Education and faith used to go together in Carambeí in the 30s: one completed the other. In those years, the school’s educational project was to propagate the traditions and Christian values of the older generation to the younger, in order to integrate these young people into the everyday life of the community, not separating what was seized in the classroom from it was experienced in their daily lives. The girls used to learn reading, writing and arithmetic and also how to look after the house and their children. Boys used to attend, in addition to basic education, some courses aimed at dealing of land and animals. From an early age, children were prepared to live for the community, learning – be it at school, at home or at church – the values of their parents and the positions they should occupy in that society.

Faith was the basis of this education, because for the Dutch-Brazilian influenced by Calvinist principles, God was not only in meetings of Sundays inside four walls of the temple. For them, God was present at all times and in all activities. This relationship gave meaning to the practices of everyday life in that Carambeí.

TEACHER JACOB VOORSLUIJS

It was common to see those considered leaders back then taking the role of teachers. One example is Jacob Voorslujs, who not only worked in the manufacturing of cheese and took care of his property, but also had a prominent position; he was one of the leaders of the church, helping in the education of the children. It is said that one of the educational materials he used were the hymns to praise God, always in Dutch. The Bible was another educational resource used in the classes. Thereby, the teacher “kills two birds with a stone”, alphabetizing and evangelizing. It shows that, for the culture of these immigrants, there was no difference between school and church; faith permeated every aspect of life in the colony.