On 16 August, the father of a student entered a municipal school in Ribeirão Preto – a city 313 km from São Paulo – armed and threatened teachers, whom he accused of alleged indoctrination and of promoting “gender ideology”, for not having prepared a souvenir in honor of Father’s Day. The businessman said he wanted to understand the school’s concept of family because it didn’t care to prepare a present for the fathers on the day the country. He also questioned why the school had sent a homework assignment in which the role of women at work, at leisure and in society was discussed. The school management filed a police report against the student’s father.
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Motivation
The businessman said he wanted to understand the school’s concept of family because it didn’t make a present for the parents. He also questioned why the school had sent a homework assignment in which the role of women at work, at leisure and in society was discussed.
Accusation of Indoctrination
During the attack, the father went directly to the teachers’ room, followed by his wife. Upon entering the teachers’ room, he began to question the homework proposed to the students and said that the content would have “an indoctrinating and ideological character”.
During his rant, the man pulled a gun, which was on his waist, and pointed it at the teachers. He also said that “if they weren’t teaching anything wrong, there was nothing to be afraid of”.
School Books
The man would have also asked which books were used in the school and who would have authorized its use. The teachers explained that the books are part of the National Textbook Program (PNLD) and were purchased by the Education Ministry during the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) administration. After the explanation, the woman asked him to keep the gun and they left the unit, threatening to return the next day.
CAC
To media outlets, the man confirmed that he was armed when he entered the school and said that he always carries a gun because he works in a trade. He also stated that he has a license of Hunter, Shooter and Collector (CAC) and has a record of the weapon. However, the weapons decree, in effect in the country, does not allow CACs to circulate freely with weapons. They can only be transported from the storage location to the shooting or hunting club.
Analysis:
Cultural differences that represent conflicting worldviews are behind a great division alive in the Brazilian society at the present decade. The event below shows that this condition can lead some extremists to carry out episodes of violence based on the defense of their way of living. Moreover, it shows that violence in school can also be perpetrated by and target individuals other than students or former students. Furthermore, many of the ideas in conflict have found representatives in politics, which helps to intensify the political debate and can lead to anger outbursts like the one described below.
Source: Folha de SP; R7; Diário do Nordeste.
