Applying Freire in School: Problematizing the Army in Israeli High School Classrooms

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Paulo Freire Roundtable 4

Abstract

Facilitating complexity in thought and discourse comprises a key challenge within moral education. Freire wrote about the tendency of hegemonic authorities to promote a simplistic perception of reality. Freire encouraged educators to counter these processes by committing to dialogic pedagogy that uncovers reality’s complexity. Here, I reflect on a practical attempt to apply Freire's vision in high-school classes in Israel by problematizing the moral issues inherent in military service, in contrast to the authorities' agenda to silence the issue. I present evidence for the attempts of simplification by the state to oversimplify the issue and then share my impressions as the teacher, alongside a few responses of participants, demonstrating careful optimism concerning the possibility of applying Freire's construct.

Author

• Orit Schwarz-Franco, Beit Berl Academic College