Paulo Freire’s text entitled, “The Banking Concept,” is a two-part text that come from the book title “ Pedagogy of the Oppressed” was first published in English in 1970 . The first part is a brilliant critique on the mainstream movement that focus on how students are taught through oppression. The second part is an attack on said “ Banking Concept” and introducing an alternate teaching style call the “ Problem Posing Concept”. The second text “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior” written by Amy Chua was first introduce from her book: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” in 2011. The text shows how a strict mother by oppressing her two daughter in certain aspects of their lives will set them up for success and survival . The third text Hanna Rosin’s “Mother Inferior” was introduced from the publication the “Atlantic” to argue against Amy Chua’s diagnosis against western parents, saying kids don’t need more drills and rules. They need to lighten up and roam free. The purpose for this response is to facilitate a dialogue that is both effective and understandable.
I cannot say that I have read even a small percentage of these works from these authors, but from what I have read, I noticed some recurring similarities. During the semester in class, we have learned how these authors utilize various elements of writing to make their point more prominent. Along with this, I believe that the theme of oppression and success appears in these three, I took it upon myself to try and find out why the writers used oppression and success as one of their themes. To demonstrate this recurring theme, I will give a brief synopsis of the three stories.
"The Banking Concept" is a paper about a certain education concept where the student considered to be like a container to sit there and take the information and remember it without to much critical thinking. He knows that it is not the right way to learn, therefore comes up with another concept called the problem-posing concept. In order to convert other to the the problem posing concept he must show how the banking concept leads to oppression and not surviving. Of the seventeen pages within "The Banking Concept" seven of those are devoted to the events of the author trying to make us understand with the banking concept we are not surviving and are a oppressed people; the other ten mainly focus on banking system and how it operates. The theme was as simple as one man's attempt to survive against current teaching styles and leave the oppressed life and with that we are successful.
Again we see oppression and the pursuit for success in "Why Chinese Mothers are Superior." In this text, Mrs. Chua oppresses her two daughter through lack of freedom and strict planning on their everyday lives. One daughter even gets angry and gives up at one time, but the mother, paying no heed to her rants, travels on with the teaching of the piano. The daughters stubbornness slows her pace and he is forced to restart many times. We learn of her tribulations trying to find figer techniques and experiences with piano surrounding her. The mother's unwillingness to give up leads to her daughters success. After several attempts, The daughter accomplishes the right technique and performs the song perfectly and is happy her mother pushed her so hard.
"Mother Inferior" is very different from the other two stories I read. This story does not contain the classic human versus the oppressor and fight for success conflict; instead, it looks at oppressor versus oppressor. One mother, Hanna, decided to stand up for her type of teaching for her children and Western mothers. With Mrs. Rosin the oppression is not as definitive, but is there, with the lack of pushing her child into being better and overall successful, which could be seen as oppression since she does not strive to see her children creativity and overall ability to accomplish more. Hanna Rosin is fine having mediocre children since stating “Success will not make you happy”, “Children have to find happiness themselves”, and “It is better to have a happy, moderately successful child than a miserable high-achiever. To Hanna Rosin happiness is success. not pushing or restricting her children is freedom not oppression
It is evident, in my mind, that these three stories share many similarities. For one, The themes are constant throughout the texts. I cannot confidently say that I or anyone else could agree with every style of teaching throughout these text However, The authors carefully portrays their papers in a manner that will not distance them from the audience. These authors setting directly set the stage for their theme: oppression and success
This brings me to the question of why did authors use such similar themes? When thought about, it becomes clear that they did this to enable the use of oppression and success as the story's theme. One look at author's biographies can tell you why the chose these themes. The experiences they had in their lives influenced them greatly.
Does oppression bring you success? It’s hard to say, in one of the text the oppression of her children led to success and an overall happy life like in “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior”, but on the text of the “Banking Concept” Oppression leads to a lack of thinking and a lack of a fulfilled life. Than there is “Mother Inferior” where there isn’t so much oppression, just the lack of pushing your children to greatness.As long as they're happy the mother is successful in her view.
To me it is a gray area to be around. Yes, in certain aspects oppression can lead to success such as in “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior”, but on the other you want to be able to think for yourself and use critical thinking like describe in the “Banking Concept”, or maybe don’t worry about success and let people learn on their own like describe in “Mother Inferior”. I believe it is up to you to choose what is best for you. Maybe you like being told what to do maybe you like overall freedom without consequences, but overall it is up to us to decide.
