ABSTRACT
This chapter explores some aspects of Paulo Freire’s philosophy of education which are sound inspirations for early childhood education in general and more specifically, in the Portuguese cultural context. The Portuguese government compliance and overtaking of such demands resulted in a serious regression in many socio-economic aspects, destroying existing labour laws, increasing unemployment, impoverishing the middle class, and greatly increasing the emigration of many young people belonging to the most educated generation in Portuguese history. The model was one of submission and oppression, and as Freire stressed, every relationship that involves violence is characterised by an illegitimate power because it dehumanises the very relationship between people. The model was one of submission and oppression, and as Freire stressed, every relationship that involves violence is characterised by an illegitimate power because it dehumanises the very relationship between people.
