The educational trajectory of the Missouri Lutheran parish schools during the first half of the 20th century in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

A bibliographic review on the Missouri Lutheran parochial schools during the first half of the 20^th century in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, is provided, with special focus on its historical constitution, formation of parochial teachers, didactic material and the campaign for the nationalization of teaching. The Missouri Synod started its missionary work in German settler colonies of Rio Grande do Sul in 1900 by founding religious congregations and parochial schools. The schools aimed at settlers´ literacy education and the teaching of cultural, social and religious values, through practical spirituality experience and educational action to serve the world. The Missouri missionaries trained their teachers at the Concordia Seminary and produced their own didactic material for their parochial schools, through the Concordia Publishing House. The parochial school was jeopardized by the nationalization campaign which dismantled a schooling process that excelled in arrangements between school and the reality of students' lives and community.