Response to Rodriguez

Dear Mr. Rodriguez,

I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you to have your parents understand your love and passion for education. I have a few words to share with you about how i feel about your situation. Your hard work and efforts have inspired me to never give up on my hopes and dreams. Your experiences have also showed me that having perseverance will allow one to overcome the odds of stereotypes, and that we can do anything we set our minds to. The message that your essay leaves me with will hopefully make my college education experience more meaningful. In my life I have face a similar situation, yet I learned ways to cope with it. I went to a Jewish Day School where in which i took Hebrew language courses. As a child I would always go to my father for help. My mother knew no hebrew, while my dads knowledge of the language was very elementary. As I got older my father could no longer help me with my work. As a result he thought it was important to be able to help me, so he began to take Hebrew language courses, and for that I appreciated him to no end. Your background puts many things in perspective about many aspects of life not just education. I also think that you need to give your parents a little more credit then you offer. They came to America to have a better life for themselves and their family. Im sure they have offered you many things here in America that they couldn't have anywhere else. You owe your education to your parents. They enrolled you into a private parochial school where you probably got a very good education in comparison to other schools in Mexico, and even in the nation. Without them getting you "started" I really do not think you would be here today. Their dedication to you and your brother and sister is tremendous. You should be greatful and appreciative for all that they have done for you. Never feel ashamed of your struggle because its that struggle that brought you where you are today.

Pedagogy of the Oppressed- Quote Response

~The truth is, however, that the oppressed are not "marginals", are not the people living "outside" society. They have always been "inside"-inside the structure which made them "being for others. The solution is not to "integrate" them into the structure of oppression, but to transform that structure so that they can become "beings for themselves".~

The above quote is from the "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" which I would like to further discuss. In this quote I believe that what Freire is addressing is that these "marginals" are such extremely close minded people. Because of this they are confined to thier own "inside" world. They do not take criticism or advice from others, and they teach, or promote their (maybe) skewed or radical ideas to the "outside" society. Hence, this outside society has no chance or ability to think for themselves because of these imposing ideas. The banking method attempts to intensify more mundane topics that students and educators alike may not enjoy.

In the problem-posing method of education students are able to formulate their own opinions based on their knowledge of other worldly topics, and information that they have previously learned. In the banking style of education, the imposed ideas may "brain wash" individuals, and "integrate" them into this "inside", close minded society. The problem posing realm of education prevents this from happening. As students learn new things they are able to think for themselves, as a result becoming "beings for themselves". They are open minded, have a new outlook on life and education, and are ready and eager to tackle more thought provoking topics of education. They are no longer "beings for others" meaning that they have conquered and overcome banking method techniques, ultimately allowing them to lead more informed, educated, and worldlier lives.