Discussions on Jesuit teaching in Brazil during the colonial period

Abstract

Jesuit teaching in Brazil during the colonial period is analyzed. It mayeven be proved that the schooling structure established by the Jesuitfathers was extremely adequate for that specific historical period. Fouraspects may be taken into account: the aims of the Portuguese Project forBrazil; the Jesuit Educational Project; the Brazilian social structure at thattime; and the human model needed for the colonial period. The Jesuits’Educational Project and the Portuguese colonizers that came to the colonyin search of wealth have an important role in the formation of the social,administrative and productive structure of a society in constant evolution.Since the educational phenomenon cannot be analyzed regardless of thesocial reality of a specific historical moment, the Jesuit’s project has tobe seen when the social and productive development during the colonialperiod is taken into account. The Jesuits’ educational model that aimed atproducing a human standard based on Scholastic principles was coherentwith the needs and the expectations of an evolutionary society during thefirst phase of Brazilian colonial history.