We still Need Paulo Freire

Abstract

Paulo Freire has so marked our way of seeing education, of seeing life, that it has been impossible for us to resist the temptation to dedicate a few words to him in this year in which we are celebrating the centenary of his birth. However, so much has been said, and so much has been said so well, that it is difficult for us to contribute anything even slightly original. Perhaps we do not intend to do so either, just a few lines to remember him. From among the multitude of inspiring ideas he left us, we will focus on three. Let this serve as a humble tribute.

Hope is the first idea we wish to highlight, so important to Freire that he entitled one of his last books ‘Pedagogy of Hope’ (Freire, 1992). Hope without which our work is meaningless; hope as a vital need of every human being. Hope for a better, fairer, more just, more supportive, more democratic, more inclusive society. Freire told us that ‘without hope we cannot even begin to talk about education’; but -he continued- ‘not just any hope, a critical hope’ (Freire, 1992, p. 8).