Inspired by Those Who Have Come Before: Paulo Freire and Transformational Education

Inspired by Those Who Have Come Before: Paulo Freire and Transformational Education, by Bonnie Stack, M.Ed.

At Southwestern College, the phrase “transformational education or transforming consciousness through education” is used a lot to describe our mission, values and the educational experience you will have here as a student- and even as a faculty or staff member. It is something that attracted me to the school, and as I look back at my own education, I can see how valuable transformational education has been in shaping my world view, self-knowledge, understanding of history, social justice, and human rights.

When I began to learn about transformational education, I came across the Brazilian activist, Paulo Freire (1921-1997). I can easily say he is one of my heroes or light figures because he recognizes the power of education to transform the lives of people who have been oppressed in society. He sees the immense value in curiosity, critical-thinking, and participating in your own educational process.  He believed that education “Should empower people, not simply fill their heads with facts.” He states, “Education must be an act of love, and thus, an act of courage.”

One of Freire’s most famous concepts is called “Problem-Posing Education,” where students solve real-world problems, actively participate in the education process, and explore. This concept contrasts what Freire called “banking education”, where mere facts are memorized and regurgitated. In modern education, we may refer to “problem-posing education” as project-based learning or hands-on learning.

Here, at Southwestern College, these concepts are practiced in practical ways through self-reflective learning, creating an e-portfolio, passion projects, dispositions, and small-group interactive work. The curriculum offers opportunities for growth, reflection, critical thinking and transformation of consciousness towards something greater.

Growing and transformation takes courage, Freire describes it as an on-going spiral, one that is continuously growing, where you must re-examine yourself, let go of old beliefs, and reflect critically upon your reality. “Those who undergo it must take on a new form of existence; they can no longer remain as they were” (Freire Institute, 2025).

References

Freire Institute (2025). About Paulo Freire. Freire Institute. https://freire.org/paulo-freire

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