Our educational system is in turmoil. Many would argue that it has been assaulted and oversimplified by the right. There is growing concern that we are becoming a liberal nation-state with an increasingly anti-liberal population and an electorate that is disinterested in politics. In this globalized world, the power of capital is so great that opposition to it is often discouraged and disheartened, leaving many citizens few political precepts by which to consider th… More >>
#1 by Frances L. Gonzalez on July 2, 2010 - 6:48 pm
Faced with the constant challenges in the education sector that can often times place restrictions on the value of education itself, this book lends itself to anyone in the sector who is willing to embrace the importance of critical pedagogy.
Stated as a “powerful weapon”, the concept and theory behind critical pedagogy allowed me, as an educator, to take precautions and evaluate our curriculum as to whether the suggested foundation currently implemented is relevant to the needs of MY students.
In agreement with the authors, I feel that it is important for those in the education system to be well educated in means of theories and practices reliant on research and action research to develop new theoretical models that would in turn promote critical thinking and discovery not only for those in the field, but for those willing to listen.
From critical literacy to politics, and from social education to media, this book touches on multiple aspects and paves the way for understanding and deconstructing the presence of paradigm shifts in the field of education.
Including the works of renowned theorists and authors, I found this book not only liberating, but a necessity and a masterful tool that can be shared with various audiences.
I would highly recommend this book.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Noemi Aguilar on July 2, 2010 - 9:29 pm
Being an educator, I found this book to be very useful in my field. It help me realize that I need to develop my lessons to be more student oriented and encourage critical thinking. I especially liked chapter 10 “Critical Pedagogy and Young Children’s Worlds. The student teacher in this chapter opened the minds of young children by inviting them to participate in the lesson, which created a whole world of critical thinkers. Just with the encouragement of the student teacher, the children talked about what is real, what is pretend, television and video games. In reading this book, I discovered that as an educator, I can make a difference in educating students and helping them become critical thinkers. Critical Pedagogy: Where Are We Now? (Counterpoints: Studies in the Postmodern Theory of Education)
Rating: 5 / 5