A magna causa do ensino popular: a criação e consolidação do Grupo Escolar de São Matheus - Juiz de Fora (1906-1929)

Abstract

The current work is part of one of the national efforts situated in the field of the history of the education that has as one of the objectives to understand the schooling projects in Brazil, more specifically in the city of Juiz de Fora. The creation of the São Matheus‟ scholastic group has raised several debates on the necessity of its installation. The opinions on the establishment‟s construction is diverse and raised to the existence of different interests between the many social segments involved – politicians, teachers, school inspectors, journalists and the population in general – where each one of them wanted to validate their point of view, whether pro or against the creation of this educational establishment. Even with the varied positions and different interests, the Scholastic Group was created by the decree nº4772 on the 7th of May of 1917, by the governor of the State Delfim Moreira da Costa Ribeiro. It was the only one built in Juiz de Fora with the aim of sheltering an institution of this type, as the ones opened previously had their buildings adapted according to the 1906 legislation requirements. Nevertheless, the São Matheus Scholastic group‟s building had serious problems on its structure, resembling more an isolated school. New repairs were necessary and even the expansion of its space so that it would be possible to attend the region‟s school demands. The claims for new restorations and improvements in the institution‟s space went on in the posterior years, however, only in 1927 when Antônio Carlos was occupying the presidency of the State, new buildings could be constructed. The present research becomes relevant as it seeks the preservation of the school memory of the region, besides contributing to the study of the public school in the country.