In times of celebrations for the centenary of Brazilian political emancipation (1822-1922), modernization policies were implemented in the city of Rio de Janeiro, at this time the federal capital, including reforms in its urban plan and the achievements of interstate and international congresses and an exhibition with the participation of European and American countries, following foreign models and examples, among other reasons, with the intention to insert Brazil in the orbit of nations considered advanced. Following this way, education, considered at this time as a factor for the progress and development of nations, was a theme present in official events promoted by the government, but also circulated through periodicals - magazines and newspapers - published in special editions. Taking this scenario as a reference, this study analyzed some speeches published in pertinent forms, based on two guiding questions: What was the education’s highlight in the celebrations of the centenary of independence? How was the subject treated in official documents and in special publications? Were investigated two groups of sources: official documents - Exposição do Centenário do Brasil, Livro de Ouro: commemorativo do centenário da independência do Brasil e da Exposição internacional do Rio de Janeiro (1922-1923); Regulamento geral da Exposição Nacional (1921); Relatório dos trabalhos (1926); Guia Official da Exposição do Centenário (1922) – and the magazines Illustração Brasileira, FON-FON and América Brasileira. In the first group, were analyzed, in particular, the publications related to the International Exhibition of the Centenary of Independence, hosted in the city of Rio de Janeiro (7/9/1922 to 7/9/1923). With regard to periodicals, were selected the special editions (1922/1923) of journals Illustração Brasileira, that was the official way to communicate by the Executive Committee of the Centenary Exhibition; FON-FON, one of the leading illustrated periodicals in circulation in the Federal District at the time; and América Brasileira, "publication of national culture and general reports", addressing, among other aspects, the "critique and study of national problems". With this research, it was possible to verify that Brazilian education, after one hundred years of emancipation and in process of nation-building, was a polemic theme and controversial topic in which it referred to its advances “toward civilization”.