Revista Brasileira de História da Educação (Apr 2014)
Tupinambá children and their education in the 16th century: kindness, pain, obedience
Abstract
Every society socializes its youngest members by a set of rites of passage. The Tupinambá are no exception to this. In the 16th century, the Portuguese were amazed by the socialization models practiced in that society. The ‘couvade’ particularly drew their attention, though they never really understood it and frequently regarded it as a barbarian ritual. For those who pay deep attention to these practices, however, a rich set of information emerges in all its complexity, allowing us to weave social links and integrating differences between age groups or genders, among others. Far from the ideological view conveyed by the Portuguese, which presents these communities as if they had no real educational rules, Tupinambá society is actually very structured and concerned about the education of its children.
