2 Interviews

Interview about underserved gifted: Two perspectives

Introduction

Interviewees: E: A mother of a highly gifted child

(8, S.I.) from Chicago D: A mother of a gifted child (≈14)

from South Germany

Who is underserved?

E: Asynchronous, Visual-Spatial and S.I.

Gifted children. Word retrieval problems “Criminals”

D: All gifted are underserved in Germany Even adapted gifted underserved Gifted whose parents do not have money

for diagnosis

Issues for SI-Kids (E)

Misunderstanding leads to low self-esteem.

Sensitivity causes them to be outcasts

Teachers understand the children only if they understand asynchrony.

Issues for gifted kids (D)

The natural needs (to explore own limits) are not taken care of. Then problems arise in the social or emotional area.

Social and emotional issues are not taken seriously.

Happy, eagerly learning toddlers become unhappy students.

Outcasts - and know it (sensitivity) Have to adapt all their school time.

What to do (E) ???

Teacher education Identifiers are needed Child-find screening so that

parents do not have to search for the right diagnosis

What to do (D)???

Teacher education Early identification Parent-teacher cooperation Journalists should get informed

better Blast the “concrete in their heads”

Dream - environment

E: Gifted school: Teachers “know”, no comparison, Kids have freedom to take risks and explore

D: Competent, public school. An accepting society

Who should help?

E: Administration, teachers, parents

D: The press who still talks

“wunderkind” or “elite”. Politicians Teacher’s union

Different populations of underserved

Understanding = Serving (E) Educate all (D) Steps taken in Chicago are not yet

realistic in Germany.

Improve Information

What I learned…