This paper presents some reflections first presented in a Master degree research which has investigated the understanding of educators from a public school about autonomy, and whether seeing themselves as an autonomous being or not has influence in teaching performance. The theoretical basis was drawn from theoretic-methodological ideas of Vigotski and Paulo Freire's Liberative Education theory. The instruments used were semi-structured interviews and accounts of scenes from the experiences of the researcher during the faculty meetings. As a result, it was found that although some teachers demonstrate self regulation, their practices are not characterized as autonomous and do not perceive themselves as subjects capable of exercising autonomy, especially because of the material conditions in which they conduct their activities. It was clear, too, that the ways in which relationships are undertake in school, permeated by bureaucratic issues and power struggle, undermine the development of autonomy and emancipation of its main actors.
teacher autonomy; cultural-historical psychology; human development; liberative education