Our Lasallian Tradition
St. John Baptist de La Salle founded Christian schools to educate the children of the working class and the poor in 17th century France. The Lasallian tradition, based on St. John Baptist de La Salle and rooted in the Gospel, educates the spirit, mind, and body of each student with respect for their cultural story and with the expectations for significant growth, achievement, and service.
Who is De La Salle?
Saint John Baptist de La Salle founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools to educate children of the working class and the poor in 17th Century France. He systematized and put into practice many educational methods considered standard today, including instructing an entire class of students simultaneously, using the native language to introduce reading and writing, grouping students according to achievement, reporting their progress on a regular basis, involving parents in the school, and giving students meaningful roles in the classroom.
De La Salle strongly believed that all children are entitled to a Christian education and that education is the only means by which one can transcend socioeconomic injustices. He was canonized a saint of the Catholic Church and proclaimed patron saint of Christian educators by Pope Pius XII.
Who is San Miguel?
Francisco Febres Cordero was born in 1854 in the mountain city of Cuenca, Ecuador. He was crippled from birth and until the age of nine was educated at home. He attended the first Christian Brothers school in Ecuador and almost immediately became one of the most outstanding students. At 14, Francisco began his formation as a brother. Against his family's wishes, he took his first vows with the religious name of Miguel. As a very young teacher, he communicated a genuine love of learning.
Miguel became an educational pioneer with his work in grammar, which attracted the attention of other intellectuals in Ecuador. Soon many of his teaching techniques were made part of the national school curriculum.
Miguel translated more scholarly books from French and other languages and even wrote entirely new books for his students' use. His textbooks included works on literature, politeness, church history, catechism, and Bible stories. The best books were on Spanish grammar. He became a well regarded scholar of Ecuador in secular society and authored many books for use in public schools. Pope John Paul II canonized him as a modern day saint in 1984.
The NativityMiguel network chose him to be the patron saint of our schools because the new education model was based on the Christian schools founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle, but intended for a new era of students, many of whom have San Miguel's Latino background.
