A INSTITUCIONALIZAÇÃO DOS GRUPOS ESCOLARES NO MARANHÃO (1903-1920)

Abstract

This paper is part of the joint research developed by Núcleo de Estudo e Documentação em História da Educação e das Práticas Leitoras do Maranhão NEDHEL, which includes the research line Schools Institutions, Educational Knowledge and Practices of the Pos-Graduate Program in Education of the Maranhão Federal University. It presents an investigation about the institutionalization process of the school groups in Maranhão during 1903 to 1920, focusing on the major actions taken by State authorities for the establishment of these recognized schools, at this time as a symbol of educational modernity and efficiency. It analyzes the school routine structure of these groups, highlighting the education process, exams, school attendance, supervision, duties and rules, which should be obeyed by students and teachers. It explains the main structural features that determine the extinction of these schools in 1912, and pinpoint the education context in Maranhão after this period in order to understand what the conditions led the government to determine the recreation of these schools in 1919. The methodology is based on research literature, emphasizing the studies of Vidal (2006, 2007), Faria Filho (2006, 2007), Souza (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010), Motta (2006), Saldanha (1992), in second, it draws on archival research prioritizing the identification, selection, analysis and description of the Normal School documents (1903-1914) and Secretaria Geral da Instrução Pública Maranhense (1906-1910); reports of the education inspectors and delegates (1903 -1911), letters, invoices for the purchase of materials, photographs, reports of State Governors (1903-1922), and frequency and grade lists of student and analysis of the School Groups Bylaws in order to understand how it was instituted the organization of educational work, the curriculum, the establishment of school hours, teaching methods, rules, penalties and teaching practices, the evaluation process, the contents to be taught, disciplinary matters. Thus, the creation of the Maranhão School Groups, at first (1903-1912), presented constant disability that contributed to these schools were recognized as "pseudo groups", which were completely extinct in 1912 and in a second time, through the politicians and education enthusiasts speeches, returns as a project of recreating school groups in 1919 in Maranhão