Alemanha como destino: buscas científicas e desdobramentos pedagógicos na trajetória profissional de Heloisa Marinho

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to interpret Heloisa Marinho’s appropriations from Gestalt psychology during her commissioned visit to Germany (1936-1937) and the contributions that this crossing made to systematising her pedagogical proposals and, in particular, the Natural Literacy Method. In order to give an account of this displacement, especially of how she extended her knowledge of Gestalt theory, I first sought to interpret the motivations that led her to cross the Atlantic in search of scientific answers to the questions confronting her and other educators of her generation. I then turned to her letters, staff record, travel reports, record of applications for leave of absence and newspaper cuttings that enabled me to interpret her impressions of what she saw, experienced and learned. Examining this documentation makes it possible to observe that Lourenço Filho, which allowed him to find in Germany the possibility of basing a pedagogical practice that contemplated each child in its biological, psychological and social aspects, thus providing a comprehensive education, instigated his trip. Building on the understanding that her travel produced important developments in the course of her intellectual formation, considerable attention was devoted to the correspondence with her thesis supervisor in Germany, which pointed to the international network of social relations she built up. Lastly, it was possible to gain an idea of Heloisa Marinho at the Instituto de Educação do Rio de Janeiro and her endeavour to systematise the literacy building method resting on the principles of Gestalt theory. Given her intellectual capacity, the trip enabled her to establish professional relations that extended outside Brazil. This research is intended to contribute to expanding the understanding an aspect neglected in the historiography of education: how Gestalt psychology has been appropriated in education in Brazil.