Formal Education: Who Cast the First Role?

Paulo Freire believed in his theory, known as “The “Banking” Concept of Education. His theory is written to show how students and teachers behave in a formal educational system. Freire feels students and teachers are cast into different roles that are followed throughout students’ education. The roles vary throughout the article; the teacher is cast as a narrator, a lender and owner of knowledge, all knowing and powerful, and an oppressor. Students are also placed in different roles; they are portrayed as passive, uncaring, uncurious, oppressed “containers” without the ability to think on their own and form their own opinions. Many people would blame society because students and teachers are cast into these roles, which may be seen as unfair. People can blame society as much as they would like; however, when push comes to shove anyone who isn’t working toward changing the system is a part of the problem of the system. People play an important part in casting teachers and ...