Reflective Conversation with Dorothy Sisk

Abstract

where she holds the Conn Chair, directs the Gifted Children Center, the Center for Creativity, Innovation and Leadership, and co-ordinates teacher training in gifted Education.Dr Sisk served as Director of the U.S. Office of Gifted and Talented, playing an instrumental role in increasing the cadre of professionally trained consultants for the gifted, thereby expanding opportunities for gifted students. She served as President, Vice-President and Executive Administrator of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (WCGTC), and President of The Association for Gifted ( TAG ) and the American Creativity Association (ACA). She has also served as editor of the Gifted International journal. Dr Sisk is the author of Creative Teaching of Gifted Students.

From Human to Humankind: Facilitating Global Awareness Among the Gifted

“…Gifted education should be regarded as special education (Van der Westhuizen & Maree, 2006) as it is in Canada, as well as in a growing number of other countries around the world. These programs need to become globally aware as early as possible so that the gifted can learn and develop together, without running the risk of experiencing feelings of social isolation, boredom and low self-esteem that often lead to underachievement (Reis & Renzulli, 2004;Robinson, 2002;Seevers & Shaughnessy, 2003;Swiatek, 1995).…”

Undervalued and Under-Served: The Gifted Disadvantaged

“…through differentiation so that they and the other, less gifted learners are enabled to work at their own pace and achieve maximally (Davison, 1996;Rizza & Gentry, 2001;Seevers & Shaughnessy, 2003). The view mirrored in SA government policy, namely that the "self is to be sublimated for the good of the group", needs to be adapted so that radical equity, i.e.…”