Tel-La Salle

Volume 6 | Issue 1

Writer:
Rosemarie Trabuco 2BSA

Assigned works:
Feature Writing: The Lasallian Way
Literary: A Pop of Hype | More Voices, More Mission

The Lasallian Way

To touch the hearts of your pupils and to inspire them with the Christian spirit is the greatest miracle
you can perform, and one which God expects of you."
- Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Lasallian education has been a brand of excellence for almost 300 years now. When John Baptist de La
Salle founded the Brothers of the Christian Schools in the late 17th century, more than 80 countries have
been influenced by his vision and innovative spirit. But the question needs to be asked - what makes the
Lasallian way distinct from other institutions?

The Eight Educational Theories and Teachings

of St. La Salle
De La Salle transformed education by creating a
community of educators with whom he
established a spirituality of teaching and
learning, to give a free human and Christian
education to poor youth and their families.
According to an analysis done by Joanna Fecker,
Kristina Greenwood and Jestin Harrigan of the
New Foundations public online library, the eight
educational theories of St. La Salle has been one
of the basic foundations of the Lasallian
pedagogy. These eight discuss the principles,
teaching method, teacher criterion and
educational tenets of our founder.
Functional Approach
In his Theory of Value, St. La Salle holds firm to
his belief that everything learned in life must be
functional. Later on, he institutionalized a
practical approach in teaching, that is, students
must be able to use the knowledge they acquired
not only inside the four corners of the classroom
but also to develop the ability to construct
meaningful realities and relate it to their daily
experiences. For this reason, he had his
instructors teach in vernacular so that students
may be able to grasp and share easily the
knowledge they gained.

On Becoming Better Christians

St. La Salles greatest mission is to develop a
spirit of religion in the soul of his students, as
stated in most of his theories Theory of
Knowledge, Society, Learning and Transmission.
There he accentuates his belief that rather than
undermining society, the education of the poor
and working class would lift all of society.
Knowledge, in the sense of Christian knowledge,
plays a role in not only improving the life of the
one receiving an education, but also in uplifting
society as a whole. Thus, for St. La Salle, belief
and knowledge are inseparable. And in order to
promote the acquisition of holistic knowledge in
his schools, St. La Salle applied the so-called
Temple Learning model which focuses on
character education cultivating the mind and
spirit rather than merely relying on textbooks.
Some of the examples of St. La Lasalles
educational method include taking off hats and
blessing with holy water upon entering the
classroom, observing silence, not playing during
meals, and requiring everyone to clean up after
him/her self. Students are also reprimanded
when occasion requires it provided that they are
respected while being corrected. Most of all, St.
La Salle instilled in his students the value of
praying before and after class consistent with his
belief that through prayer, one could become
closer to God.

Character over Grades

St. La Salles work would not be complete by
simply educating standard academics alone it
must be in connivance with a religious element.
He views education not only for the attainment
of grades but also for the development of
students into better Christians. Thus, he
punishes liars by persuading them to ask pardon
humbly of God while kneeling in the middle of
the classroom. On the other hand, he also
rewards his students for piety, ability, and
diligence by giving a religious item or book. Piety
is always the best award a student can receive
because in his view, however important it might
be to teach the pupils reading, writing, and
arithmetic, it is far more important, to train them
to piety.

Lasallian Educators
In his Theory of Transmission, he wished to see
his instructors to be those with an evangelical
spirit and total dedication to the instruction and
Christian education of the children of the
working class and the poor. They must maintain
certain virtues like community, faith, zeal,
practicality and spirituality. He required his
teachers to be models of virtue.
And in order to fulfill his mission to teach the
poor youth with a human and Christian
education, St. La Salle instituted programs for
training lay teachers. To him, teaching the
poor was not simply charity, but rather imitatio
dei (imitation of God).

Lasallian Way in the 21st Century

Lasallian education is about giving a human and
Christian education. Christian because what we
want is the education that we give will always be
centered on Christ. Second, its human because

we want to protect every persons dignity. We

dont only teach about spirituality but we also
want to teach about the human part. We also
want to teach how to practice what we believe.
So Lasallian Education is both human and
Christian. - Bro. Nico Mariano, FSC
Over the span of almost 300 years, Lasallian way
has become known for its mission in nurturing
students into better Christians. But has the span
of years affected the mission established by St.
John Baptist De La Salle?
Grace Saron, a graduating student and has been
in La Salle for 14 years believes that the
principles are still present and practiced today
though its presence and implementation seem
different. To study in a La Salle institution can
be associated with wealth and prestige which
defeats the original intention of St. La Salle in
establishing the institution which is education to
the poor. But the quality and aim of St. La Salle is
still the same aim that La Salle schools today are
aspiring for.
Mr. Ryan Naval, *kineme kineme*, also stated
that in the present, expression of the mission is
what they call creative fidelity, meaning, the way
it is being expressed to some extent maybe
different but is still always faithful to the heart of
the mission which is the Christian and human
education especially the least, the lost and the
last.
He even cited an example when someone asks
Paano ka naging faithful sa mission if you have
students who are basically not the least and the
needy in society? The answer would be, in De
La Salle Philippines, they see to it that they
maintain a good number of scholars because
thats the focus of the mission. Lasallian
institutions will always look forward for the
accessibility and quality of education.

