Education

Welcome!

The Barnard Education Program envisions education as an emancipatory human right that develops people’s capacities to think critically and act creatively for peace, justice, and sustainability in local and global contexts. Education is a fundamental human activity that occurs in formal and informal settings as people interact within their social, historical, and physical environments. The program educates students to draw on interdisciplinary research and perspectives in order to critically analyze the role of education in society, and to create and sustain equitable educational practices and policies for all. The Barnard Education Program is committed to strengthening public education and addressing issues of equity and social justice, particularly in urban schools driven by 5 Guiding Principles: 

1. Teaching is a moral and political act.
2. Teaching is grounded in an ethic of care.
3. Learning is an active process requiring engagement.
4. All students are capable of learning.
5. Literacy is a civil right. 

We believe that a robust and equitable education system that values the identities, voices, perspectives, cultures, languages, and strengths of learners and their communities is key to developing loving, hopeful, and compassionate ways of being that serve as the foundation for family, civic, and political life.