Pave the road you walk

Freire describes practice, theory, and knowledge as if they were all connectected. He states, “without theory there is no knowledge” (98). Without practicing what you know, you gain no real knowledge. You have to go beyond the thinking and actually put things into practice. This pertains to our Service Learning because if you want to make a change, you have to put it into action. Without that action, you are stuck with an idea that will just sit there. We have to be able to understand the people and what they want in order to make a change, because without that understanding it’s just a theory. At Venetia Valley, the teachers take time to build a relationship with their students and get to know who they are as a person so that they can help them grow.

Horton believes that neutrality is an immoral act. He states, “there can be no such thing as neutrality” (102). He believes that neutrality pushes us to think that it is just an excuse. He states, “Neutrality is just what the system wants us to be” (102). He wants us to take sides, especially when it comes to education. By taking sides, we are able to analyze different situations, question people’s actions, and make a decision. Freire pushes students to also make this choice. Making this choice pushes us to be different rather than what society wants us to be.

I think it’s important to make your choice and stand by it. By picking a side, you are able to make a difference by working towards what you believe is right or just. I think working at Venetia Valley has showed me that by picking a side you are able to make a difference. This school pushes students to be successful while other either stand by and do nothing or believe that they are nothing.