A history of De La Salle College
History of De La Salle College
Berry House in 1936
On 29 September 1917 there opened at Berry House, Val Plaisant, a new boys school which was named Saint Aloysius and opened under the aegis of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Initially there were two classes of six boys each, One of the original six was Maurice Letto, later a leading figure in the financial world in Jersey, Deputy of St Lawrence and the president of the Island Development Committee
The Beeches
Twelve months after its opening the school had grown so much that new premises were required, and the Brothers acquired The Beeches, Wellington Road, then a private residence with extensive grounds. There De La Salle College, which will always be known in Jersey as the Beeches, has remained ever since. Of the projected opening of the Beeches in September 1918, the Jersey Morning News wrote:
- 'Education under helpful conditions by up-to-date methods and under the direction of a staff of fully qualified teachers who, in addition to possessing scholastic experience, have the particularly strong advantage of a thorough knowledge of boys'.
The reporter might well have added that the staff were and always have been dedicated men, the progress of the school and the successes obtained by its pupils over the past half century amply demonstrate that fact and the words written in 1918 are as true today as they were then.
The history of the founding of the De La Salle Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is a fascinating one. The founder, St John Baptist De La Salle, was born in the glittering France of Louis XIV when the upper classes were opulent beyond belief and the masses equally as poor. De La Salle, born on 30 April 1651, was the oldest child of a wealthy and influential family in industrial Rheims in North-East France.
The tradition of the day was for the eldest son of the aristocratic family to follow in the footsteps of his father or seek glory in the army. De La Salle, a reserved and studious young man, did neither but instead studied for the priesthood and was ordained in 1678 and by the time he was 30 he was a canon of the Cathedral of Rheims.
In 1679 a wealthy relative of his, Madame Maillefer, decided to open a school in the city for the sons of the poor who, especially those living in the slums, could look forward to no training except in crime. At her suggestion the lay teacher, to whom she confided her undertaking, sought the assistance of Canon De La Salle, who responded from the conviction that as a priest it was his duty to assist the poor.
Charity schools
The first charity school in Rheims, now regarded as the first Christian Brothers’ school, attracted wide attention and soon parish priests were asking the canon to assist in the establishment of others.
Late in 1679 De La Salle took the first halting steps towards his Institute by setting up a centre where teachers could live together, and by framing rigorous rules.
He gave up his own fortune to the poor, relinquished his position as a canon, and in answer to critics said that his society would thrive only if all members, including the founder, observed the vow of poverty required by the rule he himself had written.
He introduced reforms now universally recognised as the cornerstones of teaching. He established the first normal school and also appears to have established the first vocational school, introduced teaching in the vernacular instead of in Latin, and simultaneous instruction.
When he formally launched his institute in 1680 the teaching profession was scorned, but when he died in 1719 it was respected. In the French Revolution the superior general of the Brothers was imprisoned and the work halted by the authorities, but the setback was only temporary and during the 18th century their work spread rapidly all over the Continent, to Britain and, by 1845 to Baltimore, USA.
Now there are over 1,500 schools with close on 800,000 students in practically every country in the world. Is it too much to say that the Christian Brothers are dedicated men?
Numbers grow
But to return to The Beeches. By 1921 the number of pupils had grown to 100, and by 1924 to 164. In 1934 Brother Edward, who was Brother Director of the school for 30 years opened a new wing, the number of pupils having grown so much as to make this a vital necessity. By 1939 the numbers were 241, but in 1940 they dropped to 164 due to the war, the evacuation and other factors.
In that year the school closed for the first time in its history, but the closure was only for five days, during the time the island was being occupied by German forces, and no one knew quite what was going to happen. Numbers fluctuated in that year, but by 1942 the silver jubilee of the school, the total of pupils was 199, in spite of all the handicaps of the war, the occupation and being cut off from the outside world of education.
After the war, in 1948, the general direction of the school passed to the Province of London. Previously it had been under that of Brittany, and in that year the school total was 470 and there was, in addition, a long waiting list.
To make up for the hiatus of the occupation years, 1948 saw six inspections of the school by inspectors from England and also by the local authorities, and all expressed their appreciation of the work being done there.
1949 saw the silver jubilee of the Old Boys Association, a body which has long taken a leading part in the social and sporting life of the island, and the school was prominent in the welcome to Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip when they landed at the Albert Pier on their first visit.
