De poeta a político: Noraldino Lima, intelectual da política e da educação em Minas Gerais (1906-1933)

Abstract

This doctoral thesis presents a research in the area of history of education in Brazil that aimed to study Noraldino Lima as an intellectual and his performance in politics and education in Minas Gerais in the years 1906–33. He is a personality remembered by studies related to the theme of this thesis, but almost always in the form of secondary references, and never as a central focus, as this study tried to do. The research underlying the thesis started from this question: who was the historical individual Noraldino Lima and what were his actions in politics and in education. The research aims converged to an analysis of his life background bearing in mind his role as an intellectual as a politician and as educator, in order to delineate how Lima was constituting an important role in Minas Gerais state society. Developed in the research line “history and historiography of education” and constructed according to methodological procedures of a biographical-historical approach, the research relied upon sources like poems and journalistic prose books, correspondences, decrees and discourses. Al them allowed us to focus on studying the written thoughts of an intellectual. Results make possible to observe Lima in his life trajectory as a catalyst and conciliator of different political views, above all, as a poet who turned out to be a political member of Minas Gerais Republican Party. In this process, he advocated an education founded on principles of so-called Escola Nova movement (progressive education). His defense appears in a moment of intellectual-educational effervescence to which he was not immune. Especially from 1930 onwards, the intellectual concerned with teacher training as a pillar of the dissemination of the school group and primary education came to the fore. His action supposed not only to think, but also to do, as he was secretary of Education and Public Health.