ABSTRACT
BOAL: When I returned in 1986 to Rio there was a vice-governor who knew my work. He was doing something important politically, something revolutionary. He made a network of public schools where studentsmostly from the slums-had breakfast, classes, lunch, and in the afternoon arts or sports, and then a bath (most of them had no water at home). Then they ate dinner-and some would take food home for children who were not yet old enough to go to school. This program was revolutionary because if a child leads a human life for a few years she will never accept going back to living the inhuman life that most Brazilians live today. The children did not have to steal to eat-they went to school and got fed. It was revolutionary also because they had health care and art. Socialcultural workers-“cultural animators”—organized dances, singing, poetry readings, and theatre.
