In December, 1935, for political reasons, Anísio submitted his resignation to mayor Pedro Ernesto. His colleagues expressed their support by signing a joint public declaration. Many of them, like him, would be persecuted and some would even end up in prison. Anísio Teixeira takes refuge in Bahia hinterland, region of Caetité, at Gurutuba Farm.

By the time he publishes his "Educação para a democracia: introdução à administração escolar" (Education for Democracy: an introduction to school administration) (1936), he had already quit public life.

Between 1937 and 1945, Anísio Teixeira would remain in Bahia and dedicate himself to the extraction and export of manganese, limestone and cement; to car dealing; the translation of books for the Companhia Editora Nacional (National Publishing Company); and to correspondence with friends, among whom Monteiro Lobato.