This paper focuses the historiography of the Brazilian educational movement between 1920 and 1930, especially in studies about of the reform Fernando de Azevedo from Rio de Janeiro city. The first point discussed is the relevance and applicability of the idea of modernity to definite the period. It suggests that this idea was marked by the transformation in the educational movement historiography. The second point refers to the meaning of the idea of modernity to the organization of the interpretation about the educational movement from Brazil. Finally, the text examines the major change in historiographical sensibility of the studies about the reform Fernando de Azevedo.
history of education; reform Fernando de Azevedo; Brazilian educational movement (1920-1930); educational modernity