INTERVIEW WITH MARIA HELENA SOUZA PATTOABSTRACT
This present text aims to share an interview with Maria Helena Souza Patto, a brazilian psychologist recognized as one of the main references in the theoretical-conceptual and methodological field of Educational and School Psychology towards the construction of critical perspective. A retired professor at the Institute of Psychology of the University of São Paulo, Maria Helena Souza Patto is the author of many books, articles and book chapters in Psychology and education. Her book ‘The production of school failure: histories of submission and rebellion’, a work that won the award in 1995, as the most relevant book for the area granted by APEOESP São Paulo/SP, which marks a break with traditional School and Educational Psychology, towards to the construction of new directions in the area. Although the interview took place 23 years ago, in 2001, its actuality is unveiled throughout the conversation, and many of the reflections there are essential to guide Psychology and Education professionals in the current context, especially to Psychologists whom work in the basic education network, an area that tends to grow in Brazil with the approval of Law 13935/2019. Initially, some biographical and bibliographic data of Professor Maria Helena are retrieved and then, the edited interview is presented, in collaboration with the author herself. With the publication of this historic interview, we hope to reiterate the relevance of Professor Maria Helena de Souza Patto to the Education and Psychology area, as well as highlight the aspects discussed during the interview.
Keywords: Maria Helena Souza Patto; critical psychology; school psychology; psychologist professional role