ChittyChittyBangBang Giroux

Giroux's "Towards a Postmodern Pedagogy" is a very interesting article. Giroux challenges the traditional approach to education with what he calls a “border pedagogy". One of Giroux's main goals is to overcome the obstacle of "the other" and unite into one learning experience. Another difference in this border pedagogy approach is the importance of critical thinking. This is a way of thinking that CMC majors need to learn to do.

"This means providing students with the critical capacity to challenge and transform existing social and political forms, rather than simply adapt to them. It also means providing students with the skills they need to locate themselves in history, find their own voices, and provide the convictions and compassion necessary for exercising civic courage, taking risks, and furthering the habits, customs, and social relations that are essential to democratic public forms" (384).

I think this is a very important quote and that there is much more to education than text books. Experience provides education that text books and school teachers can't always give you. It is important to broaden your horizons and "take risks" in order to find out who you are. Giroux also addresses the issue of ethics and relations. In critical pedagogy focusing on differences can be very helpful in understanding how other social groups function in a democratic society and also how to interact with all of these other social groups. Overcoming racism and gender differences are essential in communicating and operating in a free democratic society. It reminds me of Derrida and the concept of difference vs. differance and De Saussure: "In language there are only differences". The same could be said about critical pedagogy.

I feel like I have been lucky with my educational experience and that I have viewed school similar to the way Giroux speaks about it. I weight my learning experiences inside and outside of the classroom equally. My life experiences sometimes help bring in knowledge I have been taught in school and it’s what makes the information really make sense to me. There are endless possibilities and education never ends. "What kind of citizens do we hope to produce through public education in a postmodern culture?" (385) I think that we want well rounded citizens who are experienced and look at life critically.