The state and the population whitening policies in schools in the early twentieth century in the state of Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

In the early twentieth century, population’s whitening policies were incorporated in schools in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Whitening policies were rooted in racial theories prevailing in Brazil since the nineteenth century. Current research deals with such issues as: How were racial theories applied in the schools? How were the mixed-race Brazilians (caboclos) and settlers taught physical and mental hygiene? Research sources comprise Government Reports in the 1920’s, the magazine O Ensino, published by the Board of Education of the state of Paraná in 1922, school journals, such as Imprensa Escolar, published by the schools in the state of Paraná from 1939 to 1942, the Revista Labor, published in the state of Paraná from 1940 to 1942 and the Revista Escoteiro do Brasil of 1939. The above sources demonstrate how the state’s whitening policies and its endeavor to ‘civilize’ the population´s attitudes and manners were incorporated in the schools of Paraná. Hygiene and education were associated in the shaping and homogenization of the population to discipline bodies and attitudes. Eugenic speeches were broadcasted by lawyers, educators and philanthropists and teachers had to combat evil for the conversion and the production of the national citizen who should be healthy, disciplined and hardworking.