Escola sem Partido (Portuguese for Nonpartisan School) is a political movement in Brazil aimed at curbing what its supporters perceive to be ideological indoctrination in schools and universities.
The movement began in 2004, when attorney Miguel Nagib created a website where parents could post complaints of teachers and professors who were supposedly indoctrinating their children politically. [1] [2] Since then, there have been several proposals and bills introduced nationwide inspired by the "Escola sem Partido" concept, one of which was approved in the state of Alagoas in 2016. [3] A federal bill, Bill no. 193, was introduced in 2016 by Senator Magno Malta. [4]
The movement has gained steam in 2018, with the election of Jair Bolsonaro as president. [5] Bolsonaro is a supporter of "Escola sem Partido", as was his former Minister of Education, Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez. [6]
Opponents of "Escola sem Partido" say that the movement's proposals would restrict freedom of speech in the classroom and would harm critical thinking. [7] [3] Federal deputy Erika Kokay suggested that a "Escola sem Partido" bill would turn teachers into "enemies of the nation". [8] In November 2018 the Global Campaign for Education released a motion criticizing "Escola sem Partido". [9]
Escola sem Partido (Portuguese for Nonpartisan School) is a political movement in Brazil aimed at curbing what its supporters perceive to be ideological indoctrination in schools and universities.
The movement began in 2004, when attorney Miguel Nagib created a website where parents could post complaints of teachers and professors who were supposedly indoctrinating their children politically. [1] [2] Since then, there have been several proposals and bills introduced nationwide inspired by the "Escola sem Partido" concept, one of which was approved in the state of Alagoas in 2016. [3] A federal bill, Bill no. 193, was introduced in 2016 by Senator Magno Malta. [4]
The movement has gained steam in 2018, with the election of Jair Bolsonaro as president. [5] Bolsonaro is a supporter of "Escola sem Partido", as was his former Minister of Education, Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez. [6]
Opponents of "Escola sem Partido" say that the movement's proposals would restrict freedom of speech in the classroom and would harm critical thinking. [7] [3] Federal deputy Erika Kokay suggested that a "Escola sem Partido" bill would turn teachers into "enemies of the nation". [8] In November 2018 the Global Campaign for Education released a motion criticizing "Escola sem Partido". [9]