Educação nova: As bases

A passionate plea for a distinctly Portuguese science of child development opens this early‑twentieth‑century treatise. Drawing on careful observation of local youngsters, the author maps the physical growth of the child as a living organism, linking vegetal, animal and intellectual forces to the laws of chemistry and biology that shape every body. Thirty‑two detailed illustrations bring the data to life, showing how heredity and environment combine to set the rhythm of somatic change.

Beyond anatomy, the work argues that understanding these bodily patterns is the first step toward a healthier pedagogy. It critiques the reliance on foreign textbooks, urging educators to ground their methods in national experience and in the child’s own sensory and cognitive balance. For listeners interested in the history of education, the book offers a clear, methodical snapshot of a formative moment when science and schooling began to converge in Portugal.