The Pedagogy of Paulo
A review of one of the most important educational theorists of the late 20th century...
Paulo Freire (1921-1997) was a Brazilian educator and philosopher considered one of the most influential thinkers in the field of education in the 20th century. His ideas developed from his experience teaching peasants in Brazil to read and his method of critical pedagogy, which aimed to eradicate illiteracy among people from previously colonized countries.
Freire believed in the form of education constructed by the learners rather than one that the teacher controlled. He advocated for a change from the traditional, formal, "banking" education model to a more interactive, problem-posing model where students and teachers engage in dialogue to raise consciousness and express their humanity.
According to Freire, those committed to helping the people must constantly re-examine themselves and undergo a profound rebirth to achieve a new form of existence. This conversion must be radical and not allow for ambivalent behavior.
One of Freire's most famous works is "Pedagogy of the Oppressed," a critique of the traditional banking education system and a call for a more critical, humanizing education. In this book, he analyzes both types of education and demonstrates the dehumanizing and hierarchical nature of banking education, which supports oppression.
The Banking Model
Paulo Freire's banking model of education is a term coined by the Brazilian educator to describe and critique the traditional education system. According to Freire, the banking model of education sees students as containers into which teachers deposit knowledge. This approach views the teacher as the one who has the knowledge and the student as the passive recipient who lacks it. Freire believed this model was tied to oppression and failed to allow students to question the world or participate actively in the learning process. Instead, students are simply commanded to store certain information without evaluating its validity or implications, leading to a lack of true consciousness and a passive attitude toward education.
In the banking education model, the relationship between the teacher and the student is characterized by the teacher having absolute and total control over the student's thinking. The contents of education are communicated as "comminiqués" and "deposits" that the students are expected to receive, memorize, and repeat without questioning. According to Freire, this approach to education is like banking because it involves depositing information into passive students.
On the other hand, Freire believed that knowledge results from a constant process of questioning the world and that true education requires a relationship between the teacher and the student based on dialogue and critical thinking. He argued that this education could help oppressed people become free. It required a radical conversion from those who authentically commit themselves to the people, including a profound rebirth and a new form of existence.
Communication Models
The Transmission Model of Communication is a linear, one-way model focusing on the sender and the message in a communication encounter. The Transmission Model of Communication describes communication as a process in which a sender intentionally transmits a message to a receiver.
In this model, the sender plays a primary role in the communication encounter, while the receiver is considered a target or passive participant. The model is based on the idea that communication is a linear, one-way process, where the sender encodes a message and transmits it through a channel, and the receiver decodes the message. The model includes six components: a source, an encoder, a message, a channel, a decoder, and a receiver.
However, other models of communication view communication as a more circular and interactive process, such as the transactional model of communication. The transactional communication model focuses on the simultaneous interaction of participants and the continual exchange of messages.
For more on communication models, check out this resource…
Praxis
In the context of Freire's philosophy, praxis refers to the combination of reflection and action directed toward transforming oppressive structures. According to Freire, praxis is crucial for oppressed people to gain a critical awareness of their condition and to work towards their liberation with the help of teachers and students who collaborate as "teacher-students" and "students-teachers"”
Praxis, as described by Freire, is not just a collection of methods or techniques but encompasses a deeper understanding of how people come to knowledge through action and reflection. Freire emphasized that knowledge emerges only through continuous and hopeful inquiry and that individuals can only be truly human when they engage in praxis. The combination of reflection and action is necessary to avoid verbalism (reflection without action) and activism (action without reflection) and to enable individuals to make an impact while being aware of their impact.
In summary, Paulo Freire's praxis is a process of reflection and action directed at transforming oppressive structures, enabling individuals to gain a critical awareness of their condition and work toward their liberation.