<p>John Baptist de la Salle is the founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and a patron of teachers. His great achievements for the sake of education began quite unexpectedly.</p>
<p>Born in 1651 in France, he was the eldest son of a noble family and inherited the position and riches of his family. Destined for a successful career in the Church, he was ordained in 1678 and shortly after was asked to help establish some charity schools. He soon realized that the teachers had to be trained and he provided housing for them. His desire to be in the same position as his teachers inspired him to resign his canonry and to give up his private fortune.</p>
In 1684 the group became a religious community, and this was the beginning of the order that eventually spread throughout the world. It was a teaching order, and the rule was laid down that no brother could become a priest and no priest could join the order, and that rule has been preserved. Despite much opposition and hardship, by the time of his death in 1719, John Baptist had established the first teacher training college, schools for both the poor and the privileged, and written several education manuals which became classics in the field of education. He is a patron of teachers.©2011 <em>Living with Christ, </em>Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., <strong>http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/</strong>. Reprinted with permission.
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