Algebra in Teacher Training in the Normal School of São Paulo: The First Teaching Programs of this Discipline

This text presents partial results of a research in development that aims to identify the purposes of Algebra in the formation of teachers in the Normal School of São Paulo, from 1880 to 1930. In this text, in particular, it is considered a specific period of time frame of research: mid-1890s; and, in order to analyse the first programs of this discipline for the training of primary teachers, documents such as legislation, a compendium of Algebra and programs of teaching of the normal and secondary course are mobilized. It was found that, in this period, the teaching of Algebra for the future teachers was more restricted than that offered in the secondary course. This reduced format of the Normal School program may be associated with the duration of normal course studies, shorter than the secondary course, but mainly, for the different purposes of the courses.