This classic work of educational theory is well worth the effort of reading. Translated from the Brazilian, Freire writes of education as the path to liberation. He reminds us that true education is not something that can be given to someone else; instead, it is an active process of cognition and praxis that allows people to become authentically engaged with their world. As an educator, it is important to remember that our students are our best teachers, and that forgetting this dynamic creates a power differential that inherently interferes with the process of learning.

Current neuroscience (see Zull) supports his stance. Only by understanding the context and knowledge that the student brings to their education can we really engage effectively in the transformational pursuit of knowledge.