A School as a Learning Community

The Banking Concept of Education as described by Paulo Freire (1970) a. the teacher teaches and the students are taught; b. the teachers know everything and the students know nothing; c. the teacher thinks and the students are thought about; d. the teacher talks and the students listen – meekly e. the teacher disciplines and the students are disciplined; f. the teacher choose and enforces his choice and the students comply; g. the teacher acts and the students have the illusion of acting through the action of the teacher; h. the teacher chooses the programme content and the students (who were not consulted) adapt to it; i. the teacher confuses the authority of knowledge with his or her own professional authority which she and he sets in opposition to the freedom of the students; j. the teacher is the Subject of the learning process while the pupils are mere objects

Societal structures Does the school structure mirror societal structures?

The school as a learning community Schools achieve their full potential when they strive to provide an environment where everyone can maximise their potential

Nurturing a learning community in the school CCA Teams A learning community creates a restorative climate where relationships matter Canteen operators Teachers Parents Admin staff

Foundations of a learning community 1. It’s never about the teacher giving everything and receiving nothing or the teacher knowing everything and the students knowing nothing. 2. All of us know something and regardless of who we are in school; we can give, receive and learn from another member of the school. 3. Schools are pillars in the community for the well being of its young people

“Love is more difficult than Law” - Desmond Tutu