Gatto/Freire Reading Response

As I read Gatto and Freire and their opinions on education, I began to re-evaluate my experiences as a student in the public school system. I came to the conclusion that while I have had to develop in a sub-par school in need of renovation and an update to the faculty-student relationships, I have not had the experience that Gatto or Freire predicted. My teachers were, for the most part, willing to teach in a method not unlike the Socratic Method of asking and answering questions. I would often speak during these sessions and our class would not always come to any one conclusion and we would have to compromise on a solution together (unlike Freire's belief that all conclusions to a class lecture and their meanings are determined by the teacher).
I think that this is because Oregon attracts a more dedicated group of teachers from all over the country due to the higher standards that Oregon sets for a teaching degree. Because of their dedication too teaching, they might approach an issue in a variety of ways in order to help the students understand and question the information that the teachers are providing, including the discussion of the material by the students. Because of this, we don't have to worry about the quality of our education in Oregon as much as in other states; we only have to worry about how dedicated we are to leartning.

Ryan C.