Teaching gymnastics challenging parochialism: origins and development of national gymnastics teachers’ associations in the 19th century

Abstract

The current paper aims at investigating the attempts to unify Italian gymnastics teachers’ associations since the 1890s. The unification process was intended as a means to overcome divergences in teaching approaches between Obermann’s school of thought – based in Turin – and Baumann’s one – based in Bologna. Indeed, the National associations of gymnastics teachers headquartered in Rome applied Obermann’s theories, while the Italian association of gymnastics teachers headquartered in Chioggia reflected Baumann’s principles. Thus, the study of these two associations contributes to discuss the extent to which a common approach to gymnastics teaching emerged in Italy in the late 19th century.