Pedagogy of Freedom

Pedagogy of Freedom, Paulo Freire's last will and testament, is his best book since Pedagogy of the Oppressed. -- Stanley Aronowitz, CUNY Graduate Center, author of From the Ashes of the Old: American Labor and America's Future Pedagogy of Freedom is a stirring culmination of Paulo Freire's life work. It is in no way a conclusion or a summation: it is a text that urges its readers to become, to reach towards still untapped possibility. The themes of Freire's earlier writing are extended here into thoughtful explorations of ethics and democracy and the ways in which they may release a sense of agency in the long exploited and cruelly silenced. Moreover, he has new things to say about ideology and freedom in a world marked by a threatening 'globalization' and an unprecedented manipulation by media. As before, he speaks of 'passion,' 'love,' and 'caring;' and, each time he does so, it is as if his hand grasps each one of our shoulders, urging us on and on. -- Maxine Greene, Columbia University Braiding bold vision with precision, Freire, in his brilliance, allows us to imagine a tomorrow of democracy and freedom. Insisting on the 'incompleteness' of us all and on a 'dreamer's right to dream,' Pedagogy of Freedom reminds us that our work is never done; that change is always possible, always essential, always unfinished. -- Michelle Fine, The Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York With Pedagogy of Freedom, Paulo Freire enriches the dialogical perspectives with a call for universal ethics that establishes a better foundation for education in the next century. -- Ramon Flecha, University of Barcelona, Spain At the threshold of the twenty-first century, we face the need to learn a new and more communicative way of constructing educational theory. With Pedagogy of Freedom, Freire contributes a unique guide to such a mission. . . . While social sciences are witnessing the revival of the idea of deliberative democracy (Elster, 1988), as well as the possibility of transforming social positions through dialogue (Giddens, 1994), we now have a book that discusses how to develop such dialogic democracy in education. In Pedagogy of Freedom, Freire defends a universal human ethic that extends not only to schools but also to teachers' training. * Harvard Educational Review * This book is a repository of Freire's wisdom, the wisdom that informs his philosophy of education and his educational approach. . . . I would recommend this one as very important. * Studies In The Education Of Adults * Pedagogy of Freedom is almost an elegy. In looping around themes that have run through his work, Freire's book is a reminder of his fundamentally optimistic vision of the radical possibilities for education. * College English * Paulo Freire is one of the ideological giants. . . . In this book, Freire remains passionately idealistic and inspirational, without denying the complexity of the work or the difficulty of creating real change. It is one of the rare tomes to which one can return again and again... * What On Earth *

The late Paulo Freire of Brazil_teacher, philosopher, and activist_is widely regarded in the U.S. and elsewhere as one of the most influential educators of the 20th century. He is the author of more than 20 books, which have been translated and sold widely throughout the world. Among his many books are the classic Pedagogy of the Oppressed (ISBN 0-8264-0611-4) and Letters to Christina (ISBN 0-4159-1097-8).

Foreword Introduction Introductory Reflections Part I. There is No Teaching Without Learning Methodological Rigor Research Respect for What Students Know A Capacity to be Critical Ethics and Aesthetics Words Incarnated in Example Risk, Acceptance of What is New, and Rejection of Discrimination Chapter 12 Critical Reflection on Practice Chapter 13 Cultural Identity Part II. Teaching is Not Transferring Knowledge Awareness of Our Unfinishedness Recognition of One's Conditioning Respect for the Autonomy of the Student Common Sense Humility, Tolerance, and Struggle for the Rights of Educators Capacity to Apprehend Reality Joy and Hope Conviction that Change is Possible Teaching Requires Curiosity Part III. Teaching is a Human Act Self-Confidence, Professional Competence and Generosity Commitment Education as a Form of Intervention in the World Freedom and Authority Decision- Making that is Aware and Conscious Knowing How to Listen Recognition that Education is Ideological Openness to Dialogue Caring for Students