Education in the Eyes of a Student

    Throughout highschool, I was never the biggest fan of school or how teachers taught. I have had multiple “well-intentioned bank clerk teachers”, which showed me what most teachers do best. They read through a slideshow and spew information at the students expecting them to grasp details and learn how to memorize so you can get a good number on an exam. On the contrary, Freire’s idea of teaching is what I think every kid wants. A teacher who wants the students to understand concepts and explain why things are the way they are instead of just the facts you need to know for the test. Freire made me realize what type of education I have been digesting my whole life and the differences teachers can have on students. The contrast between my favorite teacher who was my senior year English teacher, and my least favorite teacher in which there are too many to count is massive. My senior year English teacher talked in depth about the books and their meaning instead of telling us to read pages and not let us come to our own conclusions. Instead, he walked us through our thought process and made us think deeper. He really made us feel like there were no bad answers. Freire states, “The teacher confuses the authority of knowledge, with his or her own professional authority, which she and he sets in opposition to the freedom of the students.”(2). Teachers have an opportunity to do amazing things for students. Although in reality and how Freire explains, most teachers become selfish and teach how they want to teach. This may be more lazy and less interactive because they have authority over students and the students have no say. This is completely unfair to students and hinders their ability to develop as a human being and as a student. If every teacher taught the way Freire did and preaches, not only would students be smarter and learn more, but also happier to be in school.