Manuel da Nóbrega e a Companhia de Jesus na sistematização pedagógica no Brasil do século XVI

Abstract

This essay is bonded to the group of Linguistic Ideas History, of the History and Language Description research line, making part of the Graduate Studies Program in Portuguese Language of PUC-SP (Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo), and studies Father Manuel da Nóbrega and Society of Jesus in the pedagogical systematization in Brazil during 16th Century. Such period, called by Alves de Mattos (1958) of Heroic Period, which goes from the arrival of the first missionaries and educators in 1549 up to Manuel da Nóbrega s death in Rio de Janeiro in 1570, is depicted in Letters written by Nóbrega. Nóbrega exchanged, since his arrival to Baía de Todos os Santos, Brazil on March 29th, 1549, numerous letters with his Ordination superiors both in Portugal and Rome, and reported, in details, the first educational attempts in Brazil during 16th Century. Such actions were fostered by the experience of associating the Christian doctrine teaching (catechetical instruction) with literacy, i.e., reading and writing (regular instruction). The mission consisted of disseminating Christian faith over the extensive Portuguese dominions, while introducing the reading and writing school as a vehicle to teach the Christian doctrine. Therefore, this paper starts with the theoretical grounds provided by the Linguistic Ideas History that guides this work, and goes on, considering, in Chapter Two, the members of Society of Jesus and the Missionary Order. Chapter Three introduces Manuel da Nóbrega, who was the Humanist and Jesuit responsible for endeavoring the missionary work of conversion of heathen, and presents Brazil, which is the representation of Garden of Eden. And, finally, Chapter Four considers the provisions on letters, which were the means of communication of the Society of Jesus about the progress both of catechesis and regular teaching in all missions; the public teaching of sciences and letters; and the educational articulation in Brazil in the 16th Century contained in Father Manuel da Nóbrega s letters. The result of this research was the dialogue of nowadays with the past, as communications that took place amongst people along time, and Nóbrega, having left his testimony, opened the way to a joint and wide approach of history aspects in which he lived