The construction of children’s identity in “Meus Deveres” (1945)

Abstract

This study is located in the field of Cultural History and History of Education, analyzing the textbook "Meus Deveres" by João Pinto e Silva, published in 1945. The work investigates how the interaction between text and image in this teaching material influences perception and early childhood education, reflecting the sociocultural values of the period. The objective is to understand how images and texts collaborate to form or reform conceptions of childhood, exploring how these representations contribute to the education and socialization of students. The methodology employs qualitative content analysis of the book's images and texts, using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates cultural history and discourse analysis techniques to uncover the educational and cultural nuances present. The theoretical references are based on studies on school material culture and the history of textbooks, highlighting the contributions of Nicareta and Abbeg on the circulation of school books and the analysis of images according to Belmiro, who discusses the convention and representation in the visuality of materials didactic. The results show that "My Duties" transcends the transmission of academic knowledge, acting significantly in the inculcation of values and behavioral norms. Images and texts are used strategically to reinforce desirable moral concepts, indicating a complex interaction between visual and textual elements that aims to shape the mentality and behavior of young readers in line with the social ideals of the time. This study reveals the importance of textbooks as not only educational but also ideological tools, which play a central role in the cultural and moral formation of children.