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St. John Baptist De La Salle
Education is judged not by quality, but by output. Purely in terms of human achievement, De La Salle would win worldwide acclaim. At a time when gathering the children of working-class parents together for instruction was not seriously considered, he set up 27 schools for them. That, in itself, was a formidable undertaking, especially as he would not accept any fees, and so had to negotiate with the parish priest and benefactors for the necessary support. Even the amount of traveling, involving mainly footwork across difficult country, makes one wonder how he ever managed. Yet, more important than setting up schools for working children, was finding suitable teachers. The problem was that teachers in such conditions, with no income from fees and no salary, with a pittance to keep the wolf from the door, could never make a career of teaching. Nevertheless, De La Salle made a bold effort. He rented houses of teaching practice and timetabled programs of training period. In fact, because of these, he is looked upon as the father of teacher training, having started a workable system around two hundred years before it was taken up elsewhere. But it was not enough. Teachers with families to support could never buy the necessities in life unless they had the security of an income; none was forthcoming in non-fee paying charity or parish schools. Some form of voluntary effort was called for.
The Sacrifice and Birth of the Brothers
It became clear that if schools for the poor had to remain non-fee paying, the teachers would have to be without family commitments, ready to live frugally, and to be motivated by high ideals. They had to work together as a team and have some sort of rule to abide by, and a daily routine to keep. The idea of a religious order for laymen school teachers evolved. It worked well in practice. A dedicated group chose the name Brothers of the Christian Schools, adopted a distinctive robe, and compiled rules which all accepted. This religious order is now spread throughout the world, ready to meet educational need anywhere as they arise.
The Propagation of De La Salle's Education
Two of De La Salle's schools, both founded specifically to meet educational need as they arose, were not of the general pattern of charity and parish schools. One is of special interest to people in Great Britain and Ireland, as it was setup at the request of King James II of England, who was then exiled in France, for the sons of his soldiers and followers. De La Salle took charge of the school and taught these Irish boys himself. The other is the famous school of St. Yon in Rouen. It was founded at a time when a new middle-class arose as a result of the increase in trade and business. There was a need for a boarding house for boys, sons of parents of modest means. It was a success and attracted boys in Paris and well beyond Rouen. So successful was it and so good its reputation for sound discipline that parents with unruly children sought to solve their family problems by sending their boys there. These boys benefited considerably. Marveling at this success, a priest asked De La Salle to open a section for delinquents. That, too, was successful. The secret was the popularity of a useful agricultural course and practical workshops, together with a brotherly but firm discipline. The school was later highly spoken of in a Government Report of 1867, which looked upon it as a forerunner of technical education in France.
God and Transformation
The educationist in De La Salle and his holiness fused into one personality. It was because he was a man of prayer, deeply committed to the Church and its teachings, and having high moral values of his own, that he found stamina to do all he did. The hallmark of his piety was the "Spirit of Faith", which led him to think of God in all things, to see his Providence in the events of life, and to do His will.
Because of his holiness and his pioneering work in education, Pope Pius XII proclaimed Saint John Baptist De La Salle Patron of Teachers in 1950.
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