Educative social service for destitute childhood (Brazil, 1822-1889)

Abstract

Educative social service for destitute childhood (Brazil, 1822-1889)
Abstract. This text approach school experiences of destitute childhood from the Imperial Brazil epoch. The aim of this study was to systematize concepts about the destitute childhood as well as make a reflection on the social work with educative actions for children considered destitute in the 1822-1889 period. The epoch legislation on the subject was used as historic source for this research. Since the establishment of the Criminal Code in 1830 – which was part of a set of laws that organized for the first time the administrative structure of the Brazilian State – individuals less than 14 years old that were not in the care of their families started being treated in different categories: orphans, offenders, abandoned, and the ‘destitute’. Destitute children were those whose family attested poverty or that had been raised by charity institutions. For those children two kinds of educational establishments were created: the vocational focused ‘Escolas de Educandos Artífices’ and the military career focused ‘Companhias de Aprendizes Artífices’. The diverse establishments for sheltering orphans and abandoned children were founded some times by the State and other times by private initiatives. The present work highlights the close relationship between government and educative religious orders as well as between governmental administration and the Brazilian navy and army forces in the effort of sending those children to the job market.

Keywords: destitute childhood; imperial Brazil; educational establishments;