Entre o altar e o trono: embates entre a instrução religiosa e ensino laico no Ceará do último quartel do século XIX

Abstract

The present work aims to investigate the involvement of political and enlightened elites in Ceará in the last quarter of the 19th century, with educational issues, as an expression of the disputes between the ultramontane, catholic-conservative and liberal ideals, in a moment in which the Brazilian political-social structure was increasingly marked by conflicts between the Imperial State and the Catholic Church. This matter was, during that time, related to the emergency of a renovation of the primary curriculum, stimulated by discussions on education (considered a driving force for material and moral progress), the laicization and secularization of teaching, according to an educational proposal that valued intuitive teaching and science, tied to the formation of a laborious, obedient and patriotic man. Thus, from a theoretical and methodological point of view, dealing with historical sources (Pastoral Letters, newspapers, meeting records, travel reports and opinions on education) will be done considering their disagreements, deviations and also in their conflict dynamics, in a movement that goes from the “field of ideas” to the daily reality of the poor and humble people, recipients of a primary education focused on imposing moral and labor values. One can see the contradictions between the search for what was considered modern and civilized and the political and social structure of Ceará, based on the economic dependence of most of the population, the high rates of illiteracy and the exercise of informal activities to provide for their families.