چکیده (انگلیسی):

In 1994, bell hooks‟ work, Teaching to Transgress - Education as the Practice of Freedom was
first published and this work re-examines it for its intent to counter the devaluation of teaching
and on the basis that it addresses the urgent need for changes in teaching practices. Because of
the intransience of racism and the various “isms” that are part of our everyday culture, hooks‟
work remains relevant, particularly for those who find themselves in the position of the lone
soldier in the war to effect equitable system change – forever conspiring and scheming in order to
accomplish equity in education. This re-examination of hooks‟ work is also offered to those who
face “disempowered collective backlash” (p.31) - backtracking, ostracization and belittlement
designed to dissuade paradigm shifts. It is offered to individuals who are seeking „freedom‟ –
individuals who are seeking to define and contextualize their experiences, their struggle, and to
those trying to cope with a society eager to return to an age of narrow nationalism, isolationisms
and xenophobia (p.28). And finally, this work is for those who are seeking to teach their children,
their students, how to transgress - how to confront a culture of domination with a “lack of
meaningful access to truth” (p.29) and which “necessarily promotes an addiction to lying and
denial” (p.29).
“Teaching to Transgress” is a strategy that suggests revolution and speaks to ones determination,
strength and commitment. It is a strategy that casts the „teacher‟ and the student recipient of the
teachings, in the role of revolutionaries - agents of change. “Education as the Practice of
Freedom” speaks to the need to pursue, as a „professional business‟, the job of freeing oneself
from oppression - one should „practice‟ or „work at‟ critically examining our world and our
experiences on a local and global level.