Pedro Sosa

Sociology 321 Mon. 5:30-8:15

Essay #1
02/03/2104
Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Chapter 2
Paulo Freire argues that the banking system resembles an oppressive society. Paulo Freire
explains his argument in multiple ways. First, he describes how the teachers teach and the
students are taught. Second, he describes the teachers as all knowing, and the students as an
empty canvas. Third, the teachers are the thinkers, while the students are taught on how the
teacher thought. Fourth, the instructor does all the talking meanwhile students are quiet and
listening. Fifth, the teacher chooses and implements his choice, while the students just obey the
command. Finally, the teacher chooses the program content, and the students adapt to it. The
banking system is a form of dictatorship, thus proving to be similar to an oppressed society.
Paulo Freire statements have validity to them. Going through the educational system, it
has been a constant reminder of who is in charge and who has no say. Its a power struggle and
when the teacher is challenged, it is seen as being defiant or challenging the authority. Students
form a young age are taught to sit and listen while the teacher gives us information that is
needed. Never is the students asked what he or she would like to learn about. They are given
material that was pre-determined by someone with no knowledge of who the recipient is. For
much of K-12, teachers are the ones who pose the question, thus being the thinkers, while
students are there only to answer and not create their own questions.
The banking system is used to oppress the students and it is used in more than education.
The solution to it would be Paulo Freires problem-posing education, but the problem to that is
no one wants to impose that kind of education. The reason for that is it allows people to think for
themselves and question those in power, and those in power just wont have it.