By Prof. Samitha Hettige

The need for disciplined citizens is being widely discussed in Sri Lanka. It will make a; disciplined workforce, peaceful society and strong economy. At such a time, St. John Baptist De La Salle (1651 – 19719) who struggled for the cause is remembered with respect on his 303^rd death anniversary on 7^th April 2022. Being the eldest of eleven children of magistrate Louise De La Salle and Nicolle Moet De Brouillet of Rheims, France, he was born on 30^th April 1651 and died on 7^th April 1719. This short note is written to appreciate the services of the great saint who took unprecedented bold steps in educating the poor and the marginalized in all parts of the world including Sri Lanka through seats of learning such as; St. Benedict’s College (Kotahena), De Mazenod College (Kandana), St. Anne’s College (Kurunegala), St. Joseph’s College (Grandpass), De La Salle College (Mutwal), St. Lucia’s College (Kotahena), St. Mary’s College (Pettah), St. Sebastian’s College (Moratuwa), St. Anthony’s College (Wattala), St. Mary’s College (Chilaw), St. Bede’s College (Badulla), St. Xavier’s College (Mannar), St. Andrew’s College (Puttalam), St. Mary’s College (Negombo), St. Xavier’s College (Nuwara Eliya) and St. Joseph’s College (Bandarawela). It took more than a century and a half for the world to realize his great service to mankind and to be proclaimed blessed on 19^th February 1888. He was proclaimed saint on 24^th May 1900 and declared Patron Saint of Teachers on 15^th May 1950.

Another notable contribution to Sri Lanka by the De La Salle brothers lead by the late Rev.Br. Hermenegild Joseph FSC of France is the Diyagala Boys Town at Ragama (including Sri Lanka Technical Institute) which was established in 1963. The Boys Town provides a complete life support training (including technical education on welding, carpentry, lathe, motor mechanics, electrical wiring and bakery) along with soft skills, agriculture and animal husbandry to less privileged, marginalized and troubled youth of all faiths.

What is expected from Education?

In addition to developing systems to produce a good citizen, St. De La Salle was a pioneer in identifying the need for good/skilled teachers to give the best output to the society. The dedicated teachers guided on the path shown by St. De La Salle are very rare at present in Sri Lanka. If a proper analysis is done, it may reveal that most dedicated teachers of yesteryears were groomed as students at Christian establishments or by teachers exposed to such environments/ persons. American Colonel Henry Olcott who founded Sri Lanka’s elite Buddhist schools selected teachers with such backgrounds to lead the institutes in the late 1800s (Founder principal of elite Buddhist school Ananda College, Colombo was Rev. C. W. Leadbeater). In 1962 Sri Lanka nationalized private (Catholic and Buddhist) schools. 50 year have passed, it should be checked if the present output was the expectation from that process. It is well known that those who did the changes regretted later in life. If the country is to be at peace the citizens should be at peace. They should be trained to be peaceful through good education. Peace and prosperity through education was the expectation of great humans such as St. John Baptist De La Salle.

Do you have sentiments of charity and tenderness towards the poor children whom you have to educate? - De La Salle