Press representations of civic-patriotic practices in school institutions of Minas Gerais (Brazil) in the first half of the 20th century

Abstract

This paper presents the results of research in History of Education, focusing on the relationship established between the civic-patriotic events promoted by two secondary school institutions in Uberaba and Uberlândia, two cities in the state of Minas Gerais (Brazil), in the first half of the twentieth century, and representation of these events in the local public press. The theoretical framework for this analysis includes Nóvoa (1997), Escolano Benito (1998), Souza (1999), Bastos (2002), Bencostta (2006), and Cândido (2007), among others. News reports published by the local press in both municipal areas were investigated, which revealed an emphasis on the civic events promoted by the schools, involving local populations. This made for the centrality of these activities in the life of the schools and in the life of the cities. Research sources included newspapers of that time, written and printed documentation, and iconography. Results indicate convergence of republican ideals of training in citizenship and the civic-patriotic events carried out by the school institutions, with extensive community participation widely reported by the local press in both cities.