St. John Baptiste de la Salle: Patron Saint of Teachers

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“Everyone thought he’d climb to bishop, not sink to beggars.”  This sentiment, expressed by one of St. John Baptiste de la Salle’s cousins, was shared by many in his time.  Today’s Saint grew up in a wealthy household, entered religious life at the early age of 11, and proved his intelligence by gaining a Doctorate in Theology at just 21 years old.  By all worldly views, he had all the makings of a Bishop or other high ranking Church official.  Yet, St. John Baptiste de la Salle would end up selling all of his earthly goods in order to live with and educate the poor.  Though often scorned for his choices at his time, he would end up having a profound influence on education, reshaping how teaching and learning were approached in his time and leaving a lasting legacy that continues to impact modern educational systems worldwide.  In fact, in 2019, a UNESCO report named him the “father of inclusive education”.  While much in his life led him to be named the Patron Saint of Teachers, today we’ll highlight three of his contributions: his deep conviction that all deserved education, his decision to form students in morality, and his innovative teacher training.

When born in the year 1651 in Reims, France, St. John Baptiste de la Salle entered a world where education was a privilege reserved for the wealthy elite.  Whereas Nobles paid tutors to privately educate their children, the poor (who comprised 80% of the population) were left illiterate, often working as laborers or beggars from childhood.  De La Salle would later cite his “first call” to his mission to be the sight of his city’s 1,200 beggar children roaming its cobbled streets.  As time went on, he grew convinced that education was a right for all.  He would end up founding free schools for poor boys, particularly orphans, street children and sons of tradesmen.  Though French society overlooked these boys, De La Salle once wrote of them, “Their souls shine brighter than gold.”

De La Salle would also revolutionize the type of education given.  The elite’s education was classical and composed of Latin and rhetoric.  Moral teaching was received solely through sermons at Mass.  In his free schools, De La Salle blended academics with Christian ethics.  Classes opened with the sign of the cross and the “Veni Sancte Spiritus”.  Boys recited a little Catechism by heart and thus tied their literacy to salvation.  He also used tales (like a boy sharing bread with a leper) to model virtue.  The education did not end with the boys, however.  De La Salle would also teach parents; his parent talks in 1712 drew 80 mothers to hear him urge, “Pray with them nightly,” and gave each a rosary.  In this unique blending, De La Salle paved the way for future parochial schools.

While many 17th century well-off hired brilliant tutors for their children, there were also other tutors who were failed scholars with no training.  To enforce rote learning, there are records that show that pupils would be motivated by receiving up to 20 lashes daily.  Understanding that a well-formed teacher was key for student success, De La Salle founded one of the first teacher-training programs in 1687.  In the beginning, he housed 15 new teachers in a loft to rigorously study pedagogy and practice teaching a small group of students.  De La Salle would critique their performances nightly, often saying, “Speak slower-smile more.”  Eventually, in his 300-page manual entitled “The Conduct of Christian Schools”, he banned “canes” for “kind looks”.  In 1680, De La Salle’s teachers eventually became part of his newly founded Institute of the Brothers of Christian Schools.  His Brothers were laymen-ex-farmers, cobblers, weavers-vowed to poverty, chastity and teaching the poor for free.  They would teach 10-hour days and live on donated food.  By 1719, they ran 23 schools, reaching 7,000 boys.  This dedicated teaching order and their teacher training transformed 17th century practice and seeded modern systems.

In today’s Gospel (John 8:12-20), Jesus was teaching in the temple area when He said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  Due to the fruits of his labors, it is evident that Saint John Baptiste de la Salle closely followed the Divine Teacher.  De La Salle shone light on a broken education system and reinvented the classroom by making it accessible, structured, and Catholic.  Today, per the Vatican, 70% of Catholic schools use classroom models tracing back to De La Salle’s method.  Also, following in the footsteps of their Founder, fourteen Brothers of the Institute De La Salle founded have been canonized, one hundred and fifty have been beatified, eight have been declared venerable and the causes of four more are in progress.

As he neared the end of his life on April 7, 1719, his last words to the 20 Brothers knelt around him were, “I offer my life for your work-persevere.”  In addition to being a beautiful reflection of our Savior on the cross, may he also inspire us to persevere in our life.  Whether we are teachers or just walking through this Lent to Easter, let us all remember to keep running a strong race till we reach the finish line. 

St. John Baptiste de la Salle, Ora Pro Nobis.