Brazil: Societal and Economic Perspectives
Jacquelyn C. Franklin, Ph.D.
Professor of Social Science Education
Curriculum Coordinator for the Department of Criminal Justice
Jackson State University
The 2005 CIEE International Faculty Development Seminar (IFDS) in Brazil: Societal and Economic Perspectives was an exciting, informative, and an enlightening professional development experience. Through effective on-line and traditional communication methods, this educator was informed of CIEE travel schedules and requirements, Brazil’s climate realities, suggested clothing needs, the proposed program goals, select Brazilian conventions, legal restrictions and select folkways and sanctions prior to leaving the United States of America. At the San Paulo Airport, warm and humanistic behavior by Dr. Jose Carlos Sebe Bom Meihy (JC) and his staff, Ivson Surrusca and Mauricio Zanolini, greeted participants as an impromptu welcome gathering occurred. This informal gathering was great because many of the participants had a chance to meet each other, discuss news, social theories, trends and professional issues which were related to IFDS.
The bus ride to the Caesar Business Paulists Hotel was another informal learning experience. Dr. JC, Ivson, and Mauricio described the scenery of San Paulo and welcomed participants again. Bus rides in the future were exciting with song, folk stories and other spontaneous utterances from both participants and staff. Immediately upon arrival at the hotel, and shortly after “check in”, participants were issued essential program materials. An abbreviated orientation was provided, and shortly after, the first walking tour to the Alumni Association/USA Brazil Bi National Center began. Walking shoes, the IFDS schedule, pre seminar instructional plans and the personal and professional journal proved to be significant assets during the seminar, and allowed this educator to stay focused. Historical and population data and experiencing Brazil via formal and informal field experiences in three Brazilian states would eventually enabled this professional to document social, political, economic, and educational data for post seminar activities. Pre-seminar readings on the history, culture and languages of Brazil also enabled this professional to prepared questions for forth-coming sessions especially those sessions which detailed data on Brazil’s governmental structure, its educational systems: elementary, secondary and post secondary, and ethnic groups especially Afro-Brazilians.
During the first walking tour, this participant viewed a central city neighborhood which included businesses, residents, schools, and colleges. The middle class urban neighborhood was similar to middle class neighborhoods in the USA, and reminded me of neighborhoods studied in urban affairs classes. Specifically, the neighborhood reminded this educator of several neighborhoods on Chicago’s Southside near the University of Chicago and Washington D.C. The tour was basic, but generated many questions relative to my interest in inner-city studies and urbanized community designs. The scenery and structure of building and housing designs were fascinating and generated many thoughts about potential action research opportunities for the future. Several photos were taken to present in social science classes also. Thus, the benefits of this walking tour and forth-coming sessions, evening cultural experiences, and other walking tours answered many immediate urban related questions and generated even more questions as IFDS continued.
The first formal lecture provided teaching and learning experiences on the history, governmental structure, and education systems of Brazil. This educator interacted with several outstanding researchers, college professionals and students. Dr. Jose Carlos Sebe Bom Meihy (JC) and Dr. Flavio Aguiar were key presenters during this session, and student staff members especially Ivson were extremely helpful in gathering resource materials when needed. Dr. J C detailed historic data of Brazil and the state of San Paulo. His lecture provided novel data on the significance of native groups and African slaves in the development of Brazil and the state of San Paulo; his lectures were interesting, informative, and exciting, and many notes were taken by this educator. Dr. Aguiar provided significant data on the structure of the government, the impact of the military dictatorship, the restoration of democracy in the 20th Century, and the current administration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. His lecture detailed Brazil’s history of government from the influences of Europeans to the development of the nine of the twenty-six states, the military dictatorships, and the development of a democracy. Dr. Aquiar’s lecture was informative and insightful. Both lectures were in-depth and generated many additional research concerns about the history of current political parties, voting regulations and practices, community focus groups and the significance of race and ethnicity on governmental structure and public policy. I only regret that the lectures were not recorded; these lectures and discussions were timely and meaningful, and I believe they merit consideration for a future book on the subject.
Additional lectures and informal experiences during IFDS in the state of San Paulo were extraordinary. For example, the seminar included opportunities for participants to visit and experience a local café where the music of a popular singer, Jose Rodrigues, performed; Brazilians danced, and the behavior of the people towards a popular musician were viewed. (I purchased several CDs and took pictures of Jose dancing with café patrons, and it is intended that these materials will help to provide opportunities for creative instructional activities among my students. For example, it is planned that select classroom opportunities will allow students to compare USA and Brazilian music from the inner-cities. Another activity will ask students to document musical forms and musical lyrics, and how both influence the behavior of youthful residents who live in select urban communities.) The planned faculty development schedule also provided opportunities to visit one of the tallest buildings in San Paulo and experience fine dinning at an exclusive restaurant.
