Secondary education and psychology in the decade of 1930: the Antônio Carneiro Leão perspective

Abstract

The paper analyzes the organization of secondary education based on two works by Antônio Carneiro Leão (1887-1966): Tendências e diretrizes da escola secundária (1936) and Introdução à Administração Escolar (1939). It explores the hypothesis that the recurrence of psychology joins the demands of industrialization, as in his works Carneiro Leão criticizes education based on science knowledge, which leads to the spread of instrumental reason and the strengthening of industrial society ideology. Carneiro Leão’s propositions are linked to those that endorse the country modernization through science and education; vocational education based on work; new school principles; experimental psychology and active methods; nationalism and social and economic development within order (positivism and evolutionism).