Democratic Management in Times of COVID-19:

Perspectives and Challenges for Brazilian Public Schools

Abstract

This paper discusses the issue of educational management in a challenging scenario: the closing of Brazilian schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through an exploratory research, in a documentary character, the articulating role that educational management has been developing together with the families of students was evaluated, with the aim to guarantee their access to remote activities during this period, and their maintenance and organization by part of higher departments. Under the clipping of two official documents of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Deliberation No. 376 of the State Council of Education of the state and Resolution No. 5843 of the Secretary of State for Education, it was possible to identify a greater concern with access to content, either through technological mediation or printed material and with “supervision” of teachers and students, to the detriment of strengthening aspects relevant to democratic and participatory management. No references to management or direction were found in the documents under analysis, nor ways to consolidate the participation of all actors involved in the teaching-learning process. The absence of dialogicity with all parties led us to a traumatic and exhausting process for everyone involved. Therefore, the need to rethink the pedagogical practices involved in this pandemic period is discussed, based on the difficulties listed by students, families, teachers and managers, in order to consolidate the contribution of all, in a democratic way, even if there is no social interaction between those involved at the time.