Professora Hermínia Torquato da Silva : inserção e percurso profissional (1918/1956)

Abstract

This research is biographical. This is the reconstitution of the life trajectory of Professor Hermínia Torquato da Silva. The biography is used as a research method with a view to capture the history of life considering the actions of an individual or a group in the social space as a living testimony of times and historical periods. In line with the understanding of Bourdieu (1986 ), in biographical illusion, I understand that it is essential to reconstruct the context, considering the "social surface ". Guides me, therefore, the main research aims to verify if racial and gender issues interfered in the professional career of primary school teacher Hermínia Torquato da Silva (1918/1956). In describing the life trajectory of Hermínia, through his biographical profile, found support in approaches framework of Cultural History (Burke, 2008; Darnton, 2010). The modernity of desires, progress and civilization that sought, according to Theodore ( 2008, p. 43) did not involve seeing the poor, especially poor black. This desire to modernize, to become civilized, meet in public education the right way to its realization. Busco therefore rebuild his career in the light of the ideals of the time, in order to understand the route and the figure of the teacher, shaped by the Normal School, that is, one that would mirror discipline and civility, educating and shaping the future citizen. The Hermínia 's life story stands out by the shock that was unleashed on the barriers to the practice of teaching, facing her, not kill. She sought, questioned, protested, appealed and persisted in the right to exercise his career as an effective teacher. I believe it is possible that their descent and their phenotypic characteristics allow discuss the issue of race in Brazil.