The Book of the Courtier

In The Book of the Courtier, Baldesar Castiglione describes what it takes to be a good courtier, someone who plays the role of a follower and helps leaders make decisions. A courtier must be well mannered, well behaved and very importantly, well educated. According to Castiglione, the best of courtiers begin learning early in life. “I say that if anyone is to acquire grace in bodily exercises (granting first of all that he is not by nature incapable), he must begin early and learn the principles from the best teachers.” (C.242)
The New York Times article “Sports training has begun for infants and toddlers” was a very interesting one. It is about a company called Gymtrix that offers sport education to children as young as six months old. The creator, Doreen Bolhuis has a Castiglione approach to teaching kids sports at such young age, believing it gives them a higher chance of success in the future. “We hear all the time from families that have been with us, ‘Our kids are superstars when they’re in middle school and they get into sports,’ Ms. Bolhuis said.”(NYT11/30/10) How Castiglione believed that to acquire certain characteristics one must be thought at a young age is very similar to what Ms. Bolhuis believes and I agree as well. I personally do not have any talents but I often find myself wondering why my mother never tried to introduce me to any activities or teach me anything when I was still young enough to absorb them. Who knows, I could have been the next Maria Sharapova.