Freire describes the concept of a teacher and student as the “banking concept of education as an instrument for oppression”. In the banking model, Freire describes this concept as the teacher being the oppressor whereas the students are empty brains retaining all the information that the teacher teaches. Freire obviously disagrees with the model and even poses solutions to the model such as the problem posing concept where there would be enhanced dialogue between the student and teacher. Students would work together with their teacher to come up with a solution which encourages students to think freely and independently.

The banking model clearly empowers the teachers and disempowers the students. According to the banking model, students are oppressed and stripped of their right to free thinking. This eliminates any creativity that students may have. Freire also describes the banking model as dehumanizing society. The education system is oppressing students and until things change, our education will continue the use of the banking model.

Like many people under our contemporary education system, I have been exposed and still continue to be exposed to Freire’s “banking model” of education. Students are taught at a young age to sit down in rows and pay attention to your teacher. Working as a teacher myself as well as being a student, I’ve experienced the oppressor and the oppressed. We are given curriculums and common cores by the department of education and are required to prepare students for upcoming standardized tests. As much negatives that Freire expresses about the banking model, I can reflect positively on behalf of my experience. Through daily tutoring, students progress in many different subjects such as math, reading and science. Throughout the year, the constant progression through these young children creates a sense of happiness and joy as you are endlessly thanked by students’ parents. Although many people may argue that this is a prime example of the banking model, these students were at the elementary level where some were still learning to communicate. I feel like students should be encouraged to start independently thinking at around the junior high school level and applying solutions that Freire discussed of dialogue and solving problems with teachers as a partner. That way students are encouraged to be creative and innovative. Albert Einstein once said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Paulo Freire was born September, 19, 1921. Freire was raised in Northeast Brazil and is best known for his work “Pedagogy and Oppressed.” Most of his work is stemmed from experiences of his childhood. Since Freire lived among the poor he understood how class consciousness and knowledge played a role simultaneously.  Freire became a grammar school teacher in high school and continued to get multiple degrees in his lifetime. In 1946 Paulo Freire became the Director of the Department of Education and Social Services.

In the text Paulo Freire introduces the topic Banking Model. Banking Model is the form of teaching where teachers have minimal communication with students when teaching a lesson.  Instead of communicating, teachers would often lecture and “deposit” information into the student’s head. This would happen through memorizing, repeating, and reciting.  Freire explained that this method of teaching is flawed because students are not taught how to process information which, leads them to not fully understand what they are learning. This empowers the teacher and disempowers the student.  Each student learns in a different and unique way which The Banking Model eradicates. Students who are not able to process what the teacher taught using The Banking Model were often lost and left behind in the education system because of the authority the teacher held over the student.

As a student who is  a visual learner being taught using The Banking Model would be a big NO NO!!!!!! There are often times where teachers and professors have this authority over us that we cannot really control the way that they are teaching. Professors and teachers who do not acknowledge that there are different types of way to teach rather then lecturing just make it super hard on students to engage in class. Being lectured at is not fun and usually puts me to sleep and I am pretty sure other college students would agree with me. Professors should think how can I teach in a way that students would learn and understand the information being taught. Anyone can sit there and lecture at students but how many professors/ teachers can actually say that they have made their classes engaging and actually HAVE TAUGHT?!?!

Paulo Freire is against the education system which he classifies as the “banking concept of education.” He supports the idea that education should be a more collaboratively where students and teachers work together, instead of the teacher giving lectures and students just recording it. This is more like the teachers just filling up students’ mind with any pieces of information and students have to accept it without questioning it, which is not good for students’ growth. This empowers the teachers, give them authority, and disempower students as it limits them from challenging themselves, asking questions, and think creatively. In my first year of college, I had a professor who would give lectures by reading the textbooks. If you had any questions, he would tell you to read the textbook, it will answer all your questions. Therefore, as a student, it was very difficult to learn because textbooks don’t always provide the explanations you need. Connecting back to Friere’s theory, since there was no collaboration and interactions between the professor and students, it was hard for me to learn anything in this class. I had to use outside sources such as youtube videos and google to learn things, and it felt like an online class. I do agree with Friere’s point, it is important to have interaction between the educator and students in order for students to grow, learn, and think critically.

Palo Fiere was born in Brazil in 1921.  As a child he lived a life of poverty. however he managed to get into school and get multiple degrees. He ended up teaching Portuguese and studied law as well.  In 1946 he was the director of the department of education and social services. Education and the way it was implemented was very important to Fiere.

The banking Model to Fiere was a form of teaching in education. In this form the teacher/ professor stands at the front of the room and is the only one allowed to speak,  while all the students silently listen to what the professor has to say. The professor has all the power in this scenario because it is implied that the teacher has all the ” wisdom” while the students have nothing of value to contribute too the class. Fiere believed strongly in the banking model because of of his work in education led him to believe strongly in the ” traditional” model of education. The banking model puts students involved in it at a huge disadvantage. Some people don’t learn my being a sponge and just soaking up what someone else has to say. Some learning needs to be interactive. Furthermore the professor may not know everything in the world and at times may need to be corrected as well.

I have A lot of experience with the banking model, as most of my education has been attained through this model. every since first grade all the way to being a senior in high school, a teacher would tell us all we should know to pass a class or a test. I am relatively well acquainted  with the model from young. so learning in the banking model wasn’t a challenge. I do appreciate my teachers giving me the knowledge they had to share with me. However, there were some circumstances in which  I know that an interactive classroom would’ve helped me learn better. unfortunately that opportunity was rarely available.

The banking model to Freire is about the education system. It showcases how students are taught to sit down and listen to the teacher while the teacher does all the talking. Then students are empty vessels and waiting for knowledge to be poured into them. The teacher is the one with all the knowledge. This type of system empowers the teachers and certain students who learn like that while disempowering a bunch of other students who don’t learn in environments like that. I have personal experience with this model because I grew up in the American school system and a lot of teachers like to run their classes in this format. Some teachers like the class to discuss topics together while other teachers just want to talk at students rather than talk to or with them. I have talked to my classmates and when they aren’t really engaged in the class and they’re just trying to take notes they are not actually retaining the information they should be retaining. The banking model is flawed in that aspect.

Friere proposed the banking model to address the current flawed educational system, where teachers “deposit” information to the students. According to Friere, the system harms children by hindering their intellectual growth and  liberating their unique ideas and concepts. In this teaching system, teachers act as depositors and students as receptors, making the humans into mechanical objects. This prevents both the depositors’ and receptors’ autonomy and in the long run the ability to think critically, rationalize and conceptualize information at a personal level. This type of teaching method empowers the teachers, as they control the passive learning experience at the expense of the the students and the teachers. The teaching method leads to a demise of the teachers’ and students’ true consciousness. It asserts and promotes a system of oppression and control.

My learning experiences have been through this banking model system from the time I can remember. However, there are gradual changes in this system, and I can see teachers who want to promote open discussions and allow students to dictate a portion of the learning process. That being said, there needs to be more changes in our educational system.  I had a class where the teacher came in and started lecturing. There was no space to ask questions or to have discussion about the topic. Though it was a hard class, it was even more dreadful because I was not able to conceptualize the information provided. The positive to this was that I had to develop my own scheme to learn the information on my own. It helped me to be independent and better understand my learning style since I was not getting the support I needed from my teacher.