John Baptist De La Salle Case Study

The founder of lasalian community, Saint John Baptist de La Salle, started the amazing story of the Brothers. Born into a life of luxury in Reims, France in 1651, the life of this young priest took a series of unpredictable turns when he began helping a local teacher run a charity school for the poor with Adrian Nyel. What began as a generous effort to help to poor due to the request of Adrian Nyel this gradually became his life's work.

1. How did his faith guide him in his decision to dedicate his life to the poor?
At that time, a few people lived in luxury, however, most of the people were extremely poor. Only the rich could send their children to school. By the request of Adrian Nyel St John Baptist De La Salle started to open schools.

Describe why you think St. John Baptist De La Salle became the Patron Saint of Teachers.
What were his main contributions to the human and Christian education of young people?
St John’s first school attracted so many poor kids that a second school had to be started. However, St John, was disappointed with the teachers they were not well educated. After seeing this, he discharged all of the uneducated teachers and began to train new teachers who would do a better job. Soon he formed a religious community called the Brothers of the Christian Schools. They were the first religious community made to educate the poor. The teachers taught in new ways. They taught their lessons in French, the language of their students. Up to then, all children were educated in Latin. The teachers taught the children in age-level groups, like the grade levels we have today. Before St John Baptist De La Salle began this tradition, a tutor taught students one-on-one.

3. Explain who the De La Salle Brothers are. What does FSC mean in Latin and English? What is the official crest/seal “Signum Fidei” (include an image) of the De La Salle Brothers and briefly explain its meaning? Approximately how many Brothers and Partners are currently working around the world? How many countries do they minister and to how many people

In the 1970s, in many places, lay people who wanted a more committed Christian life asked the Brothers of the Christian Schools to join the lasalian community. This is how the Signum Fidei Fraternity was made. It is now found in 30 countries. The movement welcomes all baptised Christians who want to sacrifice their time to the religious education of the young and help unfortunate children. There are 560 Lasallian educational institutions around the world which, assisted by more than 73,000 staff members, teach over 900,000 students in over 80