Author: Michelle Strutzenberger
Equity and access in online education, oppression – and trust Could the barriers to equity and access in online education be considered a manifestation of oppression, and, if so, how might Paulo Freire’s pedagogy of the oppressed offer a way forward? According to Freire, “an act is oppressive only when it prevents people from being more fully human” (p. 57). Do the blocks to equity and access in online education prevent people from becoming more fully human? While this blog cannot support a full response to this question, let’s say that the answer is yes. Let’s propose that equitable access to online education is in fact a fundamental element of freedom in today’s context. (Anecdotally, my experiences with students who have disabilities who have had to find a way to join online learning communities in order to continue their education during this pandemic could offer support for this perspective). So then how do we move towards liberation for all? Freire argues that the liberation of the oppressed must be led by the oppressed, but that certain members in the oppressor class may join the oppressed in their struggle and in fact play a fundamental role – so long as those making the shift constantly guard against damaging “false generosity” (p. 60). “A real humanist can be identified more by his trust in the people, which engages him in their struggle, than by a thousand actions in their favour without that trust” (Freire, p. 60). Regardless of how we identify ourselves, this quote by Freire offers a powerful way forward to fuller humanity for all: Do we trust the oppressed fully, completely, “to think, to want, and to know” (Freire, p. 60)? In the context of equity and access in online education, do we trust those facing barriers to lead the way to a fuller humanity for all of us? What might that trust look like? How do we begin today to live out that trust? And what could be possible as a result that isn’t possible now? References Freire, P., & Ramos, M. B. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York: Seabury Press.
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USWe are a collective Group of Educators in many different fields, all completing (or have completed) a Masters of Education at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. we all have an interest in teaching and learning with equity in mind. Archives
December 2020
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