Update

Thank you for your continued support of the International Journal of the Whole Child and our commitment to holistic learning and to the development of the whole child. We are excited to announce a new IJWC column titled “Education: Words and Meanings”. This new column will provide readers with clarification associated with terms and words used in educational practice and writing. Frequently, words may be used interchangeably when, in fact, the meanings are dissimilar. In other instances, terms may not be as familiar with readers and require further description in order to enhance understanding. Finally, this new column supports readers with additional references to extend their knowledge regarding concepts, practices, and theories. Words and terms represent meaning. It is important we, as educators, use the educational language with accuracy, intentionality, and as well with an understanding of a term’s origin. The submission deadline for the Spring 2024 issue is February 28th and the Fall 2024 submission deadline is September 30th. The Spring 2024 will be published in May 2024 and the Fall 2024 issue will be published in December 2024. Thank you again for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you in Spring 2024

LGBTQ Rights Policy Analysis

 This policy paper addresses the progress and setbacks in the struggle for LGBTQ rights in the United States, advocating for the passage of the Equality Act as an essential legal safeguard. Despite notable advancements, LGBTQ Americans continue to encounter systemic and interpersonal discrimination, particularly in employment, housing, and public spaces. Such discrimination is often entrenched in heterosexist and transphobic ideologies, creating pervasive inequities and mental health disparities. The Equality Act is presented as a critical response to these challenges, proposing comprehensive protections that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. By ensuring equal treatment in all facets of life, the Equality Act would support the mental and emotional health of LGBTQ individuals and symbolize a national commitment to equal rights. Its enactment would represent a milestone in the movement toward full civil rights for LGBTQ Americans, reflecting the country’s dedication to the principles of liberty and justice for all

Failing to Learn, Learning to Fail: Strategies to Create Empowered and Independent Learners

It’s hard to learn if we never make mistakes. The error. The stumble. The near win. These are all powerful self-teachers. Experts, in fact, guide themselves down the error-filled road to mastery. Pierce Brown (2016), in the epilogue to his novel Morning Star, provides a profound axiom for his readers: “Everything grand is made from a series of ugly little moments . . . All the works of people you and I admire sit atop a foundation of failures” (p. 523). This is the mindset we lose too often in the K-12 classroom. However, the culture of speed and the need to cover content persists, even in the chaotic aftermath of the recent school years where students juggled theuncertainties of in-person and remote learning. Many students navigated these experiences feeling like failures. Yet voices from inside and outside the education realm celebrate the same truth: failure is a key element of meaningful learning. As teachers, it is our responsibility to create learning environments that illustrate this truth in action. By using authentic examples from real-world innovators and creators, we send signals to our students that risks are the norm, uncertainty is an opportunity, and learning is not linear. When teachers surround students with proof that failure is a powerful learning tool, students will be more likely to start the unlearningprocess and embrace failing to learn, learning to fail as a way to navigate themselves down new paths toward deeper learning

The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023) and Renfield (2023)

For those of us who appreciate interesting adaptations of Dracula, 2023 was an exciting year, with the release of two films that encourage us to rethink both Stoker’s novel and its numerous adaptations. While neither Renfield (Universal; directed by Chris McKay) or The Last Voyage of the Demeter (Universal, directed by Andre Overdal) attempts to recapture the novel as a whole in the way that Francis Ford Coppola did in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1993), each film takes something from Stoker’s novel (the character Renfield or “The Captain’s Log” in Demeter) and uses it to provide the center for a fresh reading/viewing. Moreover, what is even more interesting for someone like me who tends to see books and films as means of providing insights into the period that produced them is that fact that both unabashedly focus on the primal evil of the Dracula character. There is no inkling of the romantic vampire seeking his lost love in Bram Stoker’s Dracula or the charming character in Badham’s Dracula (1979). Instead, there is only hunger and a vague desire to dominate the humans who appear ill-equipped to challenge him. What, if anything, does this emphasis on unremitting violence tell us about the time in which we live

A Playground Mystery: What Happened?

Is this simple metal frame supposed to be a landscaping border? Is this simple metal frame left over from one of the playground buildings? Is this simple metal frame lacking other important features? Did the playground managers make a mistake

Maisie’s Moral Sense: Aestheticism in What Maisie Knew

 Despite being born American and being considered a major American author, Henry James spent the majority of his adult life in England, becoming a British citizen a year before his death. James lived in England during the fin-de-siècle–the end of the nineteenth century– a period when art and literature were at their height in upper-class London. The fin-de-siècle was also the height of the aesthetic movement–one in which James participated. Another author at the pinnacle of his career in the fin-de-siècle and a leader within aestheticism was Oscar Wilde. Though they ran in the same circles and shared similar beliefs, James and Wilde were not close friends. James thought Wilde was too flamboyant and likely felt ill feelings towards Wilde since he was a successful dramatist and James–despite his best efforts–failed in this genre. In this article, I will examine the ways in which both James and Wilde approached aestheticism and how James’s background as an American influenced his views of this idea. Although Wilde did spend time in America–albeit significantly less than James spent in England–Wilde remained overtly British in his mannerisms and opinions. While aestheticism is primarily a British ideology, this paper will discuss the ways that James and his role as an American influenced this movement

Mental Health of Youth Athletes and the Role of Coaches

It is no secret technology has had a profound impact on shaping the twenty-first century. Computers are thinner, TVs are bigger, and shopping can be done from the comfort of one’s living room. Despite all these changes, one thing that has remained constant is people’s love of sports. Whether it was to watch the game, the commercials, or the halftime shows, the 2024 Super Bowl set the record as the most viewed telecast of all time with the 2023 Super Bowl being the previous record holder. Among these viewers were children across the country with dreams of playing in their own Super Bowl, World Series, WNBA/NBA Finals, or World Cup. To achieve these dreams, coaches can play a significant role in helping youth athletes develop mental and physical stamina to compete in sports at the highest level

Growing Up is a Playful Way to Go!

Through a playful behavior, children imitate, rehearse and practice a variety of different life roles. During play, children challenge and extend their abilities as well as explore their personal comforts and interests. Remember, play belongs to the children. As adults, consider what materials, opportunities, and models we provide

Education: Words and Meaning

This first publication for the column, Education: Words and Meanings, describes the use and misuse of common research terms and words. These words are often used incorrectly and interchangeably, leading to confusion and misunderstanding, when accuracy and clarity are needed

TEACHING THE ECONOMICS OF AUTOMATION

The purpose in this paper is to create a teaching module on the economics of automation. Avoiding technicalities but focusing on critical thinking, key ideas in the economics of automation are highlighted, and class discussion material is provided based on popular books published in the 2020s. Differing perspectives from these books allow for rich class discussions on topics including the risks of automation, the power of Big Tech, and policy responses for the digital economy. For ECON 101 students, Disney animation clips are provided as hooks to engage in analogy-based understanding of issues in automation. Likewise, other video clips are used to discuss the risks and dangers of automation related to jobs, scams, democracy, and political polarization. Overall, this teaching module highlights key ideas in the economics of automation, incorporates ideas from recently published books, and complements the lecture with videos to retain student interest