"The Banking Concept of Education" by Paulo Freire

Paulo Freire is a native Brazilian who spent most of his earlier life teaching in poor areas of Brazil. His fundamentals of education was teaching his students "to think critically and, thereby, to take power over their own lives. Because he has created a classroom where teachers and students have equal power and equal dignity" (255). Freire wrote an essay entitled The "Banking" Concept of Education where he criticizes education stating that "narration (with the teacher …

…student and not the teacher. There are just too many deciding variables involved with analytical thinking to create a set standard of problem solving to teach to every pupil. Regurgitation, repetition, and reiteration is the most effective way to learn a subject. Furthermore, it is not education's job is not to teach us how to be a philosopher but to be a well educated, successful individual which is achieved by learning those "banking concept" subjects.