A XIX century's project to improve literacy in the Portuguese army

Abstract

This article investigates a literacy improvement's project of the Portuguese army in its legal conception (1815/1816) and the results obtained at the fifth year (1820) of its development. It begins by examining the aims, the issues, compendiums and teaching methods of that project, as well as the school calendar and schedule and the recommendations on what should be the pedagogical relationship. After that, achieved results and the age of military students are presented, being made, then, a reference to the categories, selection and training of teachers. Attached is an updated and revised transcription of a handwritten document from 1822, whose author was the army's most responsible officer on this process, Captain João Crisóstomo do Couto e Melo.