Problem Posing Method of Education

People begin their education from day one till the day they die. Every day we learn new things in different ways. Whether someone is just telling us some random fact or you are sitting in a classroom being lectured by a professor. The main focus of this classical argument involves the learning that is done in the classroom or lecture hall in the schools of America today. The question arose as to which style of teaching is most effective in sparking the minds of the receivers to make them become transformers of their education? Paulo Freire came up with two distinctive educational theories, but which is more suited to shape our young scholar. Would the “banking concept” of teaching be more effective, where “the scope of the action allowed to the students extends only as far as receiving, filing, and storing the deposits”? Or would the “problem posing” style of teaching be the most effective, where by “responding to the essence of consciousness—intentionally—rejects communiqués and embodies communications. It epitomizes the special characteristic of consciousness”. Through my own experiences as well as intensive research, the “problem posing” style of teaching has proven to the most effective application of fundamental attainment. There are many advantages of “problem posing” style to education. This style of education is very effective in expanding the minds of the receiver by making them more interactive in their learning rather than the typical lecture and take notes. In this style of education people teach each other and the teacher is not the only one enlightening the class with their knowledge. I can not only vouch from my own experiences, but also others who share in the same view sculpted by their experiences. Freire points out “Knowledge emerges only through invention and re-invention, through restless, impatient, continuing, hopeful inquiry human beings pursue in the world, with the world, and with each other” This quote shows that Freire feels that learning can only be achieved by communication with others and such type of learning cannot be achieved through the banking concept. In the banking concept people cannot invent or form any type of knowledge because they are simply being told the facts with often little proof to back these facts. The problem posing style of education allows the students to be the teachers and communicate their knowledge with others. “Yet only through communication can human life hold meaning”
Freire also said that: Through dialogue, the teacher-of-the-students and the students-of-the-teacher cease to exist and a new term emerges: teacher-student with student-teachers. The teacher is no longer merely the-one-who-teaches, but one who is himself taught in dialogue with the students, who in turn while being taught also teach.
For someone to be enlightened by a fact they need to be involved somehow and have their creativity take hold. If someone were to just sit in class, take notes, and listen to the teach for one hour, that student will come out knowing what they just heard, but after they are done with that information they lose it and the knowledge is useless. On the other hand picture a classroom, with student in a circle where you are required to participate and involve yourself in the conversation. Now everyone is hearing all different points of view and they are taking in so much more. When they leave the classroom and move past that information it will still encapsulated in their mind. Freire also brought forth another idea, which sparked me to look at things from a different point of view, “People teach each other, mediated by the world, by the cognizable objects which in banking education are “owned” by the teacher” In some cases though I feel that the banking concept works, but only on some subject matter. In science facts are what they are and there isn’t any other way to look at it. So for a teacher to lecture you on something in science then you just kind of have to take it in. Conversely though we wouldn’t get anywhere in science if it wasn’t for those who questioned what everyone thought was right and set out to re-invent its meaning.
My own experiences in the classroom and learning, I have come to embrace the problem posing style of education over the banking concept. This is simply because I feel I have plenty I can contribute to a learning environment, and without being able to contribute I feel I am inadequate to the setting. When I learn from the banking concept most of the work is done by me. I take in what I can during class, but outside of class I feel the best way to be prepared for whatever a teacher might throw at you, you have to take extra time outside of class to really comprehend the material. This is most likely because when I met my 6th grade teacher, he was the first person to help me get to the point I am at today. It started out like any other student teacher friendship, but he saw something in me, a potential to excel in life. He became closer to me in hopes that he could help shape me into a success for he knew that I doubted my potential. Over the three years I was his student we had a special bond. Before school on most days he would pick me up and we would go to an early breakfast. After we’d eat and enjoy a good morning conversation we would head toward school where he would help me with homework from the prior night. This gave me a good base for learning and studying, which most people never get. It was almost as if I had my own private tutor who I enjoyed spending time with and because of this enjoyment for school made me want to work hard and taught a lost principal of diligence. He had a way teaching me that kept me interested in learning through our constant communication, just like the communication all students should get through a classroom environment.
Although this concept might not work for all, everyone is different in their own respective way and some people might have the ability to simply comprehend all they hear, unlike myself I feel like I teach myself more on my own or with others than if I were sitting down and taking notes. The only problem with just listening during a lecture is that people don’t retain all that information over a long period of time. Most of the information is stored in the brain until that test comes and all the information leaves when you hand in the test.
The problem-posing style to education is not only the most effective way in helping a student retains the information, but it also sets everyone, whether it is the teacher or the students, at equilibrium. I am not just speaking from my point of view, but also from Freire. We both came to the same cessation and based our conclusion off our own experiences. This style of education is very effective in expanding the minds of the receiver by making them more interactive in their learning rather than the typical lecture and take notes. In this style of education people teach each other and the teacher is not the only one enlightening the class with their knowledge.

Works Cited
Freire, Paulo. “The ‘Banking’ Concept of Education.” Ways of Reading: An Anthology for Writers. 9th ed. Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. 318-328. Print.

Cited: Freire, Paulo. “The ‘Banking’ Concept of Education.” Ways of Reading: An Anthology for Writers. 9th ed. Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. 318-328. Print.