School, Sweat and Tears: The Reconfiguration of Emotional Order and Mobilizations for Justice in School.

This paper analyzes the constitution, work and effects of a particular emotional order in a public primary school recognized as “good and democratic”, even if situated in a poor and violent neighborhood on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. This school has been trying to produce distinctive education for disadvantaged students for 30 years. Drawing on 600 hours of observations, 10 in-depth interviews with school actors and documental research, I argue that this work was linked with a reorientation of the meanings of school organization and the constitution of a “state of engagement”, sustained by a particular form of regulating emotions related to: (a) the reconfiguration of pedagogic work, of professionals identities and ethics; (b) the reorientation of relations between neighbors, parents, students and educational professionals; and (c) the way emotions are understood, legitimized and used in mobilizations for resources, against injustice cases produced by the education system or the external environment. The reconfiguration of a constantly negotiated micro-politics of emotions influenced the development of a particular sense of justice. Furthermore, professionals developed strategies of visibility, recognition, valuation and sharing of the intensive emotional labor and care demands, constituting a way of regulating the interactions that are attentive to the expressions of affection, authorizing, for example, crying as a legitimate expression of awareness and as data in meetings and decision making processes. The normalization of this emotional micro-politics regulates actions, contributes to the development of a collective ethic, to the change of pedagogical work, to address institutional processes of indifference production, to redirect responsibilities and commitments, and to the engagement in the struggle for resources and rights. However, it enhances the emotional charge of the teaching work, which can cause conflicts, stress and illness.