The institution of grupos escolares (elementary schools) at the beginning of the twentieth century in Sergipe represented a considerable transformation of the organization of public teaching. In this article it is sought to understand the daily functioning of these institutions through the identification and analysis of different school and civic events that occurred in the grupos. Based on bibliographic and documentary research carried out from a historic perspective, it can be seen that the different ceremonies present in those schools, as well as moments of the legitimation of primary school in society, were converted into moments of the celebration of civism due to the propaganda of the constituted authorities and the diffusion of the ideal of the civilized nation.
civism; elementary schools; Sergipe