Bruno Viveiros Martins
Created in 1961 by the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), with support from the Federal Government, the Base Education Movement (MEB) had the purpose of developing a literacy program for the rural population of the country's marginalized regions. This program would be broadcast through radio schools transmitted by Catholic radio stations. Mass literacy would be carried out via radio with the help of school primers.
Starting in 1962, MEB laid out the pedagogical guidelines for creating its own teaching materials. Thus, the reading textbook was conceived
To live is to struggle
, which addressed the life and experience of the rural worker, highlighting injustice, exploitation, hunger, and misery in the countryside as realities to be transformed. According to its own text, "the worker would be an agent of change in the economic, political, and social structures, insofar as their dissatisfaction with the situation in which they found themselves would serve as a force to transform it." As critical and participatory citizens, rural workers would be capable of intervening in the political, cultural, and social context, according to the specific interests of the community and the region in which they lived.
However, on February 20, 1964, amid the escalation of political tensions in the country, the circulation of the reading book was banned. In addition, three thousand copies were seized at Companhia Editora Americana, in Rio de Janeiro, by decision of the governor of the State of Guanabara, Carlos Lacerda, on the grounds of having received a complaint concerning the printing of "communist primers," which would allegedly be distributed by the Ministry of Education and Culture of President João Goulart.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of an inaugural MEB class. In the central part of the image, a woman is standing, holding a piece of paper and appearing to give a presentation or explanation. She is wearing a dark dress and has short hair. To her right, another woman is standing, watching. In the background, there is a wall with partitions and a door. On the left, two men are seated, looking at the central woman. They are wearing white shirts. In front, several women are seated, also looking at the central woman. Everyone appears to be focused on the activity.Aula do MEB. 1963-1964.
Acervo: Movimento de educação de base - MEB