Essay EDUCATION 3A (EST10A3) Pedagogy of the Oppressed, ISBN: 9781501305320
31 views 0 purchase
Course
EDUCATION 3A (EST10A3)
Institution
University Of Johannesburg (UJ)
Book
Pedagogy of the Oppressed
This essay critically discusses how Paulo Freire’s theoretic principles can be used to liberate individuals, with a specific focus on the banking model of education.
Paulo Freire is an influential Brazilian philosopher whose viewpoint comprised a critical
pedagogy and critical theoretic principles which can be applied to the education field to empower
individuals. In The Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Freire looks at education as a force that can be
used to restructure society and liberate individuals.The process of using education as a tool for
liberation and freedom realization is defined as emancipatory education. Freire presents an
educational process that aims at locating causes of oppression and transforming social realities
(emancipation education). His theory introduces three educational aims which can be used to
advocate social transformation namely: humanization, critical conscientization and a problem-
posing education system. The purpose of this essay is to critically discuss my educational
experiences using Paulo Freire’s theoretical principles and how these principles can be used to
make educational practices today emancipatory.
Freire explains that “education is never neutral; it can either be a tool for oppression or
liberation” (Freire, 2005:46). The first aim that characterizes emancipatory education is
humanization. In contrast to this aim, in my experiences, whenever our English teacher was
analyzing a poem, he would provide his own interpretation and expects us to write it exactly as it
is in our assessments. Consequently, he dehumanized us because this act is a “distortion of the
vocation of becoming fully human (Freire, 2005:44). As such, the English teacher deprived us
the human quality of thinking for ourselves, thus the education we received was oppressive.
Alternatively, Paulo’s idea of achieving emancipation education is through “dialogue” (Freire,
2005:88). Most of my teachers throughout my years of learning would come to class and have
notes written on the chalkboard then explained them as they are. They, therefore, engaged in the
banking method which according to Freire is a form of oppression. Furthermore, this banking
approach can be explained as the process “where education becomes an act of depositing, where
students are perceived as depositories and the teacher the depositor” (Freire, 2005:72). Freire
further explains that in “any situation which A objectively exploits B or hinders his or her self-
affirmation as a responsible person is one of oppression”. Considering this explanation, our
teachers oppressed us because they interfered with our “vocation to be fully human” (Freire,
2005:55) and they therefore did not give us opportunities to express our opinions. They were not
concerned about how the content will help us in future or help us become critical thinkers.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller zaneleruthmadlazi. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.54. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
