Like many of you all, I do find MANY faults in DeVos plans. I do believe there should be funding for public schools, but I also believe that something needs to be done about the current state of affairs in the public school system. Freire’s piece really made me sit down and try to understand DeVos plans from another angle. I still am not convinced her plan is entirely benevolent or if her proposed changes will ultimately be in the best interest of students. However, I do see how the public school system can offer both opportunity and oppression.

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“Their way of speaking is as beautiful as our way of speaking” This is a great quote which highlights the democratic spirit that animates Freire’s philosophy of education. Another philosopher/theorist you might be interested in is Jacques Ranciere. He wrote a book entitled, “The Ignorant Schoolmaster,” where, among other things, he argues for the equality of teachers and students.

“This is the kind of education in which students and teachers practice thinking critically about knowledge, how that knowledge relates to their world, and how knowledge can empower them to recognize and (if they choose) work against injustice.” Very well put. Knowledge is an important factor for enacting change. This is why I believe children should be exposed to as much diverse knowledge as there little minds can soak up. As you mentioned, it’s also important that children be challenged to think critically vs. just told “that’s the way things are”. Just imagine….a world where people were capable of thinking for themselves instead of simply accepting what they were told as fact. That’s a world I want to live in!

Your description of inquiry-based learns sounds very similar to the Socratic method. In the Platonic dialogues, Socrates, as many people know, would lead his interlocutors to a “truth” – or, more often than not, to the realization that they don’t know the truth – by means of endless questioning. I like to use this method in my own classes as well as it engages the students and forces them to formulate their ideas.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts in this post. I absolutely agree that so often classrooms seem to be the teacher talking to the class, instead of talking with. I can see why this is a lot easier for most, but its not conducive to creating a healthy learning environment. Exploring different pedagogical methods is key if you want to make true change in your students.

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Thank you for sharing! I’m not sure I agree with the idea of cutting support for public schools as a means to increase the quality of education by increasing competition among schools. I think this would further divide the population by keeping the best opportunities exclusively for those from high socio-economic backgrounds and removing access to quality education for the underprivileged populations. I would argue that the problem with the U.S. educational system is more related to the “value” placed on education. Asian and European countries where education is highly regarded and teachers are respected and valued, tend to score higher on PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) tests. Being a teacher is a highly regarded profession in these countries and educators are remunerated according to the value placed on the educational system. Here is a link to an article on this: https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2014/sep/05/how-the-job-of-a-teacher-compares-around-the-world

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Wonderful post! I think you did a great job discussing how education should be a means by which change is enacted. Whether its educators changing the minds of students or students changing the minds of educators, this is how knowledge can transform our world.

I really enjoyed reading this post, and it really helped put the act of teaching into perspective. Discussion is super important and invaluable in a classroom setting, and can help students think in a more comprehensive manner.

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Love your statement “Instead of education taking place only one direction, from teacher to student, learning can go both ways and even sideways”. For me, this is truly how I believe education should be. None of this authoritarian or “banking education” nonsense. Learning can come from all angles and is best when done cooperatively.

*grabs a pitchfork and torch* REVOLUTION *marches around Major Williams*

I really appreciate this post Jake! When we think about structures of domination and subordination it at least appears common to default to the “well all you need is to be included in the power structure” or “all you have to do is act like a ________” (*cough* lean-in nonsense *cough*). As your post indicates, political rule and representation isn’t necessarily liberatory. Any thoughts about what is entailed in a liberatory program? I know you discuss elements of dismantling such systems, but what are some of the steps/tools that lead towards creating and making a non-oppressive structure?