The Founders of
The Founder
Confronted by the neglected state of children of the poor, St John Baptist de La Salle, who had been born to an aristocratic family, sought to create accessible education for those who were not as privileged. At the time, education was an advantage only those from aristocratic backgrounds could afford, in the process denying children the opportunity to move beyond their social class.
Moved by what he observed, de la Salle was determined to educate children who were neglected. He was driven by the belief that students should be seen as children of dignity. To achieve this, he left his family home, renounced his wealth and formed a community that became known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
The world that de La Salle envisioned was quite different from that into which he was born. He was the eldest of a wealthy family. Despite the fact that he had completed his theological studies and was ordained a priest, it was understood that he would assume the administration of family affairs.
But his path differed. It became his mission to develop good citizens and that all who are linked to the Lasallian community, be passionate about education and should influence mutual growth. Education, he believed, shouldn’t be about authoritarian principles but should instead be about benevolence, respect and fraternal relationships. Education was to “touch hearts.” Teaching was about patience, prudence and accompaniment. Today, the goal is to ensure that this practice continues.
While he initially faced opposition from others who resented his innovative teaching methods, particularly his vision that education should be for all. Despite this, he succeeded in creating a network of schools through France. In addition, he also created programmes to train teachers. Eventually, his work continued to spread across the globe. Since then, the Lasallian network has extended to all continents of the world and across all educational levels.In 1900, John Baptist de La Salle was ordained a Saint and in 1950, he was made Patron Saint of all those who work in the field of education. Currently, La Salle Schools are present in 79 different countries around the globe.
La Salle schools in Malaysia
The first La Salle school was established in 1852 when the first group of La Salle Brothers arrived in Penang.
Today, there are 32 La Salle Schools in Peninsular Malaysia and 12 Associated Schools in East Malaysia.
St. Xavier’s Institution, Penang (1852)
St Xavier’s Institution in Georgetown, Penang is the first of the La Salle schools in Malaysia and Asia. The year on the building states 1852 but the school’s origins go back much earlier. The school had originally been established in 1787 when Captain Francis Light invited the French priest Father Arnold Garnault to set up two schools in Penang - one for boys and another for girls. That led to the formation of St. Francis Xavier Free School, just an attap hut at the time. It was in 1852 that the La Salle brothers - Venere Chapuis, Jerome King and Lothaire Combes took over the school. In 1956, the school moved to its location at Farquhar Street, after which the name was changed to St. Xavier’s Institution.
St. Francis Institution, Malacca (1902)
The second oldest of the Lasallian schools, St. Francis Institution also has origins that go back to before 1902, the year the La Salle brother community assumed leadership of the school. It was in 1872, that the attap-roofed St. Mary’s School began, managed by Father Maximillian De Souza, the parish priest of St. Francis Xavier Church. In 1880, St. Mary’s moved to a bigger premises and was renamed St. Francis School. However, the school was forced to shut in 1902 when it faced financial difficulties. It was then that the bishop of Malacca urged the La Salle mission to revive the school. Headed by Maurice Josephus, the school was relaunched with approximately 100 students. The school quickly grew to become a formidable institution that resulted in an upgrading of the facilities. Bandar Hilir was picked as the location. In 1914, the school expanded to a three story building and St. Francis School assumed the name St. Francis Institution.
St. John’s Institution, Kuala Lumpur (1904)
St. John’s Institution, one of the oldest schools in Kuala Lumpur, was started following a request by the Education Department and the then Bishop of Malacca. The La Salle Brothers then opened St John’s Institution in 1904. Records indicate that the school began with just 18 boys. At the time, the school was led by three brothers - Brother Julian Francis from Hong Kong, Brother Andrew Corsini from Burma and Brother Cyril Alexander from Penang.St. John’s began as a two-storey wooden structure,with a brick pillar and a verandah. The school grew in size and reputation under the leadership of Brother Cornelius Nulty who served as Brother Director from 1930 to 1946. In 2010, St. John’s Institution was gazetted as a heritage site by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage. St. John’s Institution was recognised as a cluster school by the Ministry of Education in 2007 in recognition of its academic excellence.
St. Paul’s Institution, Seremban (1909)
One of the oldest schools in Seremban, St. Paul’s Institution was originally founded in 1899 by Rev Catesson of the Paris Foreign Mission Society (MEP) to provide English education to the boys in Seremban and surrounding districts. It was the first English school in Negeri Sembilan. It was later taken over by the La Salle Brothers in 1909 and a year later the school was renamed as St, Paul’s Institution with Brother Basilian as Brother Director. The school expanded after and established a stellar reputation in both academic and co-curricular activities.
St. George’s Institution, Taiping
Saint George’s Institution, one of the oldest schools in Taiping, was founded by a group of La Salle Brothers from Penang as a Catholic boys school. The aim of the school is to provide education to boys regardless of race, religion or social class, which continues to be the philosophy of the school. The first Brother Director of the school was Brother James Gilbert who began the school with 49 students.
St. Michael’s Institution, Ipoh (1912)
St. Anthony’s School, Teluk Intan (1931)
St. Andrew’s School, Muar (1933)
St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Kuching (1950)
La Salle Secondary School, Klang (1950)
La Salle Secondary School, Sentul (1950)
Sacred Heart Secondary School, Sibu (1954)
La Salle School, Brickfields (1954)
La Salle Secondary School, Kota Kinabalu (1958)
La Salle Secondary School, Petaling Jaya (1959)