O laboratório de ciências e a realidade dos docentes das escolas estaduais de São Carlos - SP

Abstract

It’s almost unanimous the speech about the importance of experimental and practical classes to the Science Teaching process through the area’s teacher. However, in many public schools these classes are not done, even in those that have laboratory. For this reason this research has been made to answer the following question: Does the existence of a Science laboratory imply, necessarily, in the accomplishment of practical classes? Therefore, it’s our goal, besides answering this question, check which are the difficulties that teachers have to do practical classes that go beyond the existence of a physical space to make them. To that, it was made a quality field research, in which we took as a database technique a questionnaire applied to the state schools’ teachers that had laboratory in São Carlos city. To make the database analysis, it was used Content Analysis. According to this theory it was verified that teachers show the knowledge of the importance of practical classes to the Science teaching, although many of them have the simpliscist view of it (as the validation of theory). Major of them said that they teach practical classes, even if it’s not so likely. It was possible to notice that the existence of a Lab itself doesn’t guarantee the fulfillment of practical classes, there are many standstill that make it impossible, such as initial formation lack; overwhelmed classes; the huge number of students in classroom; material lack and the lab maintaining; lack of professional reconnaissance; lack of support from the direction/coordination of school; indiscipline. It’s needed a reform in the teaching college courses to form critical and reflexive teachers about their own profession, quite as tighten relationship between University and basic Education, in a mutual knowledge exchange process, in which both are benefit. Besides that, it’s necessary to create public politics that really contribute to the education improvement and that value all professionals involved in this process. This work had as thematic.