Abstract

SILVA, Carolina Mostaro Neves da. Teachers and their studies: library, books, and readings at the São Paulo Normal School (19th century). Educ. Pesqui. [online]. 2024, vol.50, e262098.  Epub May 22, 2024. ISSN 1678-4634.  https://doi.org/10.1590/s1678-4634202450262098.

This article investigates the relationship between books, reading, and teacher education at the São Paulo Normal School in the late 19th century. It analyses the constitution of an archive that should comprise the repertoire of students and teachers, as well as the institutionalization of a space for its keeping and consultation. To that end, it examines a variety of sources including reports, regulations, bylaws, legislation, newspaper articles, and book catalogues. A transnational perspective guides the analysis, emphasizing the relations between São Paulo and France that presided over the constitution of the archive in its first decades of existence. The article also establishes a dialogue with references from the cultural history of pedagogic knowledges and from the history of the book and reading. Since 1870 one can observe the intention of establishing a library composed mainly by titles associated with the different subjects of the Normal School curriculum. The contents of such archive followed the diversification and expansion of the academic chairs in the 1880s and 1890s, revealing the ascent of the scientific character of the field of pedagogy, and the circulation of pedagogical materials and ideas. In a context in which the French public education reforms were revered by Brazilian politicians and educators alike, the inclusion of books and materials, French or otherwise adopted in that country, was seen as fundamental to the appropriation of modern methods and experiences. However, there were obstacles to their use, such as the working hours, lack of adequate lighting, and the scarce command of the language, giving rise to recurrent statements about the low attendance to the library and the small number of works read.

Keywords : Teacher education; Books; Reading; Library.

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