Paulo Freire vs. Montessori

Paulo Freire, has the "Banking Concept of Education". This concept of education emphasizes narration and memorization. The teacher is the narrator, who speaks to the students. The students are the memorizers, who need to retain and repeat the information given. Therefore, the students become "containers" that are "to be filled by the teacher" (Freire 1). In terms of banking, the students are "depositories" and teachers are the "depositors". The teacher "makes deposits" which the student receives, memorizes, and repeats (Freire 1).

The job of the student is nothing more than to receive and fill their depository. The students lack creativity, and become robotic. They are allowed to learn what is given to them verbally. This concept of education insists that the teacher is superior to the student. The students come in knowing "nothing" and the teacher knows "everything" (Freire 2). The teacher is key to the learning process. Without the teacher, the students would be unable to gain an education. The students will never be required to think critically and consider reality.

Overall, this concept of education views the students as "passive". They learn what is presented and given to them. The educator's role, "is to regulate the way the world 'enters into' the students" (Freire 4). They will continuously present information to try to "fill" their students.

Montessori, has a very unique and different approach to education. Maria Montessori, believes that children have an "inner guide" that makes them naturally eager to learn. The teacher, child and environment create a learning triangle. The room is designed to promote independence, "freedom within limits" and a sense of choice. The child, through individual choice, makes use of environment to develop him or herself, with the teacher there as a guide.

The Montessori philosophy also promotes multi-age grouping. This approach allows older students to teach and guide younger students. In addition, the room is designed so that students can move from subject area to subject area. They are not constrained to a desk and they can take as much time as they want with a particular material.

Overall, in the Montessori philosophy, the child works at their own optimum level. The child is given the freedom to make their own choices regarding their learning. The teacher is always there to guide and to assist, "their purpose is to stimulate the child's enthusiasm for learning and to guide it, without interfering with the child's natural desire to teach themselves and become independent". The child takes learning into their own hands by manipulating what is given to them.

The Montessori and Paulo Freire philosophies are very different. Montessori would strongly reject Freire's banking concept. Freire sees the child as passive in the learning process, they retain what is narrated to them. However, Montessori disagrees with this. She sees children as very active in their learning process. They have an "inner guide" to learn, and with this natural eagerness, they will manipulate their environment in ways to encourage learning. Freire puts a lot of emphasis on the teacher. "The teacher knows everything and the student knows nothing" (Freire 2). However, Montessori believes that teachers are just guides in the learning process. Their job is to stimulate the enthusiasm to learn and to guide it. Overall, their main difference is based on their philosophy about how learning happens. Freire thinks children are containers that are filled with information narrated to them. Montessori views children as active and naturally eager to learn. She doesn't see the teacher as the crucial component to learning.

I personally agree with Montessori over Freire. I don't like how Freire makes students seem so robotic and lethargic. I don't believe Freire gives students enough credit. He puts too much emphasis on the teacher and not enough faith in the students to learn by themselves. I can't imagine how boring and demeaning this philosophy is for students. I envision students drooping in their seats, bored out of their minds, just starring at the teacher in front of them. Montessori allows students the freedom to make choices and learn for themselves. She has faith in the idea that they have a natural eagerness to learn. She wants to make them independent and prepare them to function in society. Freire makes students dependent on the teacher, as they are the source of all information. Freire doesn't allow students to think for themselves or make decisions. Montessori is more student-centered. The environment is created to facilitate learning and provide as much assistant to the students as possible. I like to believe that students don't NEED me to learn. They can use me as a guide, but I am not the source of all their information. I want them to feel that they can be independent and learn without my voice. I couldn't imagine just viewing them as containers that I am "filling" with information.

Introduction to Montessori

What is Montessori Style?

Teaching Montessori

 freire_the_banking_concept_of_education.pdf