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THE ROLE OF THE LASALLIAN SCHOOL ACCORDING TO JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE
David L. Hotek
The chart below summarizes De La Salle’s vision of the role of the Lasallian school: the poor, victimized by unfavorable economic conditions and consequent ignorance and lawlessness, would find in the Christian school, free and well-conducted, a way by which they could earn a decent living, live a good moral life, and serve society and the church. [Taken from John Baptist De La Salle and Special Education: A Study of Saint Yon, Othmar Wurth, FSC, Lasallian Publications, 1988.]
For John Baptist de La Salle, the Christian School and the Christian Teacher were the means by which poor children were able to achieve their “salvation” -- that is, to be released from their cycle of poverty and to achieve their potential. The Christian School was to prevent the problems that arose when poor children were left to themselves by their parents, and to stop the consequences of this neglect.
THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
1. Is a school centered on young people and attentive to their real needs.
“One of the principle duties of those engaged in the instruction of others, is to come to know them, and to discern the way to
act with regard to them . . . You must adapt your instructions
to their level of understanding; if you do not, such instructions
will not be very useful.” (Med. 33)
2. Is a school open to all, and especially to the poor.
“They shall show equal affection for all their pupils, even more
for the poor rather than the rich, because they are especially entrusted with the instruction of the former rather than the latter.”
(1705 Rule, Ch 7.14)
3. Is a school which functions well.
“The school teaches especially things which are useful for them to learn to do, and which they will need during their lives.”
(Conduct of Schools)
4. Is a school which announces Good News and helps people to live it.
“(Jesus) told his apostles, ‘I must announce the good news of the reign of God, because this is why I have been sent.’ Say the same thing . . . this is why Jesus Christ has sent you.” (MTR 7,2)
5. Is maintained together and by association.
“For this purpose, . . . (we) are associated to conduct, together
and by association, schools for the service of the poor.”
(1987 Vow Formula)
A healthy environment was the best means of accomplishing this goal. This healthy environment was the sum total of personal relationships between the teacher and the student that were profoundly authentic and conformable to the most fundamental aspirations of human nature.
The key figure in this educational environment was the person of the teacher, who in all his or her actions promoted the full development of the student, and by his or her demands and efforts strove to improve the milieu of the child’s family and at the same time elicit its support. Thus, the teacher became a personal model for both the student and the family.
THE CHRISTIAN TEACHER
1. Is concerned for the “salvation” of the students.
“Those who teach the young are cooperators with Jesus Christ
in the salvation of souls.” (MTR 3)
2. Is aware of the whole life of young people.
“Let your vigilance extend as well to their actions out of school, as much as you can, so that they can live as Christians everywhere.” (MTR 14.2)
3. Teaches by example.
“Your zeal as regards the children whom you instruct will have little fruit and success if it is limited to words only; to make your instructions fruitful, they must be supported by your example.”
(MTR 10.3)
4. Has recourse to God.
“You need to apply yourself very thoroughly to prayer in order to succeed in your ministry, unceasingly representing to Jesus Christ
the needs of your disciples, and letting him know
the difficulties you have with them.”
(MTR 4.1)
5. Shares in the mission of the Church.
“Consider your task as that of building up the fabric of the Church . . . by instructing the children confided to your care.” (MTR 8.1)
De La Salle began by reforming those pedagogical practices of his time which he judged most harmful. He introduced only gradually the better methods discovered by the experience of the teachers. The greater part of the guidelines De La Salle proposed can still be considered fundamental to a sound psychology of learning today.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. In what ways can we say that our school is centered on the real needs of young people today? Is it meeting these needs?
2. How do we demonstrate our concern for the poor and neglected youth in our school? In the world?
3. How often do I (we) call upon God’s help to accomplish the work of educating young people today? Do I (we) teach my (our) students to do the same?
4. Do I (we) really consider my (our) teaching to be a sharing in the mission of the Church? Why or why not?
5. Does our school function well? Is an atmosphere of learning created in our school in which the students benefit from what they learn?
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