Don Lorenzo Milani was born into a very privileged family in Florence. Milani's father was a university professor, his grandfather a renowned archaeologist, and his great-grandfather an internationally renowned philologist. Milani was certainly not religiously influenced by his parents. His mother declared herself an atheist in the 1970s. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get an original essayA social marker must have made him aware of the social differences prevalent at the time. When he asked the family driver to drop him off a certain distance from the school, lest his classmates see him receiving such luxurious treatment in a town where there were only about fifteen private cars available, two of which belonged to Lorenzo's father (Fallaci, 1993, pp.13, 14). Milani had a very independent spirit and he defied his family's aspirations for him by joining an art academy instead of a university. However, his family background has given him the confidence to speak his mind. It was probably through painting that he came closer to the Catholic faith. To his mother's dismay, he finally decided to receive holy confirmation and, years later, joined the seminary, finally being ordained in 1947. Milani's priesthood continued to bring him into close contact with the poor and his feelings of solidarity with the oppressed. (the poor and helpless) continued to be strengthened by his reading of the gospels and his attachment to an image of Christ whose option was for the poor – the meek who were to inherit the earth. After a short stay in Montespertoli, he moved to San Donato di Calenzano, a town mainly inhabited by the working class and peasants, where he ran an evening "popular school" (scuola popolare) for adults. He did not believe in the idea of ​​a confessional school (scuola confessionale) which would have accentuated social divisions in post-war Italy (ibid.). There was a strong secular feeling about his school which was not well received by the ecclesiastical author. cities. His classes covered a range of topics, many relating to class politics and oppression. Guest speakers were challenged by course participants who were encouraged to prepare the topic in advance, throughout the week, and engage in dialogue and a participatory approach. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayThis and his own unorthodox approach to religion and pastoral work proved too difficult for sections of the San Donato community and some area-based priests . He was “transferred”, or “exiled” if you prefer, to an obscure locality (Sant Andrea a Barbiana), in the Mugello region, lacking very basic infrastructure; the only road leading to the village ended a kilometer away. It was there that Milani developed his best-known educational project, a full-time school for "dropouts" from the public school system, and developed a radical alternative pedagogy that was a source of inspiration for teachers and students. social activists in Italy and elsewhere since.