Researchers, professors, students and authorities of Universidad de Santiago de Chile participated in the ceremony in which the American professor and researcher Michael W. Apple was awarded a degree honoris causa.
Michael W. Apple is one of the most prominent representatives of the Critical Pedagogy approach. He has been considered among the most influential figures in the field of education of the 20th century, particularly for his research on ideology and curriculum and the development of democratic schools in addition to his questioning over neoliberal education.
He is currently the John Bascom Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin, USA, where he has done an extensive work in relation to power, knowledge and school.
In the ceremony, President Juan Manuel Zolezzi Cid and General Secretary Gustavo Robles Labarca awarded Dr Apple the Universidad de Santiago de Chile’s gold medal and diploma that certifies this high academic distinction.
Master class
On the occasion, Dr Apple gave the master class “Educational Realities and the Role of the Critical Educator”. “Neoliberal and conservative policies have had many impacts on schools, promoting the idea that public is bad and private is good. It is a form of censorship, a lack of respect for those who work for the public sector. Don’t they have the possibility of deciding about this?” the expert said.
In this context, he referred to the powerful groups that define the knowledge that has to be transmitted. “There is a similar situation occurring in Chile. Education has become a space for struggle, where controlling groups try to reduce criticism. All policies acknowledge that there is a crisis in education, but these groups have used this speech to move the debate to their own ground and for their own benefit.”
With regard to what he described as an agreement on what is to be considered as official knowledge, he said that important questions should not be hidden. “What are we teaching and to whom are we teaching? In Education we should ask questions constantly. If we do not understand why students and teachers are upset, then we cannot give answers. We should empathize with the social and political context. In addition to criticizing, we should provide alternatives.”
He finally suggested “Understanding that we are not perfect and that we need to work collectively. Neoliberalism will anyway attempt to change our identities so that we see ourselves individually.”
“If we allow capital and the governments to destroy our memories, things will get worse very quickly,” Dr Apple said.
Commitment to inclusion and democratization
President Zolezzi said that the University decided to award Dr Apple a degree honoris causa “Because of his countless merits and contributions and for some of his works that have had a world impact.”
In addition to stressing the importance some of his written works, president Zolezzi said that he appreciated the strong commitment Dr Apple has with professors that seek to democratize research, politics and education practices. He described this commitment as an inspiration, “Because he encourages us to train teachers who constantly question themselves about their pedagogical practices and who are aware of their potential as agents of social change.”
Translated by Marcela Contreras
