Saint john baptist de lasalle biography channel

Meanwhile he became tentatively involved with a group of rough and barely literate young men in order to establish schools for poor boys. At that time a few people lived in luxury, but most of the people were extremely poor: peasants in the country, and slum dwellers in the towns. Only, a few could send their children to school; most children had little hope for the future.

To be more effective, he abandoned his family home, moved in with the teachers, renounced his position as Canon and his wealth, and so formed the community that became known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Nevertheless De La Salle and his Brothers succeeded in creating a network of quality schools throughout France that featured instruction in the vernacular, students grouped according to ability and achievement, integration of religious instruction with secular subjects, well-prepared teachers with a sense of vocation and mission, and the involvement of parents.

Age 24 Ordained deacon - Paris 31 March Age 24 Reaches age of legal majority 30 April Age 25 Ceases for a time to be legal guardian of his brothers and sisters 9 June Age 26 Death of Canon Roland; becomes his executor 27 April Age 28 Helps establish a third school in Reims Early Age 28 Receives doctorate in theology — Reims July Age 29 The schoolmasters begin to take their meals in his house Age 29 Has a nearly fatal accident on a country road Winter Age 29 During Nyel's long journey, the masters spend the whole day at his house, except for school hours and nights Holy Week Age 29 Lodges the masters in his own house 24 June Age 30 Most of the first masters leave; others more disposed to community and Gospel join Late — early Age 31 Moves with the masters to a house in rue Neuve 24 June Age 31 Over 9—10 months, accepts Barry's advice to resign canonry and finally convinces his own spiritual director of this move — Age 31 Archbishop Le Tellier finally consents to his resignation of the canonry 16 August Age 32 Ceases to be legal guardian of his 3 brothers Ascension — Trinity Sunday Age 35 Death of Father Barre 31 May Age 35 Death of Adrien Nyel 31 May February Age 36 Serious illness during his visit to Reims Late Age 38 Death of Brother Henri l'Heureux — early Age 38 Second school in Paris; first lawsuit by Paris masters of the little schools successful appeal Age 39 Death of his grandmother, Perrette Lespagnol 7 October Age 40 Establishes Novitiate at Vaugirard - Paris Age 40 Receives portion of grandmother's inheritance 23 June Age 42 Disastrous famine — In , he took a significant step by inviting several young men to join him in forming a community of teachers.

These men lived together and devoted themselves entirely to the education of the poor. He emphasized the importance of teaching in the vernacular, which made learning more accessible to the students. He also introduced the concept of simultaneous instruction, where one teacher would instruct multiple students at once, rather than the traditional one-on-one tutoring.

This method proved to be highly effective and allowed the schools to accommodate more students. Despite numerous challenges, including opposition from both secular and religious authorities, De La Salle remained steadfast in his mission. He faced criticism for his unorthodox methods and the hierarchical structure of his community, which placed laymen in positions of authority over clerics.

However, his unwavering faith and commitment to his cause won him the support of many influential figures, and his schools continued to flourish. Instead his sense of vocation led him to choose to be a priest, but even so he could have set his sights on a good career leading to wealth and dignities. But step by step, he started to get involved with organising schools for the street kids of Reims, of Paris and then throughout France.

His genius for getting things done made his work a success, but more important was his vision that, in the eyes of God, working-class children are just as important and have as much right to education as the children of the king. In 17th Century France, people thought he was mad. De La Salle's most explicit statement of his vision of Christian education is found in the reflections he wrote for teachers, entitled Meditations for the Time of Retreat.

The second meditation bears the heading: "What teachers must do to procure the sanctification of their students". In it he writes These parents have no concern to send their children to school because they are too poor to pay teachers, or else they have to go out to look for work and leave their children to fend for themselves. The results of this condition are regrettable.

These unfortunate children, accustomed to an idle life for many years, have great difficulty when it comes time for them to go to work. In addition, thorough association with bad companions, they learn to commit many sins which later on are very difficult to stop, the bad habits having been contracted over so long a period of time.

Saint john baptist de lasalle biography channel

God has had the goodness to remedy so great a misfortune by the establishment of the Christian Schools, where teaching is offered free of charge and entirely for the glory of God and where children are kept all day and learn reading, writing and their religion. In these schools the children are always kept busy, so that when their parents want them to go to work, they are prepared for employment.

However, it is not enough that children be kept in school for most of the day and be kept busy.