A Escola Doméstica de Brazópolis: para além das montanhas mineiras (1927-1932)

Abstract

This master’s degree dissertation shows a historical-educational research on the genesis of Escola Doméstica de Brazópolis, a vocational school for women founded in 1927 in the city of Brazópolis, south of Minas Gerais state. The research’ timeframe goes from 1927, when the school was created, to 1932, when the first change in school administration happened. The research has aimed to understand relationships between State, Church and society in founding an education level to turn women into professionals. Fulfilling such aim required building a historical understanding of political, social and economic intentions underlying the foundation and installation of the School; presenting a systematized understanding of its curriculum; pointing out contributions to changes in the population profile; drawing conclusive data from public subsidies granting to private schools. The problem studied derives from the following question: did Brazópolis’ school for women provide them with formation relevant to the society emerging with the Republic and dialoguing with the modernity project in the twentieth century first half? The research relied on dialectical historical materialism as a method to analyze articulations, relationships, tensions and contradictions in the movement underlying the creation and functioning of Brazópolis school. Historical sources included legislation, speeches, newspaper texts, balance sheet minutes and expenses, institution’s rules, statutes, Episcopal letters, inspectors’ reports, promotion boards, teaching yearbooks and minutes of the institution. Theoretical foundation stems from authors known in the history of education, of women’s education and of schooling institution, such as Almeida (2014), Araújo (2013), Carvalho (2017), Cunha (1996), Medeiros Neta (2011), Ribeiro and Araújo (2021), and Rodrigues (2006), among others. The research outlined international, national, state and regional elements underlying the creation of the first vocational school for women in Minas Gerais: European proposals for women’s education in the First Republic (women staying home caring for husband and children); tense relationship between Republic and Church; and the school expansion. The research pointed out the relationship of the Church with political and civil elite in the institutionalization of Brazópolis School with the aim of training women for home and motherhood (educating the tomorrow citizen by the logic of motherhood), reducing cases of divorces, and modernizing the region, enabling its economic and social development.