Activities during the second day included a visit to a second community college, Pontifica Universidade Catolica and another lecture from Dr. Aguiar on Brazil‘s Classical Language and Literature. Dr. Sandres Regina Colucci, a local professional, discussed the Environment and New Challenges. Dr. Colucci elaborated on Brazil’s environment and discussed in depth several new challenges of nine states. She also discussed the impact of other geographic and demographic realities on the people and Brazilian communities. Both lectures were beneficial for future instructional and curricula consideration, after the aforementioned formal lectures, participants were allowed to tour the university, which was once a Catholic convent, and view closely its architectural style. Lunch was provided at a local restaurant, and a visit to Sacred Art Museum offered addition data on the influences of the Catholic Church, its presence in Brazil and its influence on the people of the past and present.
A third lecture at the Alumni Association/USA Brazil Bi-National Center was provided on Education in Brazil by Professor Romualdo Portela de Oliveira. This was an enlightening lecture which discussed the structure of elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education in Brazil. It highlighted strengths and weaknesses of popular instructional intervention strategies and requirements for admission at all levels, but most of all it discussed Anisio Teixeira, the Founder of Education in Brazil, and Pablo Freire, the great Brazilian psychiatrist. Data from this lecture was valuable especially on the problems of education admission policies and education attainment by the poor and Afro Brazilians. Many instructional thoughts were generated by this educator as a result of this lecture.
The third field trip, and the final field experiences in San Paulo, involved a tour of an agrarian community outside city limits of the state of San Paulo called the Movimento Sem Terra. This experience allowed participants to interact with community leaders, residents and children who live and work in this community. Data collected and public policies cited relative to the landless movement will hopefully assist this educator in gaining historical data on capitalists and socialists activities among the homeless in Brazil. This experience also generated questions and ideas on the impact of politics and religion on the plights of the homeless and the unemployed in Brazil and USA, and select topics also generated ideas on the need for future action research on the subject.
The air flight to the state of Salvador Bahia was smooth and enjoyable, and the participants were housed at the Vila Gal Hotel. IFDS lectures and field experiences planned were outstanding. The first lecture in Salvador Bahia was entitled The African Presence in Brazil, and was given by Dr. Jefferson Bacelar who lectured in Portuguese. Participants heard the lecture translated into English, with the aid of ear phones, in an electronic room. Data from this lecture offered information on the history of Indians and Africans in Bahia and activities of European explorers especially Pedro Alvares Cabral, and later Americo Vespucio, who landed at the place which was named Bahia de Todos os Santos (Bay of All Saints). Although the lecture format was a bit difficult to follow, several scholarly articles which were provided earlier and the work of student assistants complemented the oral presentation. (For example, when questions or statements were not understood, Dr. JC or staff provided immediate responses and/or translations which resolved most problems.) This educator plans to use notes and the scholarly papers provided to revise several ethnic studies and social science courses, and produce at least one scholarly article and presentation during the fall, 2005 and spring, 2006 semesters. Instructional development activities and action research opportunities will encourage faculty in the Colleges of Education and Liberals Arts. In addition, at least one library exhibit will be planned during the spring semester, 2006, to display teaching and learning materials on the people of Brazil especially Afro Brazilian. Books and other works by Frank Tannenbaum and Jaquim Nabaco will be provided to assist students and faculty. Anticipated results will be the production of original materials produced about the lives of Brazilians in the Negro state of Palmares, such as the life of Zumbi, which was detailed in the poem by J.J. Norberto de Souza e Silva, and comparisons to other heroes and heroines in Brazil and USA. The book by Carl N. Degler, Neither Black Nor White, will also be reviewed during the college “Book Review of the Month” during the 2005-2006 academic year. This educator plans to conduct at least one Teaching Tuesdays session to detail Afro-Brazilian content and instructional strategies when teaching ethnic groups. Hopefully, these works will generate a greater understanding of Brazil by secondary and post secondary students through traditional and non-traditional instructional activities.
