Ira Shor

First published in 1987, this book brings together two renowned educators, Paulo Freire and Ira Shor, who describe their own experiences in liberating the classroom from its traditional constraints, including discussion of Freire's work in Guinea-Bissau and Shor's work in the USA. They demonstrate the effectiveness of dialogue in action as a practical means by which teachers and students can become active participants in the learning process. The authors illuminate the problems of the educational system in relation to those of the larger society and argue for the pressing need to transform the classroom in both Third and First World contexts. They demonstrate how vital the teacher's role is in empowering students to think critically about themselves and their relation, not only to the classroom, but to society. For readers seeking a liberatory approach to education, these dialogues will be a revelation and a unique summary. For all those convinced of the need for transformation, this book shows the way.

First published in 1987, this book brings together two renowned educators, Paulo Freire and Ira Shor, who describe their own experiences in liberating the classroom from its traditional constraints, including discussion of Freire's work in Guinea-Bissau and Shor's work in the USA. They demonstrate the effectiveness of dialogue in action as a practical means by which teachers and students can become active participants in the learning process. The authors illuminate the problems of the educational system in relation to those of the larger society and argue for the pressing need to transform the classroom in both Third and First World contexts. They demonstrate how vital the teacher's role is in empowering students to think critically about themselves and their relation, not only to the classroom, but to society. For readers seeking a liberatory approach to education, these dialogues will be a revelation and a unique summary. For all those convinced of the need for transformation, this book shows the way.

What is the true value of a college education?In this thought-provoking book, acclaimed cultural critic and professor of literature Richard Ohmann and noted critical scholar and pedagogue Ira Shor challenge the widely accepted notion of the "college premium": the economic advantage associated with obtaining a college degree. The authors show how the idea of a college premium is often merely a myth that furthers the commercialization of education. Drawing on historical analysis and keen insights, they expose the underlying neoliberal ideology that has transformed universities into vehicles for profit-driven corporations. They argue that the college premium confirms class hierarchies in the United States while claiming to apply to everyone. This compelling narrative uncovers the reshaping of our perception of the value of higher education. From the casualization of academic labor to the mounting burden of student debt, from the erosion of academic freedoms to the rise of vocational curricula, Ohmann and Shor connect the dots to illustrate how economic imperatives have influenced university life. Is College Worth It? is a must-read for students, parents, policymakers, and anyone concerned with the future of education. Ohmann and Shor's erudite analysis challenges conventional wisdom and offers a fresh perspective on the true meaning and worth of a college education.

What happens when teachers share power with students? In this text, Ira Shor - one of the earliest proponents of critical pedagogy in the United States - relates the story of an experiment that nearly went out of control. Shor provides the reader with a reenactment of one semester that shows what really can happen when one applies the theory and democratizes the classroom. This is the story of one class in which the author tried to fully share with his students control of the curriculum and of the classroom. After twenty years of practicing critical teaching, he unexpectedly found himself faced with a student uprising that threatened the very possibility of learning. How Shor resolves these problems, while remaining true to his commitment to power-sharing and radical pedagogy, is the crux of the book.

What happens when teachers share power with students? In this text, Ira Shor - one of the earliest proponents of critical pedagogy in the United States - relates the story of an experiment that nearly went out of control. Shor provides the reader with a reenactment of one semester that shows what really can happen when one applies the theory and democratizes the classroom. This is the story of one class in which the author tried to fully share with his students control of the curriculum and of the classroom. After twenty years of practicing critical teaching, he unexpectedly found himself faced with a student uprising that threatened the very possibility of learning. How Shor resolves these problems, while remaining true to his commitment to power-sharing and radical pedagogy, is the crux of the book.

Ira Shor is a pioneer in the field of critical education who for over twenty years has been experimenting with learning methods. His work creatively adapts the ideas of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire for North American classrooms. In Empowering Education Shor offers a comprehensive theory and practice for critical pedagogy. For Shor, empowering education is a student-centered, critical and democratic pedagogy for studying any subject matter and for self and social change. It takes shape as a dialogue in which teachers and students mutually investigate everyday themes, social issues, and academic knowledge. Through dialogue and problem-posing, students become active agents of their learning. This book shows how students can develop as critical thinkers, inspired learners, skilled workers, and involved citizens. Shor carefully analyzes obstacles to and resources for empowering education, suggesting ways for teachers to transform traditional approaches into critical and democratic ones. He offers many examples and applications for the elementary grades through college and adult education.

This lively and controversial work critiques the conservative efforts in the 1970s and 1980s to undo the educational reforms of the 1960s, to reestablish control over the curriculum, and to change the nature of the debate and the goals of education. "An outstanding work of educational theory and history."--John Coatsworth, University of Chicago

In this unique book on education, Shor develops teaching theory side-by-side with a political analysis of schooling. Drawing on the work of Paulo Freire, he offers the first practical and theoretical guide to Freirean methods for American classrooms. Central to his method is a commitment to learning through dialogue and to exploring themes from everyday life. He poses alienation and mass culture as key obstacles to learning, and establishes critical literacy as a foundation for studying any subject.

… one of the most important books for American teachers. . . . If you teach, read it on one of the days when you want to quit. You'll either keep teaching or quit with a clearer head. Democratic Schools Highly recommended. . . . Written in a rather interesting manner--primarily as a conversation--this book serves nicely as an informal yet rigorous treatment of critical pedagogy. There is a satisfactory blend of theoretical investigation and practical personal anecdote. . . . The text is well researched. Choice

... one of the most important books for American teachers. . . . If you teach, read it on one of the days when you want to quit. You'll either keep teaching or quit with a clearer head. Democratic Schools Highly recommended. . . . Written in a rather interesting manner--primarily as a conversation--this book serves nicely as an informal yet rigorous treatment of critical pedagogy. There is a satisfactory blend of theoretical investigation and practical personal anecdote. . . . The text is well researched. Choice