Prompt for Critical Reflection 3: Education for Social Change

Readings:
Selections from Paulo Freire: Pedagogy of the Oppressed Preface and Ch. 1
Selections from We Make the Road by Walking “Editor’s Introduction” (p. xv-xxxiii) and “Without Practice there is no Knowledge” (p. 97–109)

Prompts:

What does Paulo Freire seem to mean by “humanization” and “dehumanization”? What is “critical consciousness”? How could oppressed people be liberated by having critical consciousness? Using some quotes from Pedagogy of the Oppressed, explain how this mental liberation works to reverse the effects of colonization on people.

In the conversation between Horton and Friere, what do they mean by “practice” and “knowledge”? What does Horton consider as authentic knowledge? In your community engagement this semester, what might be ways for you to “practice” to accumulate this type of authentic knowledge?

Please submit a draft to our Medium publication with quotes and thoughts by morning of Tuesday, Sept. 17. A revised submission is due on Thursday, Sept 19, 11:59pm. Length of the revised submission should be about 500–750 words.