In adopting the name Brothers of the Christian Schools,

De La Salle and his companions differentiated themselves

from those who taught for personal gain and for whom
charity and humility had no place.

Schoolmasters in the 17th Brothers were to be

century often used fear motivated by charity and
and humiliation in order were to act as elder
to control their pupils. brothers to their pupils.
 What got me involved in the educational
field was my experience student-
teaching for a year at Dean Rusk
Elementary School. Three days a week,
I was assigned to teach, as an assistant, 24 third
graders who were living in the worst neighborhood in
Atlanta. After two weeks of working at the school, the
teacher, who was female, brought to my attention that
the young black males in the class who had no fathers
would do better academically when I was in the
classroom. It amazed me that academic performance
could be altered by a simple motivational factor like a
direct role model.
 I got so involved with the elementary
school that I began to go to special
education classes and offered my services
to the teacher. I really bonded with the kids
in the special education class. I was
teaching from the heart, and the kids
biggest need seemed to be a teacher who cared about
them and their individual needs. The greatest reward for
me was working with a child who was mentally retarded
and after three weeks that child began to read his first
words. Just like a therapist, I feel that educating children
is a form of healing. Working at this school was a
confidence booster because I knew if I could relate to
these kids and get positive results, I could teach
anywhere. The measure of a great teacher is working
with raw, unrefined students and making a change. It just
seems too easy measuring a teachers ability when that
teacher is already working with students who are
successful in school.
 In the middle of my last year in college, I knew that
I wanted to work with children who had learning
disabilities. I wanted to go to a graduate program
that would be the best at providing me with the
newest information.
There were two events
in my life that were
extremely important. The
first was graduating from
college. The second was
accomplishing the goal
of getting into graduate
school even though I am
dyslexic.
I believe in chances, so I do not give up on people
or children. I know that if I have a class full of kids
I would want all of them to be successful students.
I believe in finding solutions to any and every
problem. I dont believe
in quitting because of my
academic experiences. With all
the chances I was given, I am
going to give all my students
as many chances as they
need to find
themselves as students.
When I reflect on my favorite teachers in my life,
they were teachers who were my friends, too. I see
teachers wearing many titles besides TEACHER.
I see psychologist, mother, father, friend, adviser.
I believe students react to my behavior. The more
I give of myself, the more they will give back to
me. Lastly, my best quality is that I am very personal
with all students. I work with kids and try to make
them feel that I understand them. I am very stern on
good morals and manners. I am not old-fashioned. I
just believe in respect, honesty and truthfulness. I
feel that children will be better students if they
become better people.
- The author, Ennis Cosby, son of well-known actor and entertainer Bill Cosby,
overcame dyslexia to finish college. He went on to do graduate studies in
special education at Columbia. On January 16, 1997 he was shot and killed by
an 18-year-old near a Los Angeles freeway.
Recall one person who has had a significant influence in
helping you discover and develop your gifts, who
confirmed your potential, inspired you, or who helped
you find meaning and direction in life.

What do you feel were

the most significant
characteristics of this
persons relationship
with you?

A. Antiqueo
 The teachers who inspired and
helped us were surely nearly always
the ones who took us seriously, who
believed in us and gave us a
stronger sense of our self-worth and
potential.
Cardinal Basil Hume, Profession and Vocation:
Teaching in the Third Millennium, 1999

A. Antiqueo
Education is one of the professions of care
and to forget it is to lose touch with
something fundamental in the profession. . . .
Those we perceive as caring for us have a
special influence and vice versa. I believe
that fidelity to young people in our time
begins with a quality of care, perceivable
care, in those who would work to influence
them towards good. Perceived care is the
mode in which our fidelity to youth is
worked out. It provides the context in which
teaching as a ministry to youth can function.

