Amélioration et Développement de l’Éducation Physique

1915 — Amélioration et Développement de l’Éducation Physique
Imprimerie de la Société Suisse de Publicité, p. 8–19

The Technically Capable Resourceful Person:
“Not that the possible alliance of an intellectual culture of the rank given there with the learning of a specific trade has not been recognized for a long time as utopian, but when it comes to sports and physical exercises, everyone will agree in estimating that a good débrouillard must be able to repair and maintain the instruments, machines, etc., which he has learned to use: carpentry and rope making play an essential role here, not to mention all the interventions of all kinds that the camp requires.”

Context:

• Coubertin reinforces that manual competence is integral to true physical education.

• The débrouillard is defined not only by athletic skill, but by the ability to maintain, repair, and adapt the tools and conditions necessary for action.

• This fuses athleticism with craftsmanship and field readiness, emphasizing autonomy and resilience.

Manual Work as a Core Companion to Sport:
“Physical education... lends itself very well to the organization of manual work.”

Context:

• Coubertin dissolves the separation between sport and labor, elevating manual skills such as carpentry and rope work into essential elements of character development.

• Manual work reinforces the same traits that athletic competition demands: initiative, perseverance, and resourceful problem solving.

Pragmatic Realism Over Educational Utopias:
“The possible alliance... with the learning of a specific trade has... been recognized for a long time as utopian…”

Context:

• Coubertin distinguishes vocational specialization from practical, everyday craftsmanship.

• The débrouillard embodies functional capability — not mastery of a single trade, but adaptable, versatile readiness across needs and environments.

Key Insight:
In this text, Coubertin broadens the scope of débrouillardise to encompass craftsmanship, maintenance, and real world utility, framing the débrouillard as an agent of complete self sufficiency — physically, mentally, and manually prepared to meet challenges without reliance on external structures.