Question on Profession "Mestra de meninhos (as)"?

[JML]

Hi group!

For this marriage of Joaquim Machado de Lemos and Maria da Luz. It states that the bride's profession was that of a "mestra of children or just girls" I can't tell if it's an "as" or "os" for menin_ _. 

Does anyone have any knowledge about professions in the 1800's? How much schooling would have been acquired at that time to be a mestra? I'm assuming mestra means teacher.

This is the first profession I have found for a bride, other than "domestica" or "costureira" so I am quite intrigued. 

Thank you,

Jessica

http://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/TER-AH-TERRACHA-C-1870-1879/TER-AH-TERRACHA-C-1870-1879_item1/P77.html

[Cheri Mello]

Hi Jessica,

Mestre (masculine) or mestra (feminine) means master. Professora is teacher (feminine).

You'd need to look for another "os" or "as" in the document to figure out if it's meninos or meninas. I kinda think it's meninas.

So what is a master of the girls? My understanding of a master is someone who has mastered something. It could be a trade as well as someone who went to school and mastered a subject. I believe the word is also used for a person who is in a leadership position as well. The native speakers can shed more light on this.

My complete wild guess (I've never seen this occupation) is that she's in charge of the girls' orphanage. She could also be something like a girls' principal.

Native speakers, please let us know what you think!  Cheri

Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: São Miguel island: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada

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[Margaret Vicente]

“Mestra de Meninas” or currently spoken “Professora de meninas” means “School girls Teacher” in the 1800’s schools were segregated by sex.  Mixed classes did not exist back then.

 

Margaret v.

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[Ângela Loura]

Mestra was the lady who teached the girls the crafts in order to be good housewives. Cooking, sewing, taking care of babies...

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[Cheri Mello]

So, from an American point-of-view, she was the teacher (or person who mastered her craft) of home economics. Interesting terminology from back then,

Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: São Miguel island: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada

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[Ângela Loura]

I take this opportunity, since some of these terms come all the way from the middle ages, to share with you 2 volumes of a book containing the meaning of old portuguese words, called Elucidário, it may be useful:  http://purl.pt/13944

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[Margaret Vicente]

Cheri, you can take it to mean as you wish but I disagree it covers just crafts.  Simply because I grew up with the term.  My Mom and Grandmother’s teacher was a Mestra, and that was Education, not crafts.

The term is also used in English schools.  The Principal of the School was the Head Master.  Why do you think that is?

Angela’s references first Edition is dated 1798— discussing Antiquated terminology prior to that time period. While the question posted was for  1870-1879.  If antiquated back then how much more antiquated will it not be 72 years later?

 

A mestre / mestra is a teacher whether that be trades or education.

 

mestra

Significado de Mestra

substantivo feminine Mulher que ensina ou leciona; professora.

 

 

Best,

Margaret

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[John Raposo]

Depending on the time and place (e.g. Bretanha in 1850) state run public primary schools were few and far between. So, some people who had some primary schooling (e.g. 2nd grade level) would set up a private school in their homes and charged tuition. These "mestres" taught the basics, as best they could. When official examiners for the state made inspections, they often wrote scathing reports about these uncertified teachers whom they classified as barely literate. Miguel Soares da Silva's book As Escolas de Santo Antonio e Santa Barbara, Nova Grafica, Ponta Delgada: 2008 and "Os Remedios no Contexto da Bretanha" in Memoria e Identidade: Paroquia de Nossa Senhora dos Remedios, Nova Grafica, Ponta Delgada: 2006, are great references.

I hope this helps.

John Miranda Raposo

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[Cheri Mello]

Crafts can be many things. A really good plumber could master his craft too. Maybe he'd be a mestre as well.

Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: São Miguel island: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada

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[Ângela Loura]

An interview about 'mestras':  http://portocanal.sapo.pt/noticia/163588/ 

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[JesseAndDeborah Mendonca]

Wonderful thread and discussion everyone.  I have been so impressed with the literacy and skills that are being shown through this search back in time for my husbands ancestors from São Miguel and Madeira.   

D

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