Assignment 1B

Paulo Freire was one of the most influential educators of the twentieth century. Throughout his life Freire had many professions. He was a layer for many years as well as a protégées professor. He later became the first Director of the Department of Cultural Extension of the University of his Home Town Recife Brazil. Following the coup d’ etat, or Brazilian over through of the government, Freire was jailed and then exiled for fifteen years. During these fifteen years Freire’s more renowned work came to be, Including his book “Pedagogy of the oppressed.” During Freire’s exile he moved to Geneva Switzerland where he became the Special Educator Advisor to the world Congress of Churches. Eventually Freire was allowed to return to Brazil where he passed away in 1997 of a heart attack.

Paulo Freire was innovative in his views and opinions of education in Brazil. One of his ideas was that of “praxis,” or challenging that which is being taught. According to Paulo Freire only through dialogue and the praxis of conversation will one really learn. A student with his or hers’ own values will learn better in an interactive environment between the student and teacher. In order to have such an environment mutual respect is needed from both parties, as well as patience. This will also enhance communication skills and deepen one’s learning ability.

Paulo Freire also believed in learning based on ones’ “experience”. According to Freire education based on current issues and relative information is better understood and absorbed by the student. Freire wanted educators and students to look at certain words, which could then be applied to different things or situations in everyday life. This would allow the student to think of their surrounding environment differently as well as change the way they interact in that environment. Learning from experience would help shape the students’ consciousness. Paulo Freire’s ultimate goal was to provide all that wanted to learn with a well rounded education.
Sources:
http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-freir.htm
http://www.education.miami.edu/ep/contemporaryed/Paulo_Freire/paulo_freire.html