The school numbers have remained around the 470 mark for some time now, due to lack of room, in spite of the fact that new classrooms were built some two years ago under the direction of Brother Anthony, the present Brother Director, who has been here since 1963.
Of former Brother Directors, Brother Richard is now Assistant General of the Order, Brother Edwin is Head of St Peter's School, Bournemouth, and Brother Elwin is Head of the House of Studies at Oxford.
Development
The story of the school in the 1960s is one of rapid development in the curriculum, buildings and sport. The greatest achievement of the school is this period is that these developments have taken place without any diminution of the wonderful spirit which exists there. Too easily a school can become a machine, a 'results factory' efficient but faceless. This danger De La Salle has managed to avoid.
The expansion of the sixth form gives perhaps the clearest picture of the advance made in the academic field. In the eight years 1952-59, 50 boys sat for GCE subjects at Advanced Level. In the seven years 1960-66 there were 142 candidates. This rate of growth has been made in the face of grave financial difficulties.
De La Salle students are now at universities and colleges all over the country and some are doing post-graduate courses in Canada and Australia.
A greater range of subjects is now being taught, a range which has recently included woodwork and technical drawing, as well as the more traditional academic subjects. Music has been given a much higher place in the curriculum in recent years. The annual De La Salle Opera performance is now a feature not only of school life but of Jersey life.
The physical appearance of the school has changed considerably since 1960. In 1961 the top storey of the main block was completed, providing space for a library and four classrooms. In 1964 a new block of six classrooms was built to house the expanding Junior School, while the old block was transformed into science laboratories and woodwork and art rooms.
The new tarmac drive leading to the Junior School and the attractive retaining wall behind it are tributes to the skill and devotion of the PTA, which was formed in 1963. This association and the long established Old Boys Association have been powerful auxilliary forces in the great leap forward of the decade. Without their help and the help of the school's many friends very little progress could have been made.
Sport
Sport is an essential part of school life and here the emphasis in this decade has been on expansion. New sports have been introduced, and established ones have been improved. Boys now have the opportunity of playing rugby as well as association football in the winter months, and it is hoped to start hockey this year. The variety of skills offered by these three games should be sufficient not only to play but to enjoy games.
A new enthusiasm in the athletics section has been in evidence in the last year and there is no doubt that many school records will be broken before the 60s are out.
Summer term is now very short because GCE examinations are held earlier in the year than they used to be, and new plans will have to be made to accommodate cricket, tennis. swimming and golf. Thanks to rugby and soccer new contacts have been made with schools on the mainland and boys have been able to travel, learn and play in new environments. Here again the support of parents, friends and the Jersey Rugby Club have made this possible.
The De La Salle of the ‘sixties, therefore, is an organic body of pupils, teachers, parents, old boys and friends working hard, working imaginatively, for the welfare of the individual and, through the individual for the welfare of society as a whole. Under Brother Anthony the work of the school is continuing and expanding. There is a well equipped chemistry laboratory, which was opened in 1961, and instruction is given in physics, biology and all the usual subjects by the 22 staff who between them have 18 classes. Television and radio are installed in the newer classrooms and found to be of great use in teaching.
There is a strong parent-teacher association, members of which, both Catholics and non-Catholics, have given much practical help in various alterations which have been carried out, while the Old Boys Association maintains close links with the school.
Brother Anthony emphasised the help the association has given, in our talk and also that De La Salle is primarily a Christian Teaching Institute; a boy does not necessarily have to be a Roman Catholic to enter any of its schools, all are accepted when there is room and all have the same opportunity of the education afforded.
Academic success
That that education is a good one is demonstrated by the lists published annually of successes obtained by Beeches boys in the GCE examinations. In addition, eight former pupils obtained degrees in various English Universities in 1965, while 32 are studying at universities and technical colleges throughout the United Kingdom.
Prominent Old Boys of the School include Jules Sangan (Old Boy of first Brothers, 1866-1896).
Past Presidents of the Old Boys Association are:
Fred Langlois; George Cutland, Bailiff's Secretary; John Sherry, the present president and Deputy Town Clerk.
States Members include:
- Senator Clarrie Dupre — President of Tourism
- Deputy Maurice Letto — President of IDC
- Deputy Reg Jeune — Education Committee
