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THREE APPROACHES TO EDUCATION
This chart gives a summary of 3 approaches to teaching. It may help instructors to evaluate
their own teaching approach. But we do not recommend that this analysis be given to health
workers. Analyzing stories and role plays will work better. So pass by this chart if you want.
Function
Aim
Strategy
Intention
toward
people
CONVENTIONAL
to CONFORM
Resist change.
Keep social order stable.
Teach people to accept
and ‘fit in’ to the social
situation without changing
its unjust aspects.
CONTROL them-
especially poor working
people—farm and city.
PROGRESSIVE
to REFORM
Change people to meet
society’s needs.
Work for certain
improvements without
changing the unjust
aspects of society.
PACIFY or CALM them-
especially those whose
hardships drive them to
protest or revolt.
LIBERATING
to TRANSFORM
Change society to
meet people’s needs.
Actively oppose social
injustice, inequality,
and corruption. Work
for basic change.
FREE them from
oppression,
exploitation, and
corruption.
General
approach
Effect on
people
and the
community
How
students
(and people
generally)
are viewed
AUTHORITARIAN
(rigid top-down control)
PATERNALISTIC
(kindly top-down control)
OPPRESSIVE-rigid central
authority allows little or no
participation by
students and community.
Basically passive.
Empty containers
to be filled with
standard knowledge.
DECEPTIVE-pretends to
be supportive, but resists
real change.
Basically irresponsible.
Must be cared for. Need
to be watched closely.
HUMANITARIAN and
DEMOCRATIC
(control by the people)
SUPPORTIVE-helps
people find ways to gain
more control over their
health and their lives.
Basically active.
Able to take charge
and become self-
reliant.
What the
students feel
about the
teacher
Who decides
what should
be learned
Teaching
method
Main
way of
learning
Can and must be tamed.
FEAR—Teacher is an
absolute, all-knowing boss
who stands apart from
and above the students.
The Ministry of
Education (or Health) in
the capital.
• Teacher lectures.
• Students ask few
questions.
• Often boring.
PASSIVE-students
receive knowledge.
Memorization of facts.
Able to participate in
specific activities when
spoon fed.
GRATITUDE-Teacher
is a friendly, parent-like
authority who knows what
is best for the students.
The Ministry, but with
some local decisions.
• Teacher educates and
entertains students.
• Dialogue and group
discussions, but the
teacher decides which
are the ‘right’ answers.
More or less active.
Memorization still
basic.
Responsible when
treated with respect and
as equals.
TRUST-Teacher is a
‘facilitator’ who helps
everyone look for
answers together.
The students and
instructors together with
the community.
• Open-ended dialogue,
in which many
answers come from
people’s experience.
• Everyone educates
each other.
ACTIVE—everyone
contributes. Learning
through doing and
discussing.