charity, so that they may progress in the knowledge of their technical skill according to their talents and abilities”.309A kind of mini summa pedagogica is offered them by their Constitutions, where there is a chapter dedicated to them.310 Don Bosco could have accepted it without reservation.

257. They will safeguard the young entrusted to them, like a precious and holy deposit. They are to love them as the pupil of their own eye. They will use civil and respectful manners towards them; they will never show disrespect towards anyone, neither in their ways of acting nor through their words; they will make themselves feared in a healthy manner and respectfully loved.

258. They will lead them to love their work. They will get them used to working more out of love than fear. They shall never yield to their unreasonable pretenses, neither will they allow their whims to have their way. They should never demand too much. But they should never appear weak.

259. They will study well their pupils’ character and strength to aim them along the right path; since not all the young want to be guided in the same way, they will not expect the same response from everyone but only a response suited to their ability and the gifts they have received from God.

260. They will treat their pupils with much politeness and gentleness, they will instill good behaviour in them, the required respect and confidencefor and in their superiors. They will never leave them alone in the classroom in the workshop. And when they are to absent themselves because of some interest or necessity, there should always be someone to assist in their place. They will not allow secret conferences or conversations, especially between borders and outside students. Woe to those headmasters who might be negligent in this.311

Supervision is a subject with several guidelines, particularly in reference to the prefect of supervision and the vice Rector.312

The vice-rector should conduct himself with much caution and exquisite prudence rather

than showing the boarders his abundant good faith in them... Recreations especially should

get his attention: he will never allow the younger ones to be without supervision, but he

will do so in such a way as to leave them a certain amount of freedom, thus allowing them

to demonstrate better who they are. This will help him more easily come to know their

character and their inclinations and have an easy access to forming them and handling them

successfully... Let him see everything and yet pretend not to see everything; and let him

correct with prudence and use few punishments which, however, should be beneficial and

effective. Let him be slow to punish defects which are the result of youthful exuberances,

fickleness or thoughtlessness. But let him be inexorable in punishing defects which spring

from ill will supported by heartfelt obstinacy.313

The Spiritual Director’s “instructions should try to present their religious duties as a sweet yoke, as a

309 Regolamento del Pio Istituto, in Raccolta, 45. 310 Costituzioni, part 7, ch. 8, 96-98.

311 Costituzioni, part 7, ch. 8, 96-97.

312 Organizzazione e Regolamento, in Raccolta, 45-46. 313 Costituzioni, part 7, chap. 6, art. 238 and 242,. 91-92.