- Michael Warren, Youth, Gospel and Liberation

 A.
Antique
o

You are in a ministry wherein you have to

touch hearts. But you cannot possibly do this
without the assistance of the Holy Spirit.
Beseech God to confer on you today the same
grace as he gave his apostles, so that after filling
you with his Spirit for your own sanctification,
he may confer it on you for the salvation of
others. - St. John Baptist
de La Salle, M 43.3
 It was the gentleness and tenderness for his
neighbor that made it possible for St. Francis de Sales
to convert so many souls to God. . . In fact, this virtue
won the hearts of all those with whom he dealt, and the
affection they had for him was a means he used to bring
them to God. Do you have these sentiments of charity
and tenderness towards the poor children whom you
have to educate? Do you take advantage of their
affection for you to lead them to God? If you show the
firmness of a father to restrain them from misbehavior,
you must also have for them the tenderness of a mother
to draw them to you, and to do for them all the good in
your power. - M 101.3
Why does our
Founder give so
much importance
to relationships?
Since you are ambassadors of Christ in the work that you do,
you must act as representing Jesus himself. He wants your
disciples to see him in you and receive your instruction as if
he were giving it to them. . . In order for you to fulfill this duty,
frequently give yourself to the Spirit of the Lord to act in your
work only under his influence. - MR 195.2
The healing and liberating action of God comes to people
through the medium of ordinary human relationships. The
love of the Christian teacher for young people is a visible sign
and instrument of the redeeming love of God.
To renew oneself
spiritually is to
understand that the
vocation to which one is
called is a vocation to
love. It is by loving all
those one comes in
contact with that the
(Lasallian) helps reveal
to them that God loves
them and is calling them
to give witness to Gods
love in all their human
contacts.
Declaration 3.4
In effect, Christ is revealed as the
savior and servant by the very fact
that the Brother/Lasallian teacher
makes himself the servant of young
people, preparing them to live lives
more alert, more responsible, more
truly human. . . . The Lasallian
educator reveals the religion of love
to the extent that he leads the young
to experience the benefit of the love
he offers them, a love that is
sensitive, sturdy and unselfish . . . It
is not in books or words that the
young first encounter the God who
calls them, but rather in the one who
instructs them. - Declaration 32.5
 Honor the presence of God in each one.
Honor and prefer the poor who are the image of Jesus.
Never act in anger. If you are angry, recollect yourself
and pray to the Spirit to act only under his influence.
Gospel Vision Do not use inappropriate words to refer to your pupils.
Address them in a way that affirms their dignity.
Christ is
Show justice and charity in your corrections. Correct
present by your pupils in a manner befitting rational beings, not
his Spirit in like animals. Do not humiliate your pupils.
each person.
Show courtesy and respect to all as children of God
and dwelling places of his Spirit.
Look for and affirm the good in each one.
 In todays gospel, Jesus
compares those who have
charge of souls to a good
shepherd who has great
care for his sheep. One
quality he must possess,
according to Our Savior, is
to know each one of them
individually. This should be
one of your main concerns:
to be able to understand
your pupils and to discern
the right way to guide
them. - M 33.1
They must show more
mildness to some, more
firmness towards others.
There are those who call
for much patience, those
who need to be stimulated Some Tips for Teachers
and spurred on, some who Understand the many Age
ways young
need to be reproved and * Lambert Dulong. 12
people
yrs. Hascanbeen
and docoming
learn. to
punished for their faults, school
others who must be Adapt your for 4 years.
methods, He
strategies
has beentoin
and approaches the
their 4 th
abilities and
constantly watched over grade for 6 months, in
to prevent them from thelearning differences.
5th grade for
being lost or going astray. accounts,
Give andtoin
special attention thewho
those 4th
This guidance requires fordifficulties
have arithmetic sincewith
and struggle May
understanding and 5. He islearning.
a scatter-
discernment of spirits, brained, light-headed
Create
boya but
climateheof learns
acceptance and
and
qualities you should encouragement which supports real
retains easily. He has
earnestly and frequently very littlelearning.
piety in
ask of God. M 33.1 church and rarely goes
to the sacraments. His
particular defect is
pride and he is very
 Your zeal for the children you instruct would
not have much result or success if it limited
itself only to words. To make it effective, it is
necessary that your example support your
instructions. . .This is also the way our Lord
acted, of who it is said, he began to do and
then to teach, and speaking to his disciples
I have given you an after he had washed their feet he says, I have
example so that you
may do for others given you an example so that you may do as I
what I have done for
you. have done to you. - M 202.3
Your first duty to your pupils is that of edification and
good example. Have you considered that you must be a
model for them of the virtues which you wish to
inculcate? Have you conducted yourself as befitting good
teachers? - M 91.3
Commenting on the role of the pastoral role of the teacher,
De La Salle writes:
a great tenderness must be shown by them
for those entrusted to their care. They must be
alert to whatever can harm or wound the sheep.
This is what leads the sheep to love their
shepherds and to delight in their company, for
there they find their rest and comfort. - M 33.2
If you show the firmness of a father to restrain
them from misbehavior, you must also have for
them the tenderness of a mother to draw them
to you, and to do for them all the good in your
power. - M 101.3
 A warm, fraternal concern for all without distinction.
Sensitivity to anothers needs and feelings.
Gentleness and kindness that flows from understanding
and compassion for anothers vulnerability.
Because of you,
Exercising judgment,
I am free self-control
to be me! and reserve rather than
Becausegiving way to passions,
you believe in me, anger and harshness.
I can believe in myself!

