An examination of Paulo Freire's educational pedagogy reveals a belief in education as a subversive force, where schools are the agent of change. In Freire's theories of liberatory education, education should open minds to higher stages of consciousness rather than just deposit information for future use, for knowledge emerges only through invention and inquiry. While one of the criticisms of Freire is that his methods are too abstract, it must be realized that his pedagogy is designed on very basic assumptions and political realities. People read and write what they understand and what is relevant to their lives. By learning new words and new social-political realities, consciousness and literacy are both increased. Participatory methods and the encouragement of critical thinking results in a rigorous, but not rigid, pedagogy that is democratic in approach. Educational problems such as the gifted underachiever or teacher burnout can be effectively addressed through Freire's work. Six references are included. (PPB)