Rome (Italy). On 14 December 2023, the second meeting of Salesian Thursdays at Auxilium, is held, organized by the Center for Studies on the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Pontifical Faculty of Science of Education “Auxilium” in Rome. The 2023/2024 program, in continuity with the insights realized for the 150th Anniversary of the FMA Institute, has as its unifying theme: Preventive system. Salesian education yesterday and today.
“Sister Clotilde Morano and the ‘Gymnastic Exercises’ will be the topic offered by Angela Teja, history scholar of physical education and sports, former President of the Italian Society of History of Sport (SISS) and of the European Committee for Sports History (CESH).
With competence and sensitivity also towards women’s sports, Dr Teja will examine the text of Sister Clotilde Morano, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, niece of Blessed Maddalena Morano, to highlight various unique aspects of the exercises offered to teachers in their teaching efforts. The volume written by Sister Clotilde was published in 1935 by Paravia Publishers, in a way completely unexpected at the time of the fascist regime that imposed its texts, with the aim of modulating physical education according to the Salesian Preventive System and in accordance with the needs of women’s education.
The quality of the text, republished in the new political and cultural context of the post-war period and still in use in the Fifties, is confirmed by its adoption in many schools in Italy and abroad and by positive reviews in educational magazines of the time. Sister Clotilde had spared no care, creativity or expense to promptly give a product suitable for modern needs.
Talking about it today means refocusing the importance of physical education and sports, properly understood, in the context of the integral formation of young people, in continuity with an experience rich in fruits, now being tested by many challenges.
Two contributions by Dr. Teja (Part 1 and Part 2).
The text of the presentation by Angela Teja is available in Italian, Spanish, and English, on the website of the FMA Study Center.
