A tradição humanista no Ensino secundário de Alagoas (1839 - 1889): herança de antigas matrizes

Abstract

In the point of view of Nogare (1985, p. 15) the term Humanism can be considered as a "condiment" in the meaning of its frequent use to "make appetizing delicacies cultural" and, because of this breadth or flexibility, can sometimes be classified as a word "vague". Because of this complexity, this academic work, consider humanism as a cultural movement summit in Greco-Roman thought and whose summit occurred in the Renaissance. This tradition, in educational was marked by a style, throughout languages and classical authors, memorization, public speaking and rhetoric. This tradition has continued for centuries, and even highly valued in colleges and high schools of Imperial Brazil. According to it, this research has the core question: Why the Greco-Roman tradition is still maintained so vigorously in secondary education Alagoas in the period from 1839 to 1889? - This curiosity intensifies on the location of sources which presents "speechs", from the Imperial context, which advocated a contrary position, grounded, so the relevance of education offered called the demands "utility" of modern society. At the same time, others questions arose, such as: what forms the humanist tradition manifested in teaching young alagoanos? What are the intentions of the elites - national and local – in the maintenance of the studies of humanities? Facing these questions, we seek traces published in the imperial period, such as: speeches and manuscript maps, frequencies, exam results, announcements institutions. These are available on the Historical and Geographical Institute of Alagoas (IHGAL), as well as in the Public Archives of that state. Besides these, had similar reports from Province´s presidents, laws and resolutions available online. In search of thoughts that contribute in achieving the objectives listed in this research are guided our gaze from the theoretical and methodological postulates Arlette Farge (2009) and Marc Bloch (2001) - founder of the school of Analles. In this paper three categories of academic study pervade discussions proposals: Humanism, secondary and Alagoas Province. Finally, among the aspects identified as motivators to the manifestation of the humanistic tradition in secondary education Alagoas, the sources analyzed point to: 1. The imitation of foreign models, especially the European countries considered as "models of civility"; 2. The inter-relationship between the trio: humanism, the Christian religion and secondary education; 3. Slope requirements of the preparatory exams which gave access to the upper level; 4. The distinction between classes through the domain of knowledge considered fit for leadership training; 5. Intensive relay provincial presidents, among other elements.