António Teixeira’s Cartilha Normal Portuguésa (1902): between traditions, changes and exchanges

Abstract

The 19th century in Europe witnessed numerous social revolutions, among which those affecting national pedagogical systems occupy a noteworthy place deserving of scholarly consideration. Indeed, primers (cartilhas) once again assumed central importance during this period as intellectuals developed various materials to promote literacy. This proliferation of resources and the expansion of public schooling prompted the Portuguese government to enhance and strengthen the educational system while simultaneously attempting to standardize the diverse teaching methods in circulation. However, to mitigate the high cost of books, educators were encouraged to become authors, as evidenced by the publication of the Cartilha Normal Portuguesa by Cape Verdean canon António Teixeira in 1902. Teixeira emerged as a notable figure in the cultural landscape of the archipelago at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, dedicated to combating illiteracy and fostering a sense of identity consciousness. His primer symbolizes the synthesis of a longstanding European pedagogical-didactic tradition, modernized by the new linguistic and philological developments of the 19th century and filtered through the didactic guidelines of Portuguese educators such as António de Castilho, Carlos Dias, Francisco de Aulete, and João de Deus. This study aims to shed light on this primer, which combines traditional standards and modern innovations, conceived beyond Europe’s geographical confines yet perfectly encapsulating the vigorous intellectual movement of the fin de siècle period across the Old World.