History of Lasallian Education
At the door of the old Carthusian Monastery, Adrien Nyel met then Father De La Salle for the first time in March 1679. Jeanne Dubois Maillefer had given Nyel money and encouraged him to begin a free school for boys in Reims. Nyel was calling upon the Sisters of the Child Jesus for their aid, as well as that of young Father De La Salle. Later that year, the first Lasallian school was established. This is when he welcomed into his home the first teachers who would eventually become the Christian Brothers.
Education as a Calling
Teaching at a charity school was not considered an honorable profession at the time, but it was one to which De La Salle was called. And today, there remains a constant need to be attentive to the poor in their struggle for justice. Fortunately, there is hope and encouragement in the Lasallian educational mission. When it started, it was a mission that loves without concern for station in life, and today, offers the skills needed for life in the 21st century; a mission of conscientious care of human beings that calls each of us to demonstrate and teach respect for every person, giving no consideration to wealth, academic ability, or other measures of judgment. This is what makes a Lasallian education distinctive in the world today.
Continuing De La Salle’s Principle of Education
Today, the Christian Brothers of the Midwest operate in seven states and include three universities, twelve high schools, and three middle schools. Of these, 31% of students are from minority backgrounds, and 18% qualify for free or reduced-fee lunches. The District serves 24,000 students who are supported by 4,000 administrators, staff, and faculty.
Worldwide, the Christian Brothers and their lay partners serve approximately 1,000,000 children, youth, and adults in almost 80 countries, making the Lasallian Schools the 2nd largest network of educational providers in the world.
De La Salle provided the ultimate scholarship—a free education for the poor, who were then considered uneducable. Today’s Christian Brothers follow in the footsteps of their founder, hoping to provide for and teach as many students as possible—to give those who seek and deserve a quality Lasallian education an opportunity.
Give the Gift of Education
Follow in the footsteps of Saint De La Salle and become a patron of education.
