SOME NOTES ON OFFICIAL DISCOURSE FOR PORTUGUESE: THE CURRICULAR TARGETS AND LITERARY EDUCATION

Abstract

The form and content of specific prescriptive texts to a given school discipline are significant on the ideological level. Fluctuations in prescriptive texts for Portuguese have revealed the adoption of a more conservative approach, by the Ministry of Education, marked by a high degree of specification. We will consider the particular case of Literary Education recently considered as one of the areas highlighted in curriculum targets for Portuguese. We will focus on the part of the document for the 1st cycle of basic education. In this reflection, based on document analysis, we intend to identify features pointing to what we would consider a proposal both of apparent promotion of literary education and apparent concern about the role of teachers. In line with the theoretical framework considered, the document shows, on its prescriptive nature, a very high degree of specification, constituting itself as potential constricting element for the teacher’s freedom of action.