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Letter PS021

To: Monsieur Jean-Baptiste Mondon (Mayor of Feurs)

Type: Draft

Date: probably April 1831

Note: no address; no date

About: Reluctant withdrawal from Feurs

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Background situation• Method of reading- innovation of

Champagnat in 1828-1829 was accepted by the Brothers in 1829 (p162ff Life)

• The school in Feurs was founded in 1829 (Br. Avit article 95)

• In 1829 The Prefect of Loire (Baron de Chaulieu) wrote good things about Marist Brothers and that year 1/3 of the allocation of the department went to Marist Schools (p136-139 AFD)

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• After July 1830 Revolution, Mutual Method was deemed as the method of the State compare to Simultaneous Method promoted by the Church (CF Appendix E of AFD by Farrell page 246)

• Champagnat made some offers in order to continue the school which was less than 2 years in operation

• Negotiation failed mainly not because of financial situation but rather the method of teaching & political ideology *

• This letter response to the decision of Town council on 1831-03-23 (CF page 54 of booklet)

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Places and People

• Feurs is a town beside the Loire river is a district in the department of Loire, 5km south of Epercieux (extra note: check activity of Courville from 1819 to1824, he opened a school in Feurs! ), near the capital of Loire, Montbrison.

2600 inhabitants in 1822

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Places and People

• Mondon, Jean-Baptiste (1759-1833) born in 28 Nov 1759 in Feurs. Notary of his home town. He was appointed mayor of Feurs on 1st Sept 1830,but his term ended 2nd May 1832. He died on 18th June 1833.

• Ferriere, Subrihn, Aguiraud, Belmond, Archard, Prutiere, Buisson all of them were the member of the town council.

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To prepare before reading the letter

• Please read the minutes for the decision of the town council on 1831-03-21

• The mayor has informed Champagnat one day earlier on the dismissing of the Brothers despite his proposal of deducing the cost and offer free education to the poor children

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Original Situation Proposal of Champagnat

•1200 francs for 3 Bros•800 from the town budget, 175 by the poor-house and 225 by well to do children•Furnish house for the 3 brothers

•400 francs for 2 Bros•225 from the town budget, 175 from the poor-house•Continue free education for the poor• Furnish house for the 2 Brothers

But the mayor refused to accept the proposal

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Mutual Method Simultaneous M

•Introduced by Lancaster in •A teacher trains best pupil to become pupil-teacher•Then the pupil-teacher teach other pupils etc.•Education as passing on knowledge

•Introduced by JB de la Salle in 1720•Distribution of students into 2or 3 classes etc•All the children were taught at the same time by a Brother etc..•Education has the formation aspect

Read Appendix E of AFD by Stephen Farrell

Read SMGH Page 101-102 by Frederick Mcmahon

The Letter[01] Thank you for informing me about the decision of

your council. I accept the destruction of your establishment of our brothers with resignation and calm. I have taken all the steps I should have, to save a school which was steadily improving. The rector of the university, as I had the honor to tell you, promised me his help in legalizing the Christian education of the young people of Feurs[1]. I proved to you, by the reduction I made in the fees, that the only goal of all our efforts was the good of the children of your town. You mentioned to me that the city could not pay three brothers twelve hundred francs per year. I told you that I would be satisfied with four hundred, and under those conditions, all the poor would still be taught free of charge.

• [1] We have no idea what was illegal about the situation

[02] Therefore, having received your deliberation concerning the dismissal of our three brothers, independently of all the sacrifices I offered to make for you, and not wishing to upset your administration, I told them to return all the furniture which belongs to the town, to whomever should receive it, and to leave Feurs immediately.

[03] Please accept, Mr. Mayor, the respect of him who has the honor to be your most devoted servant, Champagnat

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• Regret and resignation but with the spirit of acceptance and serenity of an unwelcoming choice

I accept the destruction of your establishment of our brothers with resignation and calm.

• Polite with sense of gratitude Thank you for informing me about the

decision of your council• Concern for the poor all the poor would still be taught free of

charge.• Respect Please accept, Mr. Mayor, the respect of him

who has the honor…

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• Steadfast to the goal and principal the only goal of all our efforts was the good of the

children

• Sense of propriety return all the furniture which belongs to the town,

to whomever should receive it

• Willing to compromise but with principle taken all the steps I should have, to save a

school…. all the sacrifices I offered, but

not giving up his better method of teaching.

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Constitutions and Marist Documents

• No direct reference to this letter in the Constitution. However the zeal to our ministry is reflected in apostolate mission Chapter 5 eg.C80, S80.1

• Innovative of Champagnat in Education In the footsteps… .footnote 1.17Pedagogical

innovations of Marcellin Champagnat

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Bible

• Rom 1-3 Obey authority and do good• Lk 20:25 “give back to Cesar’s what is

belong to Cesar and give back to God what is belong to God

• LK10:10-11 But in the town that you are not welcome….even the dust that clings to our feet , we wipe off

• Mt 10:14….shake the dust off your feet

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Phrases that has impact on me

• I have taken all the steps I should have, to save a school

• the only goal of all our efforts was the good of the children

• all the poor would still be taught free of charge.

• I accept the destruction of your establishment of our brothers with resignation and calm

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onPersonal Reflection

• The way how Champagnat take a defeat;• How Champagnat try his very best to

preserve the good ministry. (when come to the time of withdrawal do I think of the best for children?)

• His ability to compromise for greater good but stick to good principal is a good example to follow.

But, What will be your opinion after reading the extra information on next slide?

• Extra information from Br. Avit (Article151) on Feurs

• The school at Feurs was closed after 18 months as a result of regrettable relations of a young Brother with his pupils. The following letter shows clearly that to palliate this misfortune, the good Father took all steps and made all the concessions possible but all in vain. “Mr Mayor, I thank you for the information you have given me on the deliberations of your Council. I have done all I can to save a school whose prosperity was ever increasing. The rector of the university, as I have had the honour of informing you, promised his collaboration to make the christian education of the youth of Feurs legal. I have proved to you by the reduction in salaries which I have made to you, that the welfare of the children of your commune is the sole object of all our labours. You have raised the objection that the town could not assure the 1200 fr annually for the Brothers. I informed you that I would be satisfied with 400 fr. and that all the poor would be taught free.

• On learning of your deliberation touching the dismissal of our three Brothers, notwithstanding the sacrifices that I was offering and not wishing to run counter to your administration, I am instructing the Brothers to hand back all the furniture belonging to the commune and to leave Feurs immediately. Yours sincerely, etc.”

• The Brothers of the Christian Schools then replaced ours.