Consistency in challenging pupils to live up to the

best of which they are capable.
Insisting that students take responsibility for their
actions.
 Its so easysofor
You encounter many kids to get
obstacles to
in trouble.
salvation in thisYou gotta
life that watch to
it is impossible
them every
avoid them if youminute
are left to and try and
yourselves
yourand anticipate
own guidance. This isevery
why God gives
eventuality.
you Guardian Angels Look for signs
to watch over you . . .
that
This they
is what Godmay be having
has provided in giving
difculties
children teachers . . .whether
to whom he has given
theacademic or personal.
concern and vigilance, not only to
prevent anything harmful to their salvation
from capturing the hearts of children, but
also to guide the children through all the
dangers they meet in this world. . . M 197.3
Vigilance means keeping alert
and observant in order to respond
effectively to any given situation.
One keeps a sharp eye in order to
make sure that everything goes
smoothly. In the Lasallian
tradition, one is vigilant for two
basic reasons:
To carefully monitor a childs
progress in order to follow him
up, guide and help him.
To prevent or curb the
development of bad habits and
undesirable behavior in the young
who lack mindfulness and self-
discipline. Firm and prudent
correction is usually required.
The zeal you are obliged to havemust be so
active and so alive that you are able to tell the
parents what is said in scripture: Give us their
souls, keep everything else for yourselves, that is,
what we want is to work for the salvation of their
souls; this is the only reason we have undertaken
to guide and teach them. M 201.3
Your ministry requires that you teach children the
science of salvation, and you are obliged to do this
with entire disinterestedness. M 108.2
 When we identify with
Gods desire, then
Gods desire becomes
ours. We want what
God wants the joy and
fulfillment of all his
children.

Availability to those in need.

Generosity without expectation of
return.
A willingness to go the extra mile.
A commitment to include the excluded.
 1. The teacher-pupil relationship
for the Lasallian educator is the
holy ground on which he or she
encounters God.

2. Lasallian educators
represents Jesus in the way
they relate to others.
The relationship is potentially
sacramental, an instrument of
grace and a means of leading
others to God.

3. The object of the teacher-pupil

relationship is to enable the pupil to
live a life more human and Christian.
 4. The teachers way of dealing
with pupils draws inspiration and
guidance from Jesus own
teaching and example. The
gospel is translated into
interpersonal relationships.

5. Six Characteristics of this

Relationship:
Unconditional respect.
Knowing each student personally.
Edification and good example.
Tenderness + firmness.
Vigilance.
Gratuity and disinterestedness.
Special thanks to Mr. Aladdin
Antiqueo for the use of his LAFT/BMV 2003-04