Social Reconstructionism
When I took the educational belief test, I came out as a social reconstructionist. I will share the definition below:
"The philosophy of Social Reconstructionism is a student-centered philosophy. This philosophy is rooted in the belief that education should be focused on reconstructing society. This emphasis is a result of the perceived lack of leadership on the part of schools to create an equitable society."
I believe this definition makes sense to me because I tend to put light into social issues and share the idea that education can shape a better future for all of us. There's reason to believe that this characteristic could be culturally-oriented because of this teacher, who was more than motivated to make social change in my country, his name is Paulo Freire (1921-1997). Paulo Freire believed that education could overcome oppression and improve human conditions.
According to him, people should resist oppression and not become its victims, nor oppress others. In order to do so, he used dialogue and critical thinking by development awareness to overcome domination and oppression. In contrast to the pedagogy that was going on at the time, when students were expected to listen and reproduce and be prepared to work as soon as they left school, the technicist pedagogy.
Freire saw teaching and learning as a process of inquiry in which the child must invent and reinvent the world.
Now, that I am aware that my belief and values have a profile name of its own, I am encouraged to own it and continue exploring and be an agent of social change.
“One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change" - Malala Yousafzai.
