Promoting the Swedish method of physical education throughout France for the benefit of public health (1868–1954)

Abstract

This article examines the cultural and public health challenges associated with the dissemination of the Swedish approach and methods of physical education throughout France and illustrates the two main methods of influence, both direct through research and study visits and indirect through the creation of an international network entitled the International Federation of Physical Education. More particularly, it studies the roles of Philippe Tissié in 1898 and Pierre Seurin in 1946, and shows how these two major players of French physical education contributed actively to strengthening Swedish influence throughout France. It also highlights their equally essential role in the successful implementation of a pro-Swedish network in France, intended to serve their public health aims. This analysis forms part of the geopolitical and socio-cultural history of foreign physical education models, whose exemplarity was mainly dependent on Franco-Swedish relations and the models' social representations. Using archives from the French Physical Education League, travel logs and the Revue des jeux scolaires et d'hygiène sociale (Journal for School Games and Social Hygiene), it has been shown why the myth of the Swedish Eldorado contributed to creating, in France, "a work of art and of science that was, at the same time, both national and practical."

The itineraries of Ludvig Kumlien and the dissemination of Swedish gymnastics in France (1895-1921)

“…In this dissemination process, the RGCI sent its students to different countries, 1 as well as received and invited foreigners interested in getting to know it. 2 Swedish gymnastics then spread to different parts of the world through mediating agents, in addition to manuals, gymnastics exhibitions, creation of institutes/institutions, among other ways (Bloomfield, 2005;Sarremejane, 2006;Bazoge, Saint-Martin and Attali, 2011;Moreno, 2015;Baía, Bonifácio and Moreno, 2019).…”

“…1 Bolling and Yttergren (2015) identified the Swedish gymnastics activity based on the training at the RGCI in different countries, among them: England, Germany, France, Finland, The United States, Chile, Portugal, Poland, Belgium and Denmark. 2 Bazoge, Saint-Martin and Attali (2011) and Sarremejane (2006) identified the French going to the RGCI. Pereira ([195?…”

Escritos de L. G. Kumlien e os indícios de variadas ginásticas suecas

“…Em seu percurso apresentou momentos de intenso apoio ao método sueco e outros de críticas, no qual passa a defender um método francês(SOARES, 1998;SARREMEJANE, 2006).7 Philippe Tissié era médico e aprofundou seus estudos na ginástica sueca, se tornando um de seus defensores em território francês. Com isso, criou uma enorme polêmica com Georges Demeny(SOARES, 1998;BAZOGE;SAINT-MARTIN; ATTALI, 2011). 8 Fernand Lagrange (1845-1909 era médico e fisiologista.…”