Background
He was born at Reims, France, April 30, 1651. He was the oldest child.
He was born at Reims, France, April 30, 1651. He was the oldest child.
He was sent to the College des Bons Enfants, where he pursued higher studies and, on July 10, 1669, he took the degree of Master of Arts. When De La Salle had completed his classical, literary, and philosophical courses, he was sent to Paris to enter the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice on October 18, 1670.
He took holy orders in 1678, and founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in 1680. Called the Christian Brothers, they brought free vocational and technical education to poor children. While La Salle held to the principles of the group method of education, he also successfully employed the opposite, or individual, method. He founded a reform school at Saint-Yon, and in 1684 established one of the first schools to train teachers. He died Apr. 7, 1719, and was canonized as the Patron of Youth in 1900.
(Book by La Salle, Jean Baptiste de)
De La Salle was a man of refined manners, a cultured mind, and great practical ability, in whom personal prosperity was balanced with kindness and affability. In physical appearance he was of commanding presence, somewhat above the medium height. He had large, penetrating blue eyes and a flat forehead.
Called the Christian Brothers, they brought free vocational and technical education to poor children.