Relações entre lazer e trabalho docente em um contexto neoliberal

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the relationships between leisure and teaching work, in two cities that make up the Southern Region of Minas de Gerais, considering the context of contemporary neoliberal policies. This is a qualitative study, carried out through field research, whose data collection instruments consisted of participant observation and semi-structured interviews, carried out with 20 volunteer teachers, who work in the initial years of Elementary School, in the municipalities of Borda da Mata and Congonhal. It is understood that the leisure phenomenon encompasses a multiplicity of meanings and does not imply the existence of a single correct interpretation. In this sense, this study dialogues with leisure from two fundamental perspectives: the first, which understands it as a phenomenon opposed to work and the second, which interprets it as a human need, in a subtle and broad relationship with work. It is considered that teachers have their own culture, characterized by experiences carried out mostly in school and domestic time/space, and understand leisure as a phenomenon that is sometimes dichotomous, sometimes dialogical with teaching work, influenced by neoliberal policies, which make it precarious teaching and explore the teacher, leading him to carry out, in domestic time/space, what in this study was called conditioned teaching: a work practice that takes away a significant portion of the teachers' cultural experiences. In the case of women, their working hours can quadruple when considering domestic activities. It is clear that teaching leisure activities can be independent of capital, but their cultural experiences are still limited and linked to the recovery of strength for work. The dialogue between leisure and teaching can contribute to a better fluidity in the sociocultural experiences of teachers and contribute to improving the quality of life of teachers, which requires them to rethink more critically about their cultural actions in contemporary time/space.