Learning Essentials ard
Freire used the term 'banking concept' to help describe the way a classroom operates (Freire, 1972).
This is where teachers have all the knowledge, the students have none and the purpose of education
is for the teacher to deposit knowledge to the students who just accept and memorize what they are
told. This concept of education is very one sided, where the passive student has to listen to the
teacher, follow instructions and learn what they are taught without being able to question or
challenge it. Select
students may be taught how to write or do math in a
certain way but they are never told why that is important or what the purpose of learning it is (Freire,
teachers may perpetuate certain political ideologies through
their teaching but students will not be taught the reason for the ideas or to be critical about the
[ Select]
they learn so they will just absorb what they are taught. This
1972). Select
education does not go deep enough and students are passive rather than active agents. Freire
argues that this education is oppressive. Through the banking method, the oppressors can
perpetuate information that will allow [Select)
to stay powerful and the
oppressed to remain oppressed and unaware of this situation. This relates to the idea that education
is a political act [Select]
the powerful in society can enforce certain ideas
through the education system. For example, if a government wanted to push a certain agenda and
hide certain areas, the 'banking concept of education which produces passive citizens would suit the
governments agenda as they would not want to have engaging, critical society that questions and
stands up against them. (Select]
not encouraging students to actively
engage with the learning material is a political act and oppresses students,