Learning with the Mother

Useful suggestions for the instructors of Physical Education

A sample page of the suggestions given in the Mother’s handwriting in French

1. Prepare the lesson before coming to the class. Consider and fix beforehand every detail.
2. Come a little before time; inspect and prepare all that will be required during the class. All equipment should be ready.
3. Be punctual yourself and insist on punctuality from the students.
4. Be suitably dressed and do not forget the whistle.
5. Insist that the students be suitably dressed.
6. Take the minimum time required before you begin the activity.
7. Develop a good elocution and an excellent self-control.
8. Speak only when necessary; let all your explanations be brief; the activities are of prime importance.
9. In the matter of studies, insist upon precision. Repeat the exercises several times to achieve the physiological effect.
10. Provide great liberty during sports and encourage a happy and free participation. However, do not permit indiscipline or indifference during participation.
11. Choose monitors from among the students and let them help you in better conducting the class activities.
12. Try to develop in your students a taste for self-discipline.
13. Appeal to the intelligence of the class so that the students may understand the rational and educational value of the program.
14. Activities of movements should be the topic of the lesson and should be conducted at a suitable pace during the class. However, the instructor should take care to adapt the lesson to the general age and capacities of the students so as to avoid fatigue and unnecessary tension.
15. Amusement is the principal factor in banishing fatigue and boredom.
16. Appreciation of good work is the best motivation for a greater effort.
17. Change and variety are essential for prolonging interest, and for sustaining enthusiasm during the lessons, it is necessary to maintain the continuity in exercises.
18. Before any vigorous activities one should take care to warm up.
19. A golden rule to remember is that exercises and activities which have become easy or familiar to the instructor through practice are new and sometimes difficult for the novice. He should therefore not expect excellence in one day.
20. No student should be allowed to attempt exercises or activities which are difficult until he has been carefully and gradually prepared to do them. Nothing destroys self-confidence more surely than repeated failures.
21. When the instructor is giving demonstrations and explanations, the students should stand in front in a semi-circle, the shortest in front, in a way so that the instructor can see every student and is himself visible to everyone.
22. Students should never be kept facing the sun; as far as possible, bring them into the shade.
23. The class should stand at attention just before starting regular activities. When there is an interruption, even for a moment, the entire class should stand at ease. Students should not be kept standing at attention unnecessarily nor should they be permitted to stand as they please once the order to attend is given.
24. Every lesson should have a distinct and appealing beginning as well as an effective conclusion. At the beginning of the lesson the entire class should stand at attention^{6
    6}: *Stand at attention for a few moments* soon came to signify *Concentration*, which was practised at the beginning and at the end of every physical education lesson. for a few moments, and the same should be done before the class disperses.
25. “Safety first” should be the watch-word for all physical activities.