Reflexões sobre a criança em Campo Maior (PI) no século XX: infância e educação escolar

Abstract

This work aims to explore the historical and social development of childhood in the state of Piauí during the 20th century, with a special focus on the municipality of Campo Maior. The approach of this research is based on the idea that childhood is a historical condition shaped by social, economic, political, educational, and cultural transformations. To achieve its goals, this study adopts a methodology that involves bibliographic and documentary research, as well as the use of oral history through interviews with residents of the Campo Maior region who experienced childhood between the 1920s and 1970s. Data analysis revealed that children could suffer negative consequences due to inequalities in access to education, characterized by gender and social class. Thus, while elite children enjoyed the pleasures of a good childhood, such as access to leisure and formal education, many others living in poverty were forced to work to contribute to the family economy. This study aims to contribute to the enhancement of social memory and the understanding of essential childhood rights, highlighting the rights that guarantee a child a true childhood.