There have always been numerous theories in relationship to the inadequacy of our education system here in the United States, as well as elsewhere in the world. The education of our children does not seem to be working and ahs also become a very complex and confusing subject, as many immigrants move into the country requiring special language instruction, unnecessary classes such as art and music are removed, adequate funding for materials is harder to obtain, and children live in fear of violence within their classrooms. These are the main concerns of the educational system today, but these may well not be the real problems within the schools. It may be that education has never allowed children to think for themselves, and the problems we are experiencing today are hard felt due to the fact that correct education was not implemented long ago. The subject of inadequate education is the subject of Paulo Freire's essay "The 'Banking' Concept of Education." While he does not address the specific realities previously mentioned, the finger he points at the method of educating clearly indicates that this may well be a reality in our country, as well as others.

h. the teacher chooses the program content, and the students (who were not consulted) adapt to it;

d. the teacher talks and the students listen-meekly;

g. the teacher acts and the students have the illusion of acting through the action of the teacher;

tails a most fascinating concept of education called "banking." He illustrates how the teachers come tot he education system, intent on filling the childrens' heads with all the information they assume the children don't know. It is like there is spare room in the child's brain and it must be filled, like money fills up the bank. Freire states that "Education thus becomes an act of depositing, in which the students are the depositories and the teacher is the depositor. Instead of communicating, the teacher issues communiques and makes deposits which the student patiently receive, memorize, and repeat" (208). In further examination of his theory he presents the following attitudes which clearly detail the various aspects of education covered in his essay:

From everything that was evident in the essay, it can easily be stated that Freire is very accurate in his theories and ideas. Children are not taught to be individuals and they are not taught to think for themselves. They are taught, for the most part, to be receptacles for the information the teacher wishes to deposit. They are not asked what they want. They are not asked what they are curious about or how they think. They are merely objects to train in a manner that makes them good citizens and depositors themselves.

Hong Kong offers a prime example of such banking education practices today. While the past educational system of Hong Kong may well have been different, today there is a very heavy communist influence which has greatly effected the education system. Even suc

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Approximate Word count = 1209
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)