A coleção de Pedro Braz na história do Instituto Federal de Sergipe

Abstract

This article highlights the leading role of Pedro Alcântara Braz, a black man, engineer and former director of the Escola de Artífices de Aracaju, in structuring professional education in Sergipe, through the collection of objects held in the museum at the Memorial of the Federal Institute of Sergipe. The study initially addresses the role of the crafts school in training young people "destitute of fortune", its transformation into an Industrial School and later federal technical education institution, addressing, when presenting the history of the institution, the role of Pedro Braz in structuring the technical education in Sergipe. Recognized for his inclusive approach and open dialogue, Braz was deeply concerned about the academic community, promoting a welcoming environment, encouraging the creation of new courses, the valorization and sale of work, entry into the job market and the opening of the school to new students. Through administrative strategies and visionary leadership, he was responsible for expanding the physical structure that today houses the Aracaju campus. After his departure, for health reasons, the students went on strike due to the rigid stance of the new management, which did not reflect Braz's participatory and empathetic approach, generating discontent in the student community. By highlighting his contribution not only to education, but also to the well-being of the academic community, this work offers a comprehensive view of Pedro Braz's influence as a black leader in the Sergipe educational scene. Pedro Braz's objects allow us to piece together the puzzle of professional history at the IFS, rescuing his physiognomy and history as a black man, which was, to a certain extent, forgotten. This article adopts the following methodology: qualitative, exploratory research that aims to present the trajectory of Pedro Braz, based on a collection of museum objects, as a driver of professional education in Sergipe.