We are thrilled to introduce Beatriz Piffer, affectionately known as "Bia" within the school community. She teaches sociology, philosophy, and theory of knowledge (TOK) for college students at ESB Rio de Janeiro.

For the past 12 years at ESB Rio de Janeiro, Bia has been recognised for fostering an engaging and safe learning environment, allowing students to explore both academic and personal issues. She upholds and reflects the institution's well-established principles and qualities. We invited Bia Piffer to share her insights on the educator's role in shaping human values, offering our readers an enriching perspective on modern education anchored in solid principles:

Bia Piffer:

For many years, a philosophy teacher will often repeat the cave allegory. Prisoners, born chained inside a cave, think they live the only possible reality: casted shadows and distorted sounds. One day, one of the prisoners is freed and brings the news to the others: we were mistaken, there is another reality – the true one. I always imagine that the freed prisoner functions as a kind of teacher, trying to illuminate the path so that others can access the new reality. I strongly relate to the idea that every educator has the privilege of possessing their own lantern, which facilitates the exit from the cave.

It is not uncommon for classroom discussions to lead to seemingly insoluble conflicts of value. I believe that the teacher's role is not to take a stance but to shift the focus: to lessen the preoccupation with empty discussions and instead emphasise the importance of listening. It is impossible for students to become citizens of the world if they don’t understand that the OTHER does not need to carry the weight of antagonism. We are always an OTHER too, just by changing the reference point. The result of the classes we dedicate to listening, even to what may seem absurd, is always positive. It is not about changing values; after all, my task should not prioritise content but stimulate debate. Thinking about values does not mean electing specific values but rather building criteria so that students become capable of understanding differences.

“... value-centered education acts like a lit lantern that enables the holistic  development of the student... " 

Therefore, value-focused education acts like a lit lantern that enables the holistic development of the student, allowing them to develop a view of themselves and others to understand the diverse range of perspectives. The awareness that we have a partial view of the world is the greatest step towards becoming a human being with values capable of building a society less affected by prejudice. The danger of a single story lies in its masquerade as the full truth, a kind of darkness that every educator committed to building good values should seek to illuminate, just like the lantern of Plato's freed prisoner.

First published in emphaSIS Brazil, 2024