Schools are never neutral sites or free spaces. They are always shaped by the political structures around them. Freire (1996) felt that education could create a world of possibilities for students. We need to cultivate young people’s knowledge of where to begin to make a difference. I believe that teachers play an essential role in developing an awareness of social injustice. Our students should initiate their own efforts to acquire knowledge rather than rely on teachers, parents or other stakeholders. Students who are self-regulated are able to summon up the ‘coach in their head’ (Lucas & Claxton, 2010) as they are learning. Join us in our discussion on how we can foster the development of critical students who have a voice in society on the TD special interest group day in Harrogate on April 1st 2014.
Freire, P., (1996) Pedagogy of the Oppressed. London: Penguin Books.
Lucas, B. & Claxton, G., (2010) New Kinds of Smart. Maidenhead: OUP.