critical pedagogy

some 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 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 “culture(s) of silence”  
  • whole body:  mind/spirit/heart/feelings; this includes “social-emotional”
  • oriented towards praxis, social change

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

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

4.  Maryellen Weimer.  Critical Pedagogy Brings New Teaching and Learning Challenges.  Teaching and Learning.  December 8, 2009.


praxis cycle