Regulations for the education of my sisters
“Regulations” composed by Sister Marie‑Dosithée for her niece Marie Martin when she became a volunteer teacher at home after leaving boarding school. The old aunt wants to help her manage the education of her little sisters.
I will devote myself with generosity to the education of my sisters, not letting myself be discouraged by difficulties, considering only the glory of God to form these little souls in the practice of virtue.
In the morning at 9 o'clock I will make them do a homework and learn a lesson and at 10 o'clock the class will start. I will have Céline read for 1/4 hour and count or add things for 10 minutes. Then a half-hour writing lesson, then I'll give him a catechism request or two and have him copy a verb tense, which will give him practice in writing.
At half past one in the afternoon I'll have her read another quarter of an hour, then at two o'clock I'll do my little reading with a few thoughts. At 1 hours writing lesson then study of catechism and copy of verb. At 4 o'clock, 2/2 hour reading lesson.
For Léonie, I will take care of it at the same time as Céline, she will even be able, being so little advanced, to follow her little additions and even show her how to do them, which would stimulate her a lot. For her, I will go according to her capacity and will try to push her as much as possible for the calculation, the study of grammar, dictation and verb, pressing her so that she shows what she will know to her sister and all on front of me. I will intersperse their homework with a few short recreations so as not to tire them and when they have studied very well I will tell them a story or give them a reward.
I will seriously monitor the prayer, allowing no levity or distracted gaze, trying to inspire them with great respect for God. I will lead them to practice virtue doing their small deeds to please Our Lord and make them make small sacrifices for the same motive. I will inspire them to the practice of charity towards the poor. When I see them make mistakes, I will correct them with gentleness and firmness, inspiring them with great horror for the smallest sin without however exaggerating it in order to form a right conscience in them. I will often use examples, there being nothing that strikes children more and leads them more effectively to virtue.
I will be gentle, supportive, not appearing never impatient, and when I see them too high I will keep silent. When calm returns to their minds I will show them their fault and if it is useful I will give them a little penance. I will take care of making them play, thus making abnegation of my person for the glory of God. I will often invoke my good angel and theirs to help me in this very difficult task. I will take advantage of everything to bring them to the love of God, the beauty of a flower, the goodness of a fruit, in short everything that can give pleasure to bring them to love God who has done them so much good. On the contrary, all that is sad and hideous will serve me to show them the ugliness and deformity of sin. It is thus that little by little the habit of virtue will be formed in them.
DSB
Friday July 30 1875
