Paulo Freire Is About More Than Literacy

(0:28 – 1:32) Opening Story: Chris tells a version of a story about the invention of writing. You an find Plato’s text here [1].

(1:33 – 2:11) Introductory remarks from Matt & chris

(2:12 – 13:26) Matt & chris talk about Paulo Freire [2] – the Brazilian educational philosopher responsible for revolutionizing the teaching of adult literacy as well as inspiring the contemporary worldwide practise and theory of popular education.

(2:56 – 3:31) chris reads an excerpt from an article he wrote for the current issue of the British adult education journal Adults Learning: [3] “The Freirian adult educator in these neoliberal hegemonic times also has an obligation to travel or, more specifically, border-cross. I remain both surprised and frustrated by the frequency with which Freire continues to be reduced to being a theorist of literacy. Similarly, many people continue to cite Pedagogy of the Oppressed to the exclusion of the vast majority of Freire’s oeuvre which followed. And though Freire is considered, rightly, a philosopher of education, I think that more broadly still, he was a political philosopher who recognized the necessary role of learning in any process of change.”

(3:32 - 13:36) Matt & Chris talk about Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, can literacy be an emancipator; Matt quotes Freire: “Education will never be the great emancipator because it can be.” Chris talks about the Popular Education for Social Change class he teaches. And there’s a bit more talk about Plato.

(13:37 – 14:41) Hera/Hero of the week – a regular feature in which we feature someone who has contributed to making the world a more just place. We defy the origin of the word “hero” which Robin Morgan claims comes from that ancient mythical over-achiever Heracles – or Hera’s champion. In typical sexist fashion, rather than refer to a champion as a “hera” the word was masculinized to “hero” and a diminutive was then fashioned off of the male term giving us “heroine”. So we propose using heras and heroes.

(14:42 – 15:50) Hera of this week is: Sue Neilson of the Toronto Adult Student Association – TASA [4].

(15: 54 – 16:11) Riddle from pervious episode:
I am always hungry
I must always be fed
The finger I lick
Will soon turn red

Answer: fire
(16:29 – 16:38) This week’s riddle:
It has no top or bottom
But it can hold flesh, blood and bone
All at the same time

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