Frequent walking field trip opportunities to several inner-city neighborhoods, churches, museums, stores, restaurants, and Afro-Brazilian community associations allowed participants unique opportunities to learn about the people of Bahia. These learning experiences in this state were outstanding because of the novel data collected on Indians, Afro Brazilians, and Brazilians of color. Research opportunities by faculty and students will hopefully provide scholarly papers and perspectives of African-Americans on Afro Brazilians, Indians and Brazilians of color. The aforementioned walking tours also included visits to several Catholic churches in inner-city neighborhoods in Bahia. In addition, participants were given the opportunity to dine at a restaurant which was once a slave quarter and participate in musical performances by local musicians. After each experience, Drs. Bacelar and J C offered professional thoughts on the subject especially during the tours of Bahian churches. The discussions high lighted the hierarchy of the Catholic Church and the work of the church throughout the Brazilian population. Many discussions also centered on how select Catholic religious orders influenced Brazilian citizens and how participation in the church was influenced significant by color and class.
The air flight to Rio de Janeiro was pleasant, and the participants reached the Everest Rio Hotel late evening on Monday, June 6th. After an interesting cultural experience and introduction to Rio the first night, four professionals from Jackson State University (JSU) decided to return to the hotel and await formal program activities. The second day in Rio centered on developing skills and knowledge of Brazilian Art. Prior to visiting the first museum, participants were assisted by staff members, Ivson Surrsca and Marianna Fernades who made the bus ride a pleasant experience. The downtown walking tour allowed participants to experience Rio, which reminded me of New Orleans, and to visit Museu Natcional de Belas Artes. On route to the museum, participants witnessed a protest of educators who were challenging Brazil’s public policies on wages. Several IFDS staff and participants translated portions of the protesting educators’ demands, but the program schedule did not allow time for participants to listen to speeches in their entirety or gather needed information to understand the genesis of the protest.
At the museum students viewed paintings, and after a lecture by Dr. JC on Brazilian Modern Art, participants asked questions and made comments. Later, participants visited the Niteroi Museum of Modern Art which featured the works of Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. The aforementioned tours were interesting experiences, and participants spent time exploring the details of several famous works. Dr. JC ended this experience by allowing participants to express their thought on the beauty and utility of what they had experienced. In addition, participants were asked to give an assessment and summary of what they had experienced. Comments were extremely positive but several comments asked that time , in the future, be given to exploring the Amazon. On the trip back to the hotel several participants were interested in securing more information on the Favella, a large inner-city high rise community. Data were provided, but this educator plans to complete additional research on the subject before offering an opinion. We viewed at least three favellas which reminded this educator of the Robert Taylor Project in Chicago.
The third day in Rio included a trip to the Botanical Garden of Rio. Several working class communities were toured on route to Univeridade Federal Fluminense which were quite different from the communities of Iponema and Copacabana. Later, two exciting and interesting lectures on the Historical Perspectives of Present Brazilian Economy by Dr. Inez Patricio and Poverty and Inequality in Brazil: the Current Social Policy were presented. Dr. Inez Patricio was an outstanding presenter, and captured the attention of participants by her knowledge of the subject and compassion for the Brazilian people. Her knowledge of the socio-economic and educational realities of the USA were highlighted when she discussed her thoughts on eliminating poverty by social reform and citizenship participation using a long range comprehensive plan. Many of her thoughts reminded me of men and women who aided in the development of Historical Black Colleges and Universities and the social policies which helped to develop land grant colleges in the USA through Morrill Act I and Morrill Act II. Dr. Patricio cited the innovative plans, of she and her husband, for developing student leaders, who they hope will remain in Brazil and become community professional in poor, under served, and under developed communities. This was the central theme of this professional’s presentation: economic change through the development of human capitol. Dr. Patrico is truly a freedom fighter who is committed to developing action research on education and economic. This was an extremely informative session and lecture. (This educator plans to write a scholarly paper on the professional works of Dr. Patricio and compare them to professional contributions and works of H.P. Jacobs, founder of JSU.)
The faculty development seminar continued with a field trip to Sugar Loaf and atop Corecovado, which means “hunch back”, Christo Redentor, Christ the Redeemer. These were interesting field trips which allowed participants to explore great Brazilian attractions in the state of Rio. The final session was a Farewell Diner which included special awards, tributes, singing and recognition of IFDS program director and staff.
The IFDS experience provided this educator with valuable lectures and learning experiences which will be used. During the 2005-2006 academic year, this educator will: 1) Revise instructional materials in at least four undergraduate social science classes; 2) Organize at least one forum on Brazil at JSU and in my local Community, and 3) Write at least one scholarly paper on the Brazil Summer Abroad Experience and present it during the 2006 International Week Symposium. In conclusion, the program met all of its goals, and this educator rates the seminar with a grade of an A+.