Challenging Freire's Theory

 As someone in the education system, I find some of Freire’s logic true. However, I believe he is flawed in his pessimism. Yes, it is the teacher's job to ensure students are taught basic information, and it is the student’s job to learn this information. However, there is essential information everyone should know, such as basic history, math, science, and writing. Exposure to different aspects of education allows students to choose what best suits their interests later in life and serves as a foundation for deeper thinking. At the beginning of his argument, Freire says, “projecting an absolute ignorance onto others, a characteristic of the ideology of oppression, negates education and knowledge as a process of inquiry” (88). I disagree with two main points of this statement; first, I think it is too harsh to refer to a teacher as an oppressor. Though Freire may not like certain teaching styles, an education is a powerful opportunity, not an act of cruelty.  In most areas, the teachers do not make the curriculum, and it should be based on widely-accepted facts without personal opinions. Therefore, it should not be filled with ignorance. Secondly, a banking education does not take away all of the inherent creativity in education. Everyone, especially young kids, is creative in their thinking. Though the information is presented in a particular format, I don’t think school can take away all creativity. The most basic example I can think of for banking education is learning letters. Children can learn to read and write by learning letters, creating many more opportunities to learn new information, believe in new ways, and express themselves.