This nineteenth century Belgian saint was born Louis Wiaux, but he
took the name Mutien Marie when he joined the Brothers of Christian
Schools. Given that his was a teaching order, Saint Mutien Marie's
placement seemed poor.
He was notoriously lax on
discipline, a characteristic that runs counter to the stereotype of the
parochial school. This may account for his placement at several
different elementary schools around the greater Brussels area. It
certainly explains how he wound up teaching Visual and Performing Arts
(VPA). Just like so many school districts in Maine, his administrators
perceived that VPA was a marginal subject and so he was relegated
there.
Unlike Maine, the music and art classes he
taught had very low numbers. He worked closely with some of the least
promising students in the school, distinguishing himself by "bringing
even the least gifted to the limit of their abilities." He became one
of those teachers who really makes a difference in the lives of his
students, helping them to like school, feel successful, and realize
their potential.
Yesterday, I looked at the new K-12
plan by Maine's Commissioner of Education. His section on standards
focused on the Common Core, a plan that thus far only addresses English
and math. They tell me that science standards will be coming out any
day now. As a social studies and Latin teacher, I can take some
encouragement from Saint Mutien Marie Wiaux. The Belgian bishops said
of him that he "left no theological or spiritual treatise, nothing to
bring his name out
of the shadows. . . . [he] accomplished nothing out of the ordinary. . .
. He was a man of prayer, an apostle among the students and went about
his daily tasks with holiness. . . . hurting none and forgiving all." I
reckon those of us in the satellite disciplines could do worse.
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