Pedagogy of Indignation is a posthumously published series of letters written by Paulo Freire, a man who many consider as one of the most significant educational theorist of the twentieth century. In this series of letters, Freire addresses the issues of the politicalization of education, his ardent dissatisfaction with neo-liberalism (free markets and globalization), the responsibilities that parents have to their children, the often times undulating pendulum of authority vs. freedom, the need to protect and serve the environment in the same way that human life needs to be protected and served, the necessity of struggle to human existence, the importance of narrowing the gap between what one says and what one does, and the power of a firm will to overcome physical, emotional, environmental, and social statuses.
Like many philosophical texts, Pedagogy of Indignation is dense and at times difficult to understand, and takes multiple reads of the same text in order to fully gain comprehension of Freire’s philosophies. Unlike many philosophical texts, Freire’s life stories provide clarity into his philosophical messages. Freire’s recollections of witnessing a boy threaten to strangle a baby chicken unless his parents do as he tells them to do and using his strength of will to overcome his cigarette addiction contextualizes the philosophies of freedom vs. authority and of using a firm will to overcome the issues that cause a person discontent.
Freire’s educational philosophy is often times heavily laden with strong political tones of discontent with those who are in power in both spheres of the Americas and other parts of the world, and in order to fully appreciate his perspective on education and the system of it, the two themes must sometimes be separated and taken as individual entities.
As a political commentator, one from a different perspective might find Freire extreme, or too radical to take with a serious gleam, however his overall theme on education, reading the word and the world, raising a child with an equitable balance between strength and compassion, and rising above one’s current status to achieve something once thought impossible are themes that can be seen as universal.
Freire’s political ideals are somewhat in line with most liberal thinkers. "Settling for the status quo is the ultimate expression of quitting the struggle for change” (pg. 16 Pof I). If something isn’t working, it needs to be changed to something that will work. Complacency in the face of wrong is acceptance of the wrong. Freire also feels strongly about narrowing the gap between what one says and what one does. Freire’s ideas on the free market and neo-liberalism don’t necessarily align with American capitalism, however in the light of America's current economic meltdown, some business practices need more regulating.
Freire would not like the CA Content Standards or the idea that teaching can be done in a prescription for all type of manner. “Radical and liberating critical pedagogy must defend an educational practice where the rigorous teaching of content is never done in a cold, mechanical, or untruthfully neutral manner” (pg 19 P of I).
The standardization of education can be positive, however the standards cannot be seen as rigid and never bending, the standards should be flexible, and open to the interpretation of the applier of those standards. The standards should be read as a set of guidelines, that are useful, yet aren’t the end all be all in what can be presented within a teacher’s four walls of influence. Testimony and interjections of opinion and experience can be just as valuable as the set of standards. The standards don’t know the students, the teacher knows the students.
Overall, Pedagogy if Indignation is a good read, though difficult at times to understand, and a good remedy for restlessness before bed, Freire’s testimonies, anecdotes, and philosophies are inspiring and thought provoking.
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