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September 19
Paulo Freire and William Kirby
David Barnhart
September 19, 2025
Winter sunset, 2023. Own photo.
Today is the birthday, in 1921, of Paulo Freire, liberationist educator, whose death we noted on May 2.
Today is the birthday, in 1759, of William Kirby, one of many “parson-naturalists,” clergy who turned their attention to study of the natural world. His study of bees was a major contribution to entomology.
Reflection:
William Kirby wrote:
“The author of Scripture is also the author of Nature: and this visible world, by types indeed, and by symbols, declares the same truths as the Bible does by words. To make the naturalist a religious man – to turn his attention to the glory of God, that he may declare his works, and in the study of his creatures may see the loving-kindness of the Lord – may this in some measure be the fruit of my work.”
Paulo Freire wrote:
"Education does not transform the world. Education changes people. People change the world."
Prayer: Author of Nature, write a story in which we overcome the worst parts of ourselves and create a social world where all people can thrive. Amen.