The 1905 student geometry notebook from Colégio São José, of São Leopoldo/RS

Abstract

The paper aims to discuss what the problems found in a 1905 school notebook, from a student at Colégio São José das Irmãs Franciscanas in São Leopoldo/RS, reveal about the Mathematics practiced in this school, aimed at female education. It has a qualitative approach, through document analysis, being a geometry notebook from the beginning of the 20^th century, the main primary source of this historical research. Based on references on school culture, the problems present in the notebook were investigated, identifying the contents involved, the calculation procedures that emerge from these problems, and the association with the daily life of the students at the school. The 60 problems present in the notebook deal with the calculation of surface area and, mainly, the volume of geometric solids. The direct application of formulas for calculating the surface area and volume of solids in 42 problems. Another 18 problems are associated with the daily lives of students at the school, involving calculation of the volume of solids in the form of a prism, cylinder, cone, and cone trunk, such as a tub, well, cistern, funnel, roof, and bucket. The calculation procedures used follow some descriptions made in the book on Arithmetics of Colégio São José teachers, from 1900. Based on the above, it appears that these problems reveal a school culture, which educated generations of students to solve everyday problems, both in the management of domestic and professional activities, based on teaching material suitable for Mathematics classes in primary education.

Keywords:
History of Mathematics Education; School Culture; Colégio São José; School Notebook; Female Protagonism