Therefore, parents must invest time and energy into learning how to create a great educational plan suited to your child's UNIQUE needs. Parents do not have to accept an ep duplicate of your neighbor's. I want my children in the environment most likely to develop them to potential. I do not find it my child's job to tutor some other child during the school day or to do crossword puzzles daily. Iwant my child challenged and excited to learn, not coddled and unexposed to failure. Gifted children deserve to learn something new every day as does any child. Does that happenfor gifted children when they are poorly served?Margaret Delacy, my favorite advocate, asked a question, "Why are we teaching these kids the ABCswhen they already know how to read?" The best way to make sure yur child is not wasting time in school is that set of papers called an educational plan.

Paying for a summer visit to Israel

Chad Sinanian doesn't want a fancy house with gates and guards.

He doesn't want a six-figure sports car that goes so fast it flirts with time travel.

His only dream -- the all-consuming wish that drives his destiny -- is to visit Israel this summer.

Now, comes the hard part.

The 40-year-old Sinanian, a Danbury resident since 1992, has neurological disabilities, poor coordination and emotional problems stemming from what he calls a "troubled" childhood.

Granted, it's expensive enough to fly half-way around the world and spend 10 days in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the rest of Israel. But the price tag grows exponentially when you factor in a trip for someone with special needs.

How much are we talking here? The cost is about $14,000 through a company called "Israel 4 All," which specializes in sightseeing for people with special needs.

The ugly truth in Afghanistan

Marines and their helicopters land this spring in southern Afghanistan.'

I thought the story was 3,200 battle fatigued, er, hardened marines. Just what Afghanistan needs, more violence. Posted 01/03/08 at 1:41 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment .

Solar-cell company stocks boosted by high oil prices

Shares in solar cell makers soared yesterday after oil prices continued breaking records on global markets in the wake of the latest industry figures showing a surprise fall in US crude reserves.

Shares of Motech Industries Inc (Z}), the nation's largest solar-cell manufacturer, edged up 5.59 percent to NT$359, while those of rival E-ton Solar Tech Co (qq) advanced 1.75 percent to NT$378.5 on the GRETAI Securities Market.

US light crude rose as high as US$96.24 in trading yesterday morning in Asia before falling back to US$96.05.

On average, solar shares grew 0.39 percent yesterday, outperforming a 0.78 percent decline in the over-the-counter GRETAI Securities Market index and a 1.17 percent drop in the benchmark TAIEX index.

The TAIEX yesterday tumbled 113.14 points to 9,598.23 as investors worried that "higher costs could eventually choke economic growth," SinoPac Securities Co (תҨ) analyst Vincent Chen said in a note.