In a note written by the parish priest himself on 3rd January 1835, and reported by Bro. Avit in the annals of Sury (AFM 213.76, pp. 5-6), we read, among other things:

The parish priest who, since his arrival in this town, had been requesting funds to make this foundation, which he considered as the most necessary in the region, sent a request to Fr. Champagnat, Superior and Founder of the Marist Brothers, to have three brothers of his order for his parish. The Father Superior came to visit the house; he found it very suitable: a plan was made and the workers began the project in June 1834. The house, which contained just the walls, was blessed on 14th October that same year, by Fr. Cholleton, vicar general of the diocese of Lyons.... Three days before All Saints, the good and excellent brothers whom we were awaiting with such impatience, arrived; their classes began in early November, even though their residence had hardly been begun and the walls were still damp....

How is it that three years later, the layout of the classrooms still proves not to be in conformity with our specifications? We have no idea. The plans drawn up in 1834 must have been very sketchy, and the parish priest must have had them carried out according to his own ideas. Since Fr. Champagnat trusted him, he must not have visited the house before sending the brothers. But it must not have taken him long to become aware of the irregularity, since it would certainly appear that this letter is not a first warning. As we shall see, it was not the last either (cf. LL. 211, 267).

Father,

No matter how much we may want to oblige you, we can no longer maintain the school in Sury if the classrooms are not brought into line with our methods. The good of the children entrusted to us demands it, and we will not deviate from it; this is the advice of my confrères and of our older brothers whom I have consulted once again. This is also the rule of the excellent Brothers of the Christian Schools who ought to set an invariable standard for us in everything. In their Conduite, page 187, chapter IX, they have this to say about the layout of the classrooms: The classrooms must always be adjoining, the connecting door must have a glass partition, and there must be openings in the separating walls or partitions so that the teachers can easily see one another from their place.

Edition: Translation from: Lettres de Marcellin J. B. Champagnat (1789-1840) Fondateur de l?Institut des Frères Maristes, présentés par Frère Paul Sester,1985.

fonte: Daprès la minute, AFM, RCLA 1, p. 16, nº 17