In “The Banking Concept of Education,” Paulo Freire proposes a disconnect between “motionless, static, compartmentalized, and predictable” narrations of reality, and the more erratic, dynamic living reality, as humans experience and engage with it (1). Freire goes forth to argue that this mass delusion is being weaponized by overseeing “oppressors,” purposefully woven into structures of education. By its nature, this bank-esque concept of education rejects a humanistic dialogue between teachers and students, and normalizes a careless acceptance of streamlined ideas.
As a whole, Freire’s perspective is one that continues to exist within the baseboards of education — and likely always will. Ultimately, as a means of passive indoctrination, a handle on education continues to be the simplest route toward (an unfortunate) success — thus, it remains a potential or active strategy by those wishing to groom or indoctrinate. While I feel that Freire inches toward patronizing in how he represents teachers and students (as deeply unaware and obtuse to their own use as social tools), his fundamental ideas are, without a doubt, grounded firmly in an ever-prevailing cultural reality.
I do think Freire’s perspective is one that still exists, and it always will because it seems like every year our culture becomes more and more power hungry. By noticing that we live in a power-hungry society, the first thing I go to look at is what the president is like and then I look at how the education system is and the claims made about being oppressed make a lot of sense. The thought of living in a “mass delusion” makes you question everything, doesn’t it?!