Texas communists and friends studied the life and work of radical educator Paolo Freire together at our November 1, 2009, webinar.
During the radical upsurge of the 1960s and 1970s, Freire became a household word for his proven methods in teaching literacy to needy Brazilians. His book, "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" was an international best seller and was required reading for everyone who was re-examining the way education is usually conducted under capitalism.
For one simple example, teachers have seen their students, since the middle ages, as "blank slates" or "empty vessels" who have to be force-fed the teacher's knowledge. Freire said that no one is blank or empty. Both teachers and students bring something to the educational process, and both need to recognize the other's contribution.
Freire acknowledged his debt to Marxism. He wrote that all education must give the learner the strength to affect his world and make positive changes. Texas communists are now in the process of trying to spread Freire's teachings and, most importantly, to apply his technique to our own efforts in the Little School.
The webinar was left open to the public at
http://vyew.com/room#/923945/Untitled_VyewBook
After a week or so, we will shut it down and re-use the "book" in the webinar service.
--Jim Lane in Dallas