Freire Schools’ purpose is to help each of our students grow into engaged, self-actualized, change-making citizens of their communities and the world. To achieve this mission, it is essential that all Freire Schools students know that they are seen, heard and valued by their teachers and peers. Freire Schools takes a proactive approach to building school culture and creating a true community built on mutual respect, openness, and honesty.
In Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire writes, “What an educator does in teaching is to make it possible for the students to become themselves.” From how we make decisions as a network to how we teach, we believe that providing avenues for students to find, develop, and share their voices is critical to their educational experience.
Social justice literacy and engagement are key to the Freire Schools model and our commitment to honoring student voice. Academic work is constructed to incorporate issues of identity, race, and power into each class’s learning objectives in a meaningful way. Additionally, programs like peer mediation empower students to create a positive community atmosphere as they assist their peers in creating solutions to conflicts as they arise.