The Road to Success

As I sat in corner of Mrs. Ross class, in the fourth grade I felt lost in the way she was teaching. All the students in the class were seating in circles discussing the article that was assigned for homework. I was that outsider that didn’t speak any English that just listened without understanding. In my culture many of the students never asked questions. One had to wait until the teacher finished the lecture. In America many of the students interact with one another while the teacher is talking. Many of the test and quizzes that are given require not only memorization, but the ability to think critically. More and more, after coming to the United States I realized the importance of having different ways of teaching and learning. Through my personal experience I can conclude that both Elbow concept and Freire concept of teaching are inter-connected and should be used in teaching.
First of all, at early age we are taught what Freire describes as the “Banking” method which is an essential skill for our future. The banking concept is when “education . . . becomes an act of depositing, in which students are depositories and the teacher is the depositor.” (freire) In other words, this concept the teacher has the authority to teach, but the students have no sayings in the teaching process. For example, when I was a kid I was trained to memorize the alphabet and numbers and the multiplication table. At that time I didn’t know why it was important but now I see how important it’s to use that skill to read and do math. Furthermore, the banking method is significant in learning a language or the fundamentals of a subject. For example, when I was in Ethiopia I did not learn the English grammar, which is a major tool for surviving in this competitive world. English grammar is something people pick up in the earlier English courses. However, I as many other foreigners struggle with identifying the parts of speech, and knowing when to use what. If I was taught this earlier on it would have been an easy transition to the English language.
On the other hand, many people argue that the banking method should not be used in teaching. People say that it’s a way to “babysit” the students. However, I see it as a way to start building their educational careers. For example, many argue that this concept, “of education, in which the scope of action allowed to the students extends only as far as receiving, filing, and storing the deposits”.(freire) I agree to some extent it is depositing information but it is crucial information that is necessary to understand the world we live in. If we all do not a common way of communicating with each other then problems occur. I am not saying this is the only method that should be used but its key maintaining certain institutions running. For example, the banking method is used in hospitals where doctors are taught to memorize doses. People that deal with computers is asked to memorize codes. Also, lawyers are asked to memorize precedent cases in which they could use to strengthen their arguments. Overall, the banking method of teaching is practiced today to help people analyze and generate their own ideas.
In society the ability to think critically is a necessity to produce new ways of communication, transportation, and modernization. Freire explain “the problem-posing” method as a way “people develop their power to perceive critically the way they exist in the world with which and in which they find themselves; they come to see the world not as static reality, but as a reality in process, in transformation.” In this method of teaching students are able to ask questions and disagree with what they do not believe is true. For example, my AP English Composition teacher, Mr. Daniel Gordon was one of the teachers that exercised this method of teaching. He was a teacher that was an ally to his students, but at the same time an educator. For instance, to prepare us for the AP exam we had to read and write academic papers. To engage the students he picked topic related to our lives. Also, he reminded us daily that if we pass this exam it’s great but if we do not pass it does not mean we failed. In his class nobody fails because they would leave the class knowing more than they have before. So he achieved the goal of “the process [which is] critical thinking, problem-posing, looking for contradictions, and achieving greater awareness of one’s own awareness and thinking” (88). He challenged the students to pay attention to the media and question their credentials. By raising that type of awareness the students will be able to analyze different institutions before agreeing with their opinions. All in all, the ability to see one situation in a different lens will innovate the way people see certain things.
However, many see this method of teaching as bamboozling the students. Many have argued teachers cannot be student’s allies because they give grades. Personally even though they give grades they are challenging us to reach our best. They have rules they have to obey to teach and one of them is grades. This is their challenge to have the students make a change in the way they see things. We all know that out education is not liberated; everything we are taught is censored to a certain extent. However, this method of learning helps students work with one another to create and solve the issues. In addition, it gives students another way of thinking and challenging social issues. Some may see it as teachers tricking their students, or playing the devil’s advocate but it’s to test the student on how far they are willing to go.
In conclusion, both the banking method and the problem- posing method need to be assimilated into the teaching process for an individual to go far. By having both sets of tools one will be able to face the obstacles he or she may face in our society. For example, one can humanize our society through training people to think critically, and memorize one method to help solve the other. Even though I may not have all the critical thinking skills, I have the memorization method to help me make connection to solve some problems I may face. Next time you come across something think ‘is this the only to do it?” In many cases it’s not, so use the skill you learned and apply it to something else.