Discussion 4

EDUC 5010 Education in Context: History, Philosophy and Sociology
Discussion Unit 4: Global Philosophical Foundations in Education

Date: April 27-May 3, 2023
Professor: Dr. Cristina Pennington
 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? Is there something you
intensely disagree with? What are your views on the idea of critical pedagogy?
Paulo Freire was a Brazilian philosopher (1921-1997) who was one of the most influential
philosophers of education of the 20th century, who focused on eradicating illiteracy from
countries and continents that had been colonized, based on the social and political realities of the
descendants of former slaves. His ideas, life and work will help improve the living conditions of
oppressed people. (Paulo Freire | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy).
In 1968 his most famous book "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" was published, which had
a great impact on educators around the world. Although by the 1970s many people around the
world already had education, according to Freire, schooling continued to be intertwined with
systems of oppression, such as racism and capitalism, which is why traditional models of
education did not work. equally well for all. For this reason, the "Pedagogy of the Oppressed"
had a great social impact at that time. (May-Varas, S.). In this book, he compares traditional
education with the "banking method", since according to him, students do not actively participate
or interact in their learning, but are simply receivers of information, who memorize and repeat,
hence the term empty vessels, since that students are oppressed, without encouraging critical
thinking or asking questions. Therefore, they promote ignorance so that students depend on
experts, who would be teachers.

Since then, Freire has been recognized as the pioneer of the "Critical pedagogy".
According to pedagogical educator Ira Shor, critical pedagogy is a teaching approach that
attempts to help students question and challenge dominance and the beliefs and practices that
dominate it and achieve a critical consciousness.
Freire's great critique of education focused on the oppressed workers in the capitalist
structure, noting that educational systems have the potential to liberate or oppress their students
and, in the process, humanize or dehumanize them, and this leads to the biggest problem. of
humanity, since due to these unfair educational systems that give access and priority to some and
not to others, it is what promotes the dehumanization of people.
Freire also criticizes the power dynamics that exist between the teacher and the students,
comparing them as "empty glasses" or "blank slates", where teachers possess the supposed
"truth" of their opinions and curricula, exercising authority over the student. What does Freire
propose to avoid this dehumanization of the student? Critical thinking and pedagogy that
encourages participation.
As proposed in education by the philosopher Freire, we can incorporate three ideas into
our classroom:
Teachers and students are learners: Freire emphasized the collaborative and social nature of
learning the dynamics of power and authority between teacher and students to be balanced.
Develop criticism: students use critical thinking and questions in what they read, see and hear
and seek answers to avoid inequality or injustice.
Active inquiry and participation guided by curiosity: this encourages students to become
mature and autonomous people, who critically reflect on their world to make it a better place.
References:
Currell, J. (2023). Exploring critical pedagogy’s pioneer Paulo Freire. Maths – No Problem!
Maths Mastery for Primary School Education.
https://mathsnoproblem.com/blog/teaching-practice/paulo-freire-pioneer-of-critical-
pedagogy#:~:text=Paulo%20Freire%20(1921%E2%80%931997),inequality%20within
%20the%20status%20quo.
May-Varas, S., EdD. (n.d.). Critical Pedagogy. Pressbooks.
https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/educationallearningtheories3rd/chapter/chapter-13-
critical-pedagogy-2/
Paulo Freire | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (n.d.).
https://iep.utm.edu/freire/#:~:text=Paulo%20Freire
%20(1921%E2%80%941997)&text=Paulo%20Freire%20was%20one%20of,his
%20practice%20of%20critical%20pedagogy.
Schor, I. (1992). Education is politics: Paulo Freire's critical pedagogy. In Paulo Freire: A
critical encounter. [pdf] (pp. 24-36)

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EDUC 5010 Education in Context: History, Philosophy and Sociology

Discussion Unit 4: Global Philosophical Foundations in Education

oppressed people. (Paulo Freire | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy).

experts, who would be teachers.

dominate it and achieve a critical consciousness.

not to others, it is what promotes the dehumanization of people.

and seek answers to avoid inequality or injustice.

Maths Mastery for Primary School Education.

May-Varas, S., EdD. (n.d.). Critical Pedagogy. Pressbooks.

Paulo Freire | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (n.d.).

critical encounter. [pdf] (pp. 24-36)

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