Professores da zona rural em início de carreira: narrativas de si e desenvolvimento profissional

Abstract

The discussion about rural teachers is emergent in Brazil, and few studies on this topic are identified, specially when we focus on the beginning of the career and the learning of the teaching of rural teachers. Thus, this research aims to contribute to this field of study, analyzing how the practice of (self) formation of rural teachers in the early years of the teaching career is configured. From the qualitative research, (auto) biographical approach and the method of life stories, this research was developed with a view to unveiling the formative paths of beginning teachers from rural municipalities of Macarani and Maiquinique, Bahia, belonging to the territory of identity of the Middle Southwest. I used as sources of data collection instruments such as questionnaires, letters, diary and narrative interview, through which I could refer to the memory of the participants and the redemption of their life stories, trying to understand aspects of life-formation. The narratives of the letters, diaries and interviews were triangulated in order to improve the interpretation and analysis of data. The research-formation was the search procedure, given the merit of performing at the same time the procedure of investigation and formation, highlighting the formation process from both the narratives of the research and research collaborators. The study showed that there is no research on beginning teachers of rural areas in Brazil, calling attention to the emergence of the theme. It also ratified that the path of the learning of the teaching of rural teachers is long and fraught with peculiarities and that the social, cultural, personal and professional dimensions make up the production/mobilization of knowledge of these rural beginner teachers. The memories showed to be revealing the subjects and the (auto) biographical narratives, an important formative source; through them the formation course was redone outlining new meanings. These teachers face difficulties that underlie the lack of initial and continuing formation because they act in a mixed level class of Adult Education and act in precarious conditions. So, many factors differentiate the start of teaching in the countryside from that which occurs in other areas and they are identified as ruralities that cross this professional experience. In this study, it was part of this teacher formation trajectory the written narratives, potentiating the professional development, because teachers beginning their careers in rural narrate about learning, rural teaching practices, knowledge, relationships with students, the rural school, job satisfaction, about the personal self and how these narratives are essential components in the teaching establishment. Therefore, the narratives themselves are configured as practical formation of rural teachers beginning their careers.