class 3 critical pedagogy, systemic inequality

TRIGGER WARNING RE. READING #8 (VIDEO) ON SCHOOL-T0-PRISON PIPELINE:  BETWEEN .50-1.10 CONTAINS IMAGES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ACCOSTED BY SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS. 

IF THIS WILL DISTURB YOU — how can it not — LISTEN TO THE AUDIO WITHOUT WATCHING THE VIDEO, SKIP THAT SECTION, OR DON’T WATCH THE VIDEO AT ALL.

Some basic principles of critical pedagogy 

  • horizontal, reciprocal rather than top-down, hierarchical “banking” method
  • collaborative rather than competitive
  • problem-posing and dialogic
  • everybody brings knowledge; educator acts as a coordinator to bring this out 
  • seeks to develop critical consciousness of one’s relationship to power structures
  • uncovers the “hidden curriculum” of dominant educational institutions
  • empowers the voices of everyday people to challenge the “culture(s) of silence”  
  • whole body:  mind/spirit/heart/feelings; this includes “social-emotional”
  • oriented towards praxis, social change

Paolo Freire, Brazilian 1921-1997

Readings — for reading #6, enroll in the New York Times, free to UMass students.

  1. Freire, P. (2000). Pedagogy of the oppressed (M.B. Ramos, Trans.) (30th anniversary edition). New York: Continuum Books. Ch. 2, read first 11 paragraphs up to [Footnote #1: Simone de Beauvoir…
  2. Paulo Freire and the Development of Critical Pedagogy   4.56

  1. Four Steps to Liberation: Paulo Freire and Pedagogy of the Oppressed  4.40

4.  Denis Goulet (1973).  Introduction, Education for Critical Consciousness.  New York:  Continuum. pp. ix-x, three paragraphs.

From different angles, the following reports view schooling as an institution that maintains systemic race/class inequality.  How do these perspectives connect to the critique offered by critical pedagogy?

5.  David Love.  How Standardized Testing Maintains Achievement Gap, Perpetuates Black Self-Doubt and Self-Hatred.  Atlanta Back Star.  November 8, 2016

6.  Andrea Guthmann.  Tutors, private test prep coaches, homework therapists.  Rich kids have all the academic advantages money can buy.  But at what cost?  Chicago Tribune, April 5, 2019.

7.  Lora Kelly.  “Without Fixing Inequality, the Schools Are Always Going to Struggle.”  New York Times, May 14, 2020. 

TRIGGER WARNING:  BETWEEN .50-1.10 CONTAINS IMAGES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ACCOSTED BY SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS.  IF THIS MIGHT DISTURB YOU, LISTEN TO THE AUDIO WITHOUT WATCHING THE VIDEO, OR DON’T WATCH THE VIDEO AT ALL.

8.  Vox. The school-to-prison pipeline, explained. Jan 11, 2016 [3.15]

Reading questions – WRITTEN RESPONSES REQUIRED — 1-2 pages.  Post to rolling Google doc with date, assignment title; send link.   Single-spaced & typed in Times New Roman or Arial (size 12 font), 1-inch margins.  Insert horizontal line between assignments.  Remember to proofread.

  1.   From first 4 reads/videos, 
  • In a few sentences, summarize your understandings of critical pedagogy, including some key concepts.  
  • What are your thoughts?  In what ways, if any, does this critique resonate with your experience.  This might include specific examples.  
  1. Readings 5-8 critique schooling as an institution that maintains structural race/class inequality.  
  • What are your responses?  This might include discussion of specific experiences, e.g high-stakes testing, segregated schools.
  • How do these reports from news outlets connect to the critical pedagogy critique?
  • In what ways, if any, have issues of systemic inequality in education impacted you directly?