Parallel Oppressions:Culturally-Enforced Limitations on the Individual’s Humanity

This paper is a philosophical piece with snippets of empirical data designed to provide a picture of what is currently done in schools versus what is possible. I suggest that what is often done in schools can be very literally de-human-izing. I present several arguments that address the potential our schools have, not only for educating our students in a way Paulo Freire would respect, but also for respecting our teachers’ humanity. A primarily theoretical paper, I include examples from my current research that attempt to paint a picture of unfortunate teacher-society and teacher-student interactions. My hope is that this paper will not only present ideas about what is problematic in our current school culture, but also how the hopeful, freeing, and empowering work we do for some students should also be delivered to teachers