Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Monica Kochar
Educational Strategist| Instructional Coach| Humane Maths| Ex IB Teacher| USCC Math K8 Expert|
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Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed and the idea of what has come to be known as "critical pedagogy" pose education in a different light than many other educational philosophies.
Do any of the points made by Freire speak to you?
Problem solving as a way to link education to the lives of the children speaks to me a lot. But not in a way that is directed to others but in a way that is focused on exploring oneself (Wiseman, 2013, 2.46). Often we learn to think in the way of problem solving by treating others as a problem and solve them in our heads. But to use the critical thinking to laser focus on oneself is the aim offered here. Question the dominant understanding but within one’s own minds.
A problem-posing pedagogy is dialogical and I love it for I hold capacity of dialogue as a base for a life filled with learning (Stinson, 2016, pp.6).
Is there something you intensely disagree with?
I disagree with turning it into an ideology, where the life within the new thought ends. Once a living thought of a mind is turned into an idea to be followed, it dies. For then intellectuals turn it into a sword to protect their own thinking as against others who differ. As long as one stays with the pedagogy of Freire as ‘a way of thinking’, one is safe from getting caught in the web of the domination, while one is fighting the domination of other thoughts.
What are your views on the idea of critical pedagogy?
The fundamental effort of education is to help with the liberation of people, never their domestication (Schor, 1992, pp.1). Critical thinking, the art of questioning, leads one from depth to another depth of minds unwrapping what lies beyond. However, I wonder, where is the place for feeling? Where is the place for allowing intuition to flow through the mind?
I would say that Freire’s educational philosophy is a great step from banking education, which domesticates students, towards a life where one thinks for oneself (Schor, 1992, pp.2). But one must take it as a step and not the destination.
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References
Co-Founder @LetsUnbound | 3x Entrepreneur | Transforming Schools into Global Leaders | Elevating Education Quality & Student Outcomes with Tailored 21st Century Skills and College Readiness Programs
2 个月Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed and the concept of critical pedagogy indeed offer a transformative perspective on education, Monica Kochar!
Founder & CEO @ eQOURSE | Building Impactful Elearning content | Helping edtech companies with educational content services | K12 content development services| Instructional design services | Curriculum planning
2 个月It’s essential to recognise that education should not solely focus on critical analysis and intellectual rigour. The place for feeling and intuition is equally important in the learning process. Emotional intelligence and intuitive insight often guide us in ways that pure logic and reason cannot. They enable learners to connect ideas on a deeper, more personal level and can inspire creativity and innovation. As educational leaders, we must strive to create environments where both critical thinking and emotional intelligence are nurtured.
HR Business Partner with multi - industry experience | 'Advisor - Equalizer' (Standout 2.0) | Book Dragon | Wordy, nerdy, and passionate about enabling success for people and organizations
2 个月As someone who's been inside the classroom with you, I'd say you've always done your best to promote reflection and critical thinking in your students, not only by provoking them and their curiosity, but often by demonstrating reflective behavior. There were times when we'd literally see 'the wheels turn' in your mind, as you answered a question, or engaged in a conversation. That in turn, made learning 'active' for us, and not something to be approached by rote. Also, the fact that no question was a bad question, and your empathetic and uncritical approach, made us more open to thinking and problem solving, because we knew that even if we didn't get the answer right on the first try, there would be no criticism. Only help with critical thinking and figuring out how to connect the dots.
Leadership Strategist | Certified Trainer| Driving Performance Excellence | Speaker | Healthcare
2 个月Very informative