"A child's learning is the function more of the characteristics of his classmates than those of the teacher." James Coleman, 1972

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

KIPP and other "eloquent discourses full of deceit"

In a reflection on reading from Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1972), a student has reminded me of this great quote that speaks volumes to Bill Gates and the other privileged boosters of KIPP who see this preppy reform school model as the solution to the poverty and racism that we choose to ignore:
". . . the dominant class insists, in eloquent discourses full of deceit, that what is important is not class, but the courage to work and be disciplined, and the desire to climb and grow. Therefore, those who triumph are those who work hard without complaining and are disciplined; that is, those who do not create problems for their masters."
The KIPP motto: Work hard, be nice.

Thanks, Corrie.

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