For more than 25 years, Jim Delisle, Ph.D., has consistently been one of the most unique and influential voices in gifted education. Never afraid to question longstanding orthodoxies and speak out on controversial issues, Delisle is also notable for his empathetic and compassionate views on the many difficulties faced by gifted youth. For the first time, his most popular writings from the past two decades have been compiled into one volume. Barefoot Irreverence is a collection of more than 50 outstanding essays from esteemed publications such as Education Week, Parenting for High Potential, Gifted Child Quarterly, and Roeper Review, as well as his popular "Au Contraire" column in Gifted Child Today. Each article includes a new introduction by the author, and the book also debuts three never before published essays. Always diverse in the breadth of his topics, but consistent in his philosophical outlook, Delisle takes on such crucial issues as standardized testing, differentiation, the theory of Multiple Intelligences, the social and emotional lives of gifted children, character education, and the portrayal of gifted children in the media. Whether tackling heated controversies, offering advice to parents of gifted children, or making suggestions for how teachers can design a respectful classroom, Delisle's experiences as a scholar, classroom teacher, and parent make him one of the most widely read and respected writers in the field of gifted education. Barefoot Irreverence is the definitive collection of his work and a must-have for anyone involved in educating or parenting gifted children.