A "Portrait" of Resistance
This post focuses on an earlier published article in which I wrote about some of my experiences practicing a pedagogy of freedom and humanization ... for both teachers and students.
I wrote an article several years ago for a journal titled, Workplace: A Journal for Academic Labor (2016). In this article, titled “Existential Philosophy as Attitude and Pedagogy for Self and Student Liberation,” I address key tenets of existentialism that underscore my teaching philosophy; tenets which I strive to apply to my teaching practice (undergraduate) at a state university. Essentially, this article represents a portrait of one educator’s attempts to resist dehumanizing forms of education typically associated with the K-12 neoliberal business model of education (also evident in higher education to a degree). In contrast, this portrait is meant to illuminate humanizing teaching/learning approaches; in particular, the dialogical, philosphical approach grounded in the Socratic seminar. As addressed in the article, I have found that, ironically, many students who have been indoctrinated within the positivistic testing/assessment mode of education are initially intimidated by the freedom of the seminar space; some, even resistant to such freedom!
[*Note: The experiences of which I write occurred during my doctoral studies period when I was also teaching as part of my PhD program. The “Affiliations” section following the article represents the period in my life following the completion of my “doc” studies and prior to my current teaching position at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.]
Lastly, I decided to post this article as a follow-up to my previous post in which I ask, “Are teachers free?” Hopefully, this article will serve as one particular illustration of what I mean by teacher and student liberation; more specifically, what I mean by “teaching for humanity.” Please feel free to respond with your thoughts/reactions.
If you are a teacher, can you personally relate to some of the scenarios/vignettes included in the piece?
And if you are not a teacher, does any of the content resonate for you—either as a student, a former student, or as the parent of a student?
*You can read the article here:
“Existential Philosophy as Attitude and Pedagogy for Self and Student Liberation”