A Matemática ginasial em uma escola confessional no interior do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to learn about the history of Mathematics teaching at Escola Nossa Senhora de Lourdes, located in the district of Vale Vêneto, in Rio Grande do Sul, during the period that prevailed the gymnasium at the institution (1954-1980). This case-study was motivated by the predilection of families from several localities for sending their children to this school and by the adopted teaching methodology by the nuns of the Imaculado Coração de Maria, founders of the school, which aimed at the integral formation of students, acording to the congregation’s confessionality. It is proposed to understand and relate the mathematics discipline (teaching approaches, evaluation methods, student-teacher relastionship) to the educational purposes, practices and effects desired for students by the congregation. This research makes use of books, photo albuns, minutes and other school collection documents, a basic literature of the history of Brazilian and regional education, as well as testimonies from ex-pupils from the school. In possession of this sources, carried out its analysis and synthesis, we state the reasons which contributed to the good success of Mathematics educational experience at Escola Nossa Senhora de Lourdes. Such reasons are related with the educational purpose (the integral formation of students), internal rules and, finally, the discipline of Mathematics itself.