Summary Of Pedagogy Of The Oppressed By Paulo Friere

In the reading, Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Friere, eyes were opened about how much oppression is included within the education system. Immediately, I could identify with teachers that were given all the power making it seem like the students did not have any knowledge at all. The fact that the banking concept hinders so many students from their true potential is what shocks and disturbs me as a student. Friere stated “the more the oppressed can be led to adapt to a situation the more easily they can be dominated”, this makes sense when we think about what is occurring right now with the election for presidency months away. Many people are voting for Trump when they are not educated enough to know why voting for him is not the right
answer. Since as young kids we are taught to adapt to situations instead of critically ask questions I can see why Trump made it so far as a nominee because not enough people are questioning him. They are adapting to the situation not knowing the effects are detrimental. Critical thinking is an important skill to have so after reading this selection I couldn’t help feel like during my high school career I was cheated of a real education. “Any situation in which some individuals prevent others from engaging in the process of inquiry, is one of violence.” (Friere) With this statement now that I am paying for my education, will no longer accept this type of abuse I shall become with the world; not just in the world. In the poem, Crick Crack by Merle Collins, upon reading I had to read once more and then read it again. I then realized that the point was do we truly know what is truth and truly fiction? In the beginning of history many things that come to be known were once uttered out of the mouth of an individual just like us so how can we truly know if it is the truth or not. How do we know if our fairy tales are true and the articles in our history book are false? Merle Collins opens the gate to uncertainty that no one really noticed because as humans we have all become docile listeners where we never question information from others.