Educational Metamorphoses - by Jane Roland Martin (Paperback)

About the Book

A preeminent philosopher of education in the United States, Jane Roland Martin challenges conventional wisdom that education consists of small, incremental changes. Using case studies of personal transformations, or metamorphoses, Martin examines Malcolm X, Shaw's Eliza Doolit...

Book Synopsis

A preeminent philosopher of education in the United States, Jane Roland Martin challenges conventional wisdom that education consists of small, incremental changes. Using case studies of personal transformations, or metamorphoses, Martin examines Malcolm X, Shaw's Eliza Doolittle, Victor of Aveyron and others to demonstrate how education is a fundamental determinant of the human condition.

Review Quotes

For over thirty years, Jane Roland Martin has nurtured an idea so compelling it's a wonder it has not been done before: a collection of portraits of how education transformed the lives of remarkable people. It's hard to imagine anyone else doing it this well. Her case selection is inspired, and the artistry of her portrayals gives even familiar biographies new meaning. Readers will not be able to escape looking into their own life transformation as they read this unforgettable volume.

I highly recommend Educational Metamorphoses as a must read for all educators. The author, Jane Roland Martin, has creatively used real case-studies to help educators better understand the wonderful cultural diversity found in our classrooms.

Jane Roland Martin helps us see the transformational power of education. She skillfully blends the rigor of a dedicated scholar, the sensitivities of a committed teacher, and the insights of a true seeker, as she reminds us that education is...a powerful creator of human lives, an encounter of enormous possibilities. Martin brings to life the joy - and pain - of personal and cultural change, leading us to a new understanding of what it means to educate.

Jane Roland Martin's Educational Metamorphoses is an original and illuminating contribution to the nature/nurture debate, using some very striking case histories as illustrations. These stories, of men and women who have (often painfully) crossed cultures and become transformed in the process, are told with sympathy and insight. The power of education is given new meaning in this very readable book.

The book should be wiedely read by the public, by policy makers and students and faculties in schools of education.

With a convincing set of stories, Jane Roland Martin shows us that education is far broader than mere schooling and can have powerful effects on the lives of individuals. A fascinating and informative book.

About the Author

Jane Roland Martin, Ph.D. is Professor of Philosophy Emerita at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and has been awarded honorary degrees in the United States and Sweden for her work in educational philosophy and theory. She is the author of seven other books, including Reclaiming a Conversation, The Schoolhome, and Cultural Miseducation, and over 75 articles and chapters in edited collections.