Here's part 2 of the little comic thing!!
Part 1 is here!
Unlike most of the prince’s governors, preceptor Saint-Laurent remained with Philippe for multiple years, and we know he was well-liked by his pupil.
When Dubois takes the job after him, he’s tasked with evaluating his pupil and organizing the rest of his education. The time limit is looming close: the prince needs to be ready by the time his uncle decides he’s old enough to go to the army for the first time.
Dubois’ notes and plans contain all the typical flattery you might expect from someone who wants to keep his job and has to deal with a royal family (can't upset the prince’s parents!), but also make it very clear that while Philippe de Chartres was a genuinely bright student, he could also be kind of a challenge. He was strong-headed and, most of all, he struggled with prolonged work, becoming bored and losing interest real fast. Dubois responded by adjusting his teachings; making small talk and making sure to keep Philippe entertained, distracting him a bit when he needed rest.
Adjusting teaching methods to a student’s skills and needs seems kind of obvious today, but it was a relatively new idea at the time! A little before Philippe, Louis XIV’s son the Grand Dauphin had been taught using vastly different methods… Corporal punishments were involved. a lot. 😬
Under the cut, we have Philippe's daily schedule when he visited Versailles! It likely would've been pretty different from the schedule he followed at the Palais-Royal or Saint-Cloud, with the etiquette needing to be followed and all, but it's still a fun glance a what he typically did in a day:
