented. Walker and Co .. Vail, Priscilla. THE WORLD OF THE GIFTED New York. 1978. CHILD. Walker. 1979. March 1981 TAGTTempo 3 TAGT Legislative Report House Public Education Committee How to Contact a Legislator (P. O. Box 2910, Austin 78769) Representative government functions best when there Hamp Atkinson, Texarkana, Chairman is open and meaningful communication betwcen elected Wm W. (Bill) Blanton, Farmers Branch, officials and thcir constituents on pressing legislative Vice-Chairman issues. Bill Haley, Center As a citizen and as a professional witha command of at Erwin W. Barton, Pasadena least onc field - the education of gifted children· you arc John W. Bryant, Dallas in a position to furnish related information to your Charles W. Evans, Hurst electcd representatives at all levels of government. Milton E. Fox, Houston Principally. your contact may be through a tclephone Wayne Peveto, Orange calL letter. telegram, or personal visit. In any case, you Joe C. Hanna, Breckenridge should not misuse or abuse your access to him{her or his If Lanny Hall. Fort Worth staff. However important, only part of their jobs is f (1. to R.) Tom p....we; Or. okan AJg,n, Fd~ndowood; Ro-p. Randy PennlnKton: Ernestine Glossbrenner, Alice receiving and responding to hundreds. even thousands of Marjori~ BurrlnglOn: J ........ I..arrakH" Dr. NonnB Button. of t'lnk {'rHk communications daily However. if your contact with House ApproprlBtions Committee your representative is timely, responsible and respectful. (P. O. Box 2910, Austin 78769) the communication will be of mutual benefit. He needs you, and you need him. Bill Presnal, Bryan, Chairman Don Rains, San Marcos, Vice-Chairman Telephone. Most elected officials maintain local offices in Fred Agnich, Dallas thelrllometowns wilh which they have constant contact. Frank Collazo. Jr .• Port Arthur Be prepared prior to making your call. State thc reason So Crawford, Beaumont for the call. A clear' statement from you of your reasons Matt Garcia. San Antonio for or against legislation will be documented and reported Jay Gibson, Odessa to the legislator. Walter B. Grubbs, Abilene If you are calling the legal legislator in his Austin office. Bill Haley, Center you may lcave your number and name and indicate the Frank Hartung, Houston general time you will be at the number so thcy may return W S. (Bill) Heatly. Paducah your call. Bill Hollowell, Grand Saline Your telephone conversation with the legislator or a Dan Kubiak, Rockdale member of his staff should follow thc usual rt11es of 11. to R.I Dr. AI"'n O. bo",.n. t"ommi ..lon .... ofEducatlon. A""tln. l,vnclla R<-<lor. Paul Moreno, El Paso courtesy. Be pleasant. Be brief. Be prepared to answer [email protected] •. Jim Rudd, Brownfield questions or provide related information, as suffinctly Carlyle Smith, Grand Prairie and dearly as possible. Never threaten or intimidate. lou Nelle Sulton.