On the subject of instructors as role models, Mr.

Naval indicated that if you are teaching your
student to become the best teacher that he
could be, dapat in his manner of teaching
nakikita din dapat yung Christian aspect. He
also expressed that a student must not only be
academically competent but also maintains a
good character formation.

Meanwhile, for Bro. Nico Mariano, FSC, Lasallian

education in the 21st century is about being
innovative but at the same time being grounded
in the core values. Innovative because we dont
want to remain stagnant. We want to bring new
things to the youth, to the children. However, in
doing so we dont want to lose our core
principles. So we still need to be grounded.

Despite these differences, Susan Ali Muhammad

El Hadad, an alumna of the BEU department and
currently a part of the Lady Archers team
believes that St. La Salle's principles are still
evident in the present. Lasallian educators aim
their students to practice the core values that
the great saint established. For her, this is one
way of fulfilling SJBDLS's aim for his students to
know God and love God.

References:
https://www.lasallian.info/lasallian-education/
https://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/La
Salle.html

NOTE TO EDITOR: The article below is supposed to be included in the article above. But since the article
above discusses the Lasallian way in general, I am not sure if I should include this or not. In any way, I
suggest that this, if ever, should be separate since the set of core values enumerated in the article below
discusses only the core values of La Salle College Antipolo and not the entire Lasallian family. Sir Naval
and Sister Helen said that the main principle of the Lasallian family all around the world focuses only on 3
values, that is, the FSC (Fratres, Scholarum, Committere). However, Lasallian institutions have their own
interpretation of the core values and the values below are the interpretations of our school. These values
also serve as the basis for the activities of LSCA every month. For example, Christian Gentleman is for the
month of June, Concerned for the Marginalized is for July, Nationalistic for the month of August, Cares for
the Earth for the month of September, and so on. Of course, the decision whether to include this in the
publication is still subject to your discretion.

What does it mean to be a Lasallian?

A Lasallian is a term to describe a person who
fulfills the mission set forth by Saint John Baptist
de La Salle.
Every Lasallian Youth Volunteer is a CHRISTIAN
GENTLEMAN
Speaks with decency, humility and integrity
Shows proper behavior during prayer in
school and other places of worship
Sings and recites prayers and mass
responses reverently - Dresses appropriately
Every Lasallian Youth Volunteer is COMMITTED
TO EXCELLENCE
Comes to class well-prepared and on time
Articulates his thoughts well in English and
Filipino
Maintains high working standards, works
efficiently and effectively, produces the best
output possible and does what is more than
expected
Extends service whenever necessary
Every Lasallian Youth Volunteer is CONCERNED
FOR THE MARGINALIZED
Participates actively in school programs like
relief operations, reach-out programs,
immersions and Alay-Kapwa
Relates well with the needy sectors of the
society

Shows sensitivity to the needs of others

Every
Lasallian
Youth
Volunteer
is
NATIONALISTIC
Gives importance to Filipino culture and
heritage
Shows interest in Philippine national affairs
Expresses the value of love of country
Shows appreciation of Filipino language
Every Lasallian Youth Volunteer is a LEADER
Takes initiative and responsibility in group
undertaking
Practices collaboration in performing a task
Manifests discipline in a group and sets as a
good example to others
Brings out the confidence of his/her
members
Possesses the abilities to get things done
Every Lasallian Youth Volunteer CARES FOR THE
EARTH
Observes CLAYGO (CLean As You GO)
Shows love for the environment
Acts as a steward of Gods creation
Volunteers to join activities related to the
preservation of the Earth
Every Lasallian is COMPASSIONATE

Shows understanding of the feelings of

others
Fosters respect for the right of others
Displays genuine empathy
Listens wholeheartedly to someone in
distress

Every Lasallian Youth Volunteer has a SOCIAL

COMMITMENT
Follows rules and regulations
Volunteers in various reach-out activities
Promotes equality and respects members of
the society
Devotes himself/herself in the improvement
of the plight of the people
Every
Lasallian
INNOVENTIVE

Youth

Volunteer

is

Shows creativity in doing things - Shows

awareness and openness to change
Supports initiatives in terms of innovation
and inventions

Every Lasallian Youth Volunteer STRIVES FOR

COMMUNION
Relates well with others
Manifests selflessness towards others
especially the needy
Fosters solidarity and creates synergy
between and among members of the
community
Fosters equality and respect towards nature
Acts collectively for the sake of truth and
justice
Reference: LSCA Community

A POP OF HYPE

*Error 404: not found*

MORE VOICES, MORE MISSION

Probably tens of thousands of voices

Circling over a stone oval
Rubble, injured, shattered
And lost their lives

A tragedy averted
A relentless hunt
Throughout the country
For perpetrators

Leaders are hiding

Speak up
Flush them out
And bring them to justice.