Pedagogy of the Oppressed

I once was a student who learned passively. Sometimes I still find myself still memorizing for a test and then dumping what I had memorized shortly after. It is a problem that I think a lot of students are guilty of doing throughout their educational experience. This article calls out teachers for using the bank method of teaching. Teaching where the only person only being active in education is the teacher. This text was interesting to me and I generally found it to be true. I do think that students are not learning the skills that they need to be successful outside of the educational system and I do think that this teaching style could be to blame. I think that the educational world needs to make a major shift and help students develop critical thinking skills.  

My favorite part of this text was the idea that banking concept leads students to be passive. It does not engage students instead it helps them become adaptable to any situation leaving them to be passive for their whole life. It does not ask for new thought or ideas. This obviously is a step back for society. If we are to move forward to something better we need people to participate. We cannot remain passive and hope for our reality to get better. Creating an engaging learning environment can be difficult to do but it is necessary for teachers to engage their students. No longer can students be treated as “receptacles”. It is the job of the teacher to help students learn how to think for themselves in order for them to be able to engage in the reality. The banking method cannot be used in the pursuit of liberation or a better tomorrow. I am curious to see how these ideas will pan out in the education system.