Summary Of Sadira Rodrigues's Lecture

Our society needs and demands knowledge. However, where that knowledge comes from is an important characteristic of our learning practice. Within Sadira Rodrigues’ lecture, Histories: The Art School, The University + Pedagogy (11 Sept. 2014), she addressed the ways in which society has grown through learning and the key practice of education and the pedagogy. As a person sitting in the lecture, I found this lecture to be quite intriguing. Though what she talked about, interestingly enough, contradicted the way in which she dictated the lecture. Because it was in an educational setting, she needed to convey the information in a particular way to give students the material she had been required to do so, rather than acting on us as a pedagogue.

A similar definition Smith has stated is that it is a “process of accompanying learners, caring for and about them, and bringing learning to life” (2). Within Smith’s reading and Rodrigues’ lecture, the audience gained knowledge about the first Greek pedagogue system in which students, predominantly boys, were assigned a pedagogue. This pedagogue was a slave, who would teach the ways of being a man outside the classroom boundaries and teach more of the lessons of life. Though our educational system is different in the current era, we also can relate this term to people outside of the classroom; to people on the bus who teach us manners or to an old friend who teaches us appreciation. The lesson is that we are always learning from others. So, I think that Rodrigues’ definition definitely suits the strangers, friends, and family who we then can deem pedagogues if they fit the criteria of being respectful, understanding, and listen. This being said, how can we go about creating the same kind of learning environment inside school boundaries without education seeming forced and what exact principles are needed to be considered a