THE SCHOOL IN THE COMBAT OF LINGUISTIC PREJUDICE
Sociolinguistics. Linguistic Prejudice. School. Discussion Circles. Inclusion.
The dissertation aims to explore and discuss prejudice in various forms, focusing on linguistic prejudice within the school context, especially among students and teachers. It sought to understand how these forms of discrimination manifest and interact in educational settings and strategies to combat them. An exploratory-descriptive and participative methodology was used, along with a literature review on the subject. The research was conducted in a municipal school in Altamira/PA, operating under a military regime in the 2023 academic year. Interventions involved applying two questionnaires to students, one before and another after the interventions and Discussion Circles, to assess the evolution of understanding regarding the manifestation of prejudice in gestures and speech. The Discussion Circles, where thematic readings were discussed and emotional and concerning accounts regarding expression were shared, stood out as a unique moment in the research. The results indicated the presence of linguistic prejudice in school, as noted by students and teachers. The Discussion Circles enhanced understanding of linguistic prejudice, while student essays showed critical reflection and increased sensitivity to inclusion, reflecting the interventions' impact. This work emphasizes the importance of diversity of voices in education and suggests further doctoral research.