Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Where is critical education and liberation?

What does it mean to be a critical educator? In most of western thought, education takes place in a classroom. In its constant readjustment of the methods and practices of teaching it can and must go beyond the classroom.  Both using the classroom for a place for students to come and bring outside experiences and personal ideas in, and by helping ALL people outside of any classroom remember that we are all learners and anyone can challenge what we have been taught.

Being a critical educator and thinker means asking everyone questions. And asking if people believe if education is the practice of freedom or is it the practice of becoming, or is it the practice of becoming free? Creativity, laughter, questions...education can be found anywhere. It doesn't sit in a classroom waiting to be found. It's in every day conversation. It's in drawing, creativity, observation, reflection and love. If you learn to find it, you can question everything and find truth in yourself. Everyone is on a path to global liberation. Even if that path isn't the one you're on.

So go! Go now! Get off your couch, take off your shoes, stop listening to what your supposed to be doing and question it instead. Be Free! Find freedom in the strangest places.