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Jean-Baptiste de La Salle was the father of  pedagogy.

He dared to break with the customs of his time.

Some of his teachings undoubtedly need to be reviewed such as the excessively logical and analytical nature of the methods adopted, the insistence on silence as well as on the 'low profile', to the detriment, at times, of the freedom of expression and healthy relaxation.

However, other principles still live on: the global character of education (a combination of Christian, intellectual, practical  and moral values), the importance of reading as a good basis, maths, tuitions, etc.

Regarding several pedagogical issues, the Founder of Christian Brothers turns out to be very much ahead of his times.

The man

Jean-Baptiste de La Salle was born in Reims, France on April 30, 1651 in an influential Catholic family.

At age 11, he got his tonsure and became the canonic of  Reims Cathedral at age 16.

Upon the demise of his parents, he was called to attend to the administration of the family assets and also look after his siblings. Despite the setback, he went on with his theology studies that culminated in a doctorate in 1680.

He was ordained a priest on April 9, 1678; very soon he left the canonship so he could dedicate his resources entirely to the training and education of poverty stricken children in addition to honing teacher skills.

To accomplish this goal, he abandoned his birth place and went to live with his brethren.

Starting here, he founded the "Brothers of Christian Schools" and it signalled a remarkable revolution in the field of education: as a matter of fact, he was the first to replace Latin with the spoken language as a medium of instruction. He also brought about a drastic renewal in school methods, set the basis for wide-spread popular education via new pedagogical principles.

In the midst of insurmountable hardships, the Congregation became the first ever secular institute;scepticism was rife from the ecclesiastical authorities themselves who frowned upon the establishment of a secular school that was offering free education.

Jean-Baptiste de La Salle passed away in Saint Yon, outside Rouen on the morning of Holy Friday, April 7, 1719.

jean-baptiste’s legacy

· Group teaching 
Prior to Jean-Baptiste’s method, a teacher would train each child individually. The 'Brothers' gathered all children by level or 'order'.

  ·Learning to read in your mother tongue 

The medium of instruction until the advent of Jean-Baptiste de La Salle was the Latin language.

 ·Practical teaching
The students were made to work on contracts, prints and other papers deemed useful for the future.

 · Serious teacher training
The House of the Founder was a perennial stream of education, both Christian and pedagogical.

 · Education for one and all and not only the Elite
The reason why de La Salle insisted on a free school so that access to education was guaranteed to one and all.

 · Getting to know the pupil
The teacher got acquainted with the family and social environment of the pupil; a separate file was dedicated to every single student.

 · Adapting teaching method to pupils
De La Salle wrote: "refrain from correcting the kid immediately at the start of the school. First get to know their spirit, their nature, their abilities".

 ·Involving students actively in teaching
The teacher demanded a special effort, asked questions, gave practical homework. 

 · Participation of students in school life
A community service system was set-up. For instance:

-the keys: the students opened and closed the doors of the school

- charity: each pupil collected leftover bread and fruit to donate it to the poor 

-the bell: it was left to the students to ring the bell for each period

-in touch with absent classmates: visiting sick students was encouraged

         GLORIFICATION OF DE LA SALLE

His Holiness Gregory XVI  signed the cause of Beatification and Canonization
His Holiness Leo XIII  beatified de La Salle on February 19, 1888 and canonized him on May 24, 1900
His Holiness Pius XII  proclaimed him "Universal Patron of all Teachers" on May 15, 1950