1. A reflection on the distinctive ethos underpinning the schools belonging to the educational tradition of Constant van Crombrugghe (Founder of the Josephites)

2. Canon Constant van Crombrugghe A 19 th Century Educator for the 21 st Century?

4. In February 1866, “La Revue Catholique” carried a lengthy obituary on the life and work of van Crombrugghe. The following two extracts from this obituary sum up van Crombrugghe’s own wishes for his schools. ‘His school was all about being a family…the fraternal relationships between the pupils themselves and their filial affection and regard for their teachers and their headmaster enabled them to discover, in a real way, a gentleness within the school.’ ‘The Josephites have based their own system of education on the same ideas of their Founder. Their schools are truly like families where the most genuine affection unites all.’

6. The first Josephite School was founded in Belgium by Constant van Crombrugghe in 1817. The most recent Josephite schools opened in Ilebo, RDCongo, Africa on 10 September 2007.

7. Opened in September 2007

8. Josephite Schools were founded for the education and evangelisation of young people: The future leaders in society.

10. The Mission Statement of the College at Alost where van Crombrugghe was Headmaster ‘The goal which one proposes is to cultivate the mind and heart of young people…. the young people admitted here receive a careful and complete education, adapted to all states of life. It is therefore education’s task to form the good man and to prepare him for society; consequently its task is to form in youth both the heart and the mind, to perfect reason and to adorn the imagination’.

14. There are four KEY components that comprise the distinctive Josephite Educational Ethos Education offered must be rooted in religion. The Family Spirit Leadership Adaptability

15. THE EDUCATION OFFERED IN JOSEPHITE SCHOOLS MUST BE ROOTED IN RELIGION. The aim of Josephite education is always: ‘To form the true, committed Christian’. Van Crombrugghe (Founder of the Josephites)

16. THE FAMILY SPIRIT Maintain among the pupils a true family spirit. (Stanislas The 2nd Superior General of the Josephites)

18. THE JOSEPHITE FAMILY SPIRIT comprises eight qualities: Politesse Douceur Instruments of Mercy Fatherhood (and Motherhood) Inclusiveness Collaboration Hospitality Pastoral Care and Discipline

19. Politesse Politesse and gentle manners make us so attractive to the children. Van Crombrugghe (Founder of the Josephites)

20. Douceur You should be, without exception, gentle and compassionate. Van Crombrugghe (Founder of the Josephites)

21. Instruments of Mercy God is ‘all merciful’ and ‘all compassionate”. Van Crombruughe (Founder of the Josephites)

22. Fatherhood The Head teacher in his school is to be like a father in his family. Rollin (whose works inspired van Crombrugghe)

23. Inclusiveness All are involved: Teachers, Pupils, Parents, Former Pupils, Support Staff, Governors.

24. Collaboration Be of one mind and heart: cor unum et anima una. (Guide Pedagogique 129)

25. Hospitality All who enter our schools must feel welcome and valued.

26. Pastoral Care and Discipline All humiliating correction or punishment is to be avoided. Extract from Circular No 58 of Brother Stanislas, 11 May 1859

27. Your love for them will grow day by day and you will speak up ceaselessly in their support. You will patiently put up with their failings so that you will correct them with gentleness. You will share their joy and share in the pain of their suffering. Knowing their weakness you will foresee their needs with that goodness which always finishes by triumphing even with the less fortunate of character. Letter from Van Crombrugghe written on 27 October 1832 to the Reverend Brother Stanislas in the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Rooborst.

28. LEADERSHIP Lead with wisdom. Van Crombrugghe in a letter to the Superior of Holy Trinity College, Louvain (April 1856)

29. ADAPTABILITY I am convinced of the necessity of our schools to adapt themselves to the needs of the times. Van Crombrugghe in a letter to Mr Albert at College Melle (13 February 1839).

30. The happiness that van Crombrugghe felt while a pupil at the school run by the ‘Fathers of the Faith’ was shared by others. Alphonse Lamartine, who later became one of the early Romantic French poets, wrote about his experiences in his “Confidences”: “I felt as though I had entered another family…The teachers, my friends, rather than my professors, will remain models of holiness, of vigilance, of fatherliness, of gentleness towards their students….in reality, this was the beautiful ideal of a Christian boarding school… charity and union among all”.

32. You must love the children by caring tenderly for them and letting them see you are happy to be with them. You must also identify with them, not only in work and study, but in every detail of their school life. But I must add one thing of the greatest importance: To identify with them, you must be of one heart and mind: cor unum et anima una. Here is the greatest method of education: (Abridged from the ‘Pedagogical Guide’ Number 129).

34. And Finally

35. OUR PUPILS SHOULD ALWAYS FEEL THEY ARE ‘COMING HOME TO SCHOOL’.