THE STUDY SESSION.

THE STUDY SESSION.

The study session usually takes place in the open air. It aims to study or improve natural gestures, either that the instructor is preparing the introduction of a new movement in a next lesson, or that he has noticed, during a normal session that his students had need to improve the execution of a movement.

Any study session, if it is not preceded by a lesson, will necessarily be preceded by a short warm-up.

The study session, like the physical education lesson, is subject to the rules of dosage and alternation; it is as far as possible progressive and continuous, but cannot, of course, present these last characteristics to the equal of a normal session.

The movements to be studied are first performed without being broken down by an instructor or by a particularly gifted student. A movement must in fact be " felt " as a whole before being divided into its parts: it is only fully grasped in its continuity. 

The movement will then be studied in its elements, and gradually reconstituted. Comprehensive execution first, then analysis and synthesis, such is the method of effective teaching.

Note. - Lessons, as well as study sessions, should be shorter the younger the children are. On the other hand, it is above all by imitation that the child learns, and by successive corrections that the action of the teacher is exercised.

 

2 °. Analytical exercises and corrective gymnastics.

 

When corrective exercises of an analytical character are deemed necessary, they should be carried out either after the "getting started" and before the beginning of the lesson itself (in this case, devote a very limited time to it), or during the lesson. special sessions.

These corrective exercises can be collective because they aim, for all the pupils, at the same effects :             

- either ensure the normal play of the joints ;

- either relax or tone certain muscles by a localized action ;

- or to prevent deformations and insufficiencies, or to remedy them. (Very often these deformations and deficiencies present a real analogy in the same school or social environment).

It must be understood that it is for the doctor in charge of the medical control to take the necessary decisions for cases which require individual treatment.

 

3 ° Hygiene and the Development of Organic Resistances.

 

The development of organic resistance must also be the subject of real training. It aims above all to bring into play adaptive functions which must be able to respond quickly to the needs of the organism subjected to the most diverse conditions: cold, heat, hunger, fatigue, etc.

" The increase in resistance is not only based on the fight against the extreme , but also addiction to the contrary ... We must get used to the contrasts and abrupt transitions, it is - to - say spend cold hot, or vice versa, from abundance to deprivation, from a regular regime of life to an irregular regime, from comfort the hard way ... It remains understood that in any progressive habituation to extremes and opposites rules must be applied dosage ... The fight against any element must always stop below the individual tolerance limits of the moment. In this way, the organism constantly has reserves of vitality. It is therefore possible, in these circumstances, to ask him, day after day, extra effort, and to obtain successive gains strength without risking the overwork 8 [9] . "

              The practice of the various general education and sports activities will provide teachers with multiple opportunities to instill in the pupils good hygiene habits, to give them respect for their body and their health ; no opportunity will be overlooked to show children the damage caused by alcohol and tobacco; we will have recourse to the doctor to draw the attention of adolescents to the degradations caused by venereal diseases.

The sessions of general physical education and sports will be practiced in the open air, in a loose and light suit, and, whenever the weather permits, shirtless work will be gradually sought.

              The sun will also be provided during the acti ities, but carefully avoided the excesses of snobbery or fashion The air baths, sun and light Accou require methodical tumance Care should be taken to ensure that undressing for too long is not a cause of chilling; it will be taken into account that the resistance to cold is all the less the younger the child. Allowing students to stop in light costumes after an exercise is a fault.

Physical activities will be followed, as often as possible by ablution or a shower; depending on the temperature, lukewarm water or cool water will be used. We attach paramount importance to bodily cleanliness: hygiene of the skin and hair, personal hygiene, brushing teeth, etc.

The permanent ventilation of the premises where the pupils live will be the object of the teachers' constant concern.

The habits adopted by the child at school will have a happy influence on family hygiene.