I definitely get what Freire is attempting to get at in terms of education, its structure, and the group momentum. I do agree to some degree that the education system, at least in early grades and high school. It was a very concrete, “set in stone” (pun intended) way of thinking, learning, and accepting and regurgitating information onto a sheet of paper for a grade. Going against the masses means fighting words, and I definitely can see a power dynamic in the attitude that the students are not equal to their educators. However, I do think in higher education this power structure isn’t as severe, and it’s definitely improved to a pretty good degree for the majority. If anything, in college you’re encouraged to voice your thoughts and opinions, not the opposite.
Freire, Oppression, and the Revoking of Humanity
Square
I’m glad that you brought up the distinction between higher education and early grades/high school, in terms of Freire’s analysis! It’s an important contrast to recognize, when addressing Freire’s ideas. I’d totally forgotten to mention that, in my own post. The idea of streamlined education does seem to apply far less to higher education. (Likely because early grades are stuck with a much more rigid, standardized curriculum to follow, I suppose.) This sort of system does underlie grade school to a much more universal degree. Freire’s ideas are still a bit of a generalization of education and social roles (possibly more than just “a bit,” at times), but there is a contrast in prevalence, in terms of education level, or possibly age.