Overview

A preeminent philosopher of education in the United States, Jane Roland Martin challenges conventional wisdom that education consists of small, incremental changes within a student's life. Using case studies of personal transformations, or metamorphoses, Martin examines Malcolm X, George Bernard Shaw's Eliza Doolittle, Victor - the Wild Boy of Aveyron, Minik the Inuit Child, and several others to demonstrate how substantial personal change can be and how vital education is as a fundamental determinant of the human condition. Martin's study results in three important claims: that each of us undergoes personal metamorphoses as a result of education; that these changes can result in a radically altered identity and can therefore be either good or bad; and that each change constitutes a culture crossing which can be accompanied by feelings of guilt, accusations of betrayal, alienation, and a sense of loss.

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Reviews

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. -- David Sadker and Karen Zittleman, authors of Teachers, Schools, and Society 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. -- James Allen Johnson, Professor Emeritus, Northern Illinois University 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. -- Steve Tozer, Professor of Policy Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago 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. -- Margaret Drabble, author of The Millstone The book should be wiedely read by the public, by policy makers and students and faculties in schools of education. -- John Mullen, Ph.D. Metapsychology Online Reviews, March 2009 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. -- Nel Noddings, Lee L. Jacks Professor of Education, Emerita, at Stanford University

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.--David Sadker and Karen Zittleman

Author Information

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.

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