Juventude, eugenia e higiene no Ginásio da Bahia: da construção teórica às políticas públicas

Abstract

The early 20th century in Brazil was marked by poor sanitary and social conditions that spurred the spread of eugenic and hygienist ideals. The Brazilian eugenics movement organized itself in various centers and had a significant impact on education and the youth ideology of the time. With the rise of Getúlio Vargas to power, the establishment of the Ministry of Education and Health reflected the influence of eugenics on educational policies. Educational reforms, driven by the Escola Nova movement, emphasized hygiene and physical education as means of racial improvement, along with the promotion of eugenic education as recommended in the 1935 Constitution. In this context, the Ginásio da Bahia emerged as a crucial center for the implementation of these ideas. The institution became a laboratory where educational practices focused on hygiene, eugenics, and the physical development of youth were vigorously applied. The Ginásio da Bahia not only adhered to national guidelines but also played an active role in disseminating these ideals, shaping the formation of generations of young people and significantly contributing to the consolidation of eugenic thought in Brazil.