Letters to those who dare teach: Another world is possible

Author: Paul Gurton
University of Wolverhampton

Edition: Volume 61, Number 3, November 2021

Introduction: Paulo Freire spent over ten years in exile from his native country. His letters are full of reflections and advice to modern readers and were a way to share his ideas about the unity between theory and practice. This is why we have invited readers to contribute ‘letters to a teacher’: not to emulate one of Freire’s last publications, Teachers as Cultural Workers: Letters to Those Who Dare Teach, but to help bring his thinking to life.

Our third letter ‘Letters to those who dare teach: Another world is possible’ is to someone on the threshold of a career in teaching. In it the author of the letter, Paul Gurton, suggests that he could have done more to allay Carmen’s fears. He reminds her of an inspiring teacher who encouraged cooperative learning in her school and urged her not to be disheartened by the narrowness of the current primary curriculum in England. Gurton offers a living example of how dialogic teaching is thriving in some primary schools where Freire’s principles can be seen in practice. It is a letter full of hope and encouragement. ‘These From the Guest Editor’s desk 325 children,’ Gurton suggests, are developing an agency of their own, ‘… and beginning to use language to interpret the world’. The letter ends with a critical moment that remains with the writer and the reader.

Keywords:

[feather share] Share a copy of this abstract.

This article is part of AJAL, Volume 61:3. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.