Freire is correct in his assumption that banking education turns people into “containers” and “receptacles.” By educating our youth this way we are oppressing them from their potential and simply forcing them to integrate into society. But he says one thing that I do not agree with. He says in order for the problem posing technique to be truly successful the banking method must never be used. An idea which I find impossible if not at least improbable, every student needs a foundation of facts and statistics to better form his thoughts when placed in a problem posing situation. If students are given no tangible basis for their opinion you will find them in class unable to create a sound argument.
After the initial teachings of facts and statistics in the old banking style it is then that the problem posing style should be implemented. It seems to me that we go through schooling with a similar time line to the one I outlined. Although, problem posing teaching is implemented later then I would assume useful. High school gave me an introduction to problem posing teaching, but college has thrown students head first into class discussions, and with only about four years of school left, the banking method has poisoned our minds too deeply. I agree with Freire’s arguments towards education but I feel such one sidedness should be reconsidered.
Kyle E.
that is right, because the "banking system" was not useful for student at all. it can just make student to be like rubbish bin! then they get every thing in their brain, but do not know how to use it.
ReplyDeleteKyle:
ReplyDeleteYou approve of problem-solving education but then suggest that we ought to go through some banking first to provide us w/ facts and statistics with which we can work our problem-solving magic. I've had people suggest that we bank til middle school then transition over to problem-solving.
I think that little kids are the best candidates for problem-solving... it's how they normally think. They're driven by curiosity and the desire to figure things out. Why kill this thought habit w/ banking and then try to resurrect it later?
But problem-solving alone, in the absence of good, deep knowledge is hot air blowing and wheel spinning. Can we make knowledge acquisition an integral part of the problem-solving education? Self-directed inquiry? Researched debates? Informed creative and critical thinking?
I want my neurosurgeon to be a skillful thinker and knowledgeable about anatomy.
Alan M