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Bryce Frazier
History

Robert Haskett, Mentor

Transformative Education: An Analysis of Paulo Freire and Pedagogy of the Oppressed

Brazilian Educator Paulo Freire is widely considered the leading scholar of critical pedagogy. His most famous work Pedagogy of the Oppressed offers insights regarding the student-teacher relationship and the significance of education in transforming society. Many scholars have noted the eclecticism in Freire’s ideas, a point his critics have used to question the innovation of his work. An examination of Freire’s ideas requires an understanding of their historical context and the unique personal experiences that have given his thought a distinct quality. A stronger understanding of how Freire’s ideology was shaped will help explain why his message has been popular in “third world” countries. Throughout his career Freire incorporated ideas from Marxist and religious thinkers to construct his own educational philosophy and reconcile those two seemingly incompatible elements. Both schools of thought greatly shaped Freire’s understanding of people, the mentality of the oppressed and oppressors, and the means of transforming society.