Freire’s notion of conscientization is central to developing critical capacity regardless of methodology. What does conscientization mean to you and how have you experienced it?

 Schugurensky (2011) has cited many authors suggesting Freire was one of the greatest educators in the twentieth century and one of the most original thinkers whose influence has been felt globally, particularly in the transformative vision of adult education. If Freire suggests the notion of conscientization is central in developing critical capacity, then I should know what it means and how I can experience it.

            I find it challenging understanding Freire, although his primary focus was seeing education as education for the liberation of oppressed peoples. It is a philosophical argument about the purposes of education and a way of thinking about education. Freire developed a learning process called conscientization where adults could critique many aspects of their reality that are taken for granted through problem posing. The process was democratic and designed to break down the traditional hierarchy between teacher and student, moving in the direction of mutual learning and as co-learners. There was dialectical thinking (view issues from multiple perspectives) while identifying contradictions in society, questioning daily realities, challenging dominating forms of power, and finding ways to advocate for change. Freire advocated education as always politically positioned between power structures, and educators either implicitly or explicitly choose political goals.

            I experienced conscientization while advocating and helping to develop the grassroots RCMP Auxiliary Association. It is now the Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada (MPPAC). They provide representation to identify, resolve and reach consensus on professional and employment concerns with the Employer. They seek to exercise the right to engage in free collective bargaining with the Employer, a right currently enjoyed by all police officers in Canada, except for RCMP members. I found the most challenging aspect of the change was educating the officers on the benefits of an Association.

            At the time, I did not realize practicing Freire’s philosophy by educating my colleagues in how they and the policing community could develop a critical understanding of their social reality through reflection and action. In other words, conscientization in action. 

Laurie

References

Schugurensky, T.W. (2011). Paulo Freire. Continuum International.