Assignment 1b

One of Freire’s educational objectives is “Theory of Value”. This theory raises questions like what knowledge and skills are worthwhile learning and what are the goals of education? Feire believes that education should raise the awareness of the students so that they become subjects of the world rather than objects of the world. This attitude can be acquired by teaching students to think democratically and to repeatedly question and create meaning from everything they learn. Freire believes that respect should not only come from the students, but should be practiced by the teachers as well. Teachers must be considerate and aware of the demands and pressures that children face, as well as the social conditions that shape them. Without this understanding, there is no access to the way a child thinks, and ultimately how they learn. Freire also believes that every student should be free to talk about anything in the classroom. This encourages an open and welcoming atmosphere, which is key to a comfortable learning environment.

Source: http://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Freire.html

Another one of Freire’s principles is “Theory of Consensus”. This theory often raises questions such as Why do people disagree, how is consensus achieved, and whose opinion takes precedence? Paulo Freire states that disagreement is normal and something to expect. Disagreement can be a motivation for reflection and a source of growth. However, the problem with disagreements is when those opinions and discrepancies are suppressed in the name of control and authority. Freire believes that without conflict or struggle that there is no human existence. Because conflict is a part of our conscience, denying it will prevent us from our essential social experiences.

Source: http://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Freire.html

While researching Freire's accomplishments, I found his determination and compassion to be inspiring. The one event that really stood out was in 1963. During this year Friere taught more that three hundred sugarcane sharecroppers of the village of Angicos to read. His national literacy campaign caused uproar however, among the wealthy residents of Brazil. The program was intended to make five million adults literate within the first year. According to the national law at the time, adults could only vote if they were functionally literate to some degree. Because this law limited the Brazilian Electoral College, the current oligarchy continued to be politically dominant. The large illiterate population worked in favor of the few wealthy and educated individuals. Now landowners were threatened by the possibility that the peasants would organize into leagues, become literate, and dominate the polls. This fear caused Freire to be arrested twice and imprisoned for over two months. Despite these huge setbacks, Freire continued on his educational revival for the underprivileged.

Source: http://dmnierweber.iweb.bsu.edu/teachingguide/Freire%20bio.html