SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 18919, 18 April 1925, Page 22

SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES

[By Forward.]

| • [Ttsms of interest —short, bright para--1 graphs of news, comments on thoao Notes, a inquiries about difficulties —will ba wety orned by “Forward.”] “ As a young man, I want to appeal to a other young men and women in play an f| active part in Sunday school work. 1 || appeal to them, noi only as Christians, hut ■3 ilso as patriots, who hy this service can 'j do much towards a settlement oi our great f| national and social problems.”—Sir Harold jfj Mackintosh, president National S.S, Pnion. I ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT IN ij RELIGION. || Speaking at Carluke recently in Hie m- || ! lorests of the Sunday school, Principal ;| ; Cairns pleaded for greater attention to ho | given to the adolescent boys and girls. f Principal Cairns was a member of the commit too of inquiry concerning religion in the Army, and from the experience he had had of the student class there ho formed the conviction that their religion was that of a child. It was the religion that iiad been gained in tho Sabbath school; it had never passed the adolescent stage, and become a man’s religion. Principal Cairns lamented the fact that as yet the older folk in the church had not got deeper into tho thoughts and aspirations of Hie adolescent boys, and appealed to their natural love 'of adventure. There was room in the Christian life lor (he hemic spirit, which was seen at its highest point m our Lord Jesus Christ. He called upon die churches to get together and tactile the adolescent problem and to endeavor to reach the young men and women who were at present outside the influence oi (he church, and who confessed frankly that they hud no use for the, church, lie, unhesitatingly affirmed that Hie l<blowers of Christ possessed something which all Scotland needed, and without which she could not fulfil her true destiny.

PRESENTATION. This step consists in presenting (lie story as a whole to pupils’ minds. If the story is told, it. should he told straight throngli with the minimum .amount ( ,f incidental explanation, if it is to he read in its Biblical form, it should be first read as a whole. Why this procedure instead of tho not uncommon one of reading and explaining verse, by verse? Because it is the natural and most interesting way. Child and adult alike wish to know as soon us possible what a story, short or long, is all about. And the onlywav to get young people to take a living, intelligent Interest in the study of details of a 'literary composition —be it a. Bible narrative, parable, poem, novel, drama—is to allow them the pleasure of reading tho composition first as a whole. Tho method is in harmony with what wo know to be the mental laws of learning. The mind gets to know a thing first as a whole in a general way, and only after having actpiired this general idea, of tTie. whole, does it descend to an examination of details.

THE TEACUEII’S NEW MISSION'. (Flxtrncts from fin Address by the Into Anatolc Franco to the Congress of French Teachers.) Teachers, dear friends, it■ is with anient emotion that 1 address you; deeply stirred wit'h anxiety and hono that, I speak to you. And how could I fail to ho moved when I consider that the future is in your hands, and that it will he for the most part what your spirit and care will make it. In developing the child, you will did ermine the future. What a taok at this hour, when the. world is crumbling, when the old order of society sinks under the weight of its sins, