A Fundação do Colégio Mackenzie enquanto Consolidação do Modelo Educacional Protestante na Primeira República

Abstract

Education in Brazil was strongly influenced by the American model, with its method of inductive teaching, introduced in this country by the Presbyterian educational model, which brought us methods and techniques that, before then, had been unknown in the country. The study was limited to the state of São Paulo where we observed a significant influence and also where the Presbyterian educational activity in this country began. Presbyterian missionaries were acquainted with an organized and complex educational system that covered all age groups and academic methods from elementary school to higher education. At that time the Brazilian illiteracy rate was 75%. This motivated foreign missions, which strongly relied on the ability to read as a necessity for those who were to be educated through the Bible. This work we cover the founding of the Presbyterian branch of Protestantism in Brazil, the issue of education in the Second reign and in the First Republic, the Catholic religion issue, activities of the Presidents of Mackenzie, the support of the republic for the institution and the transformations which took place in education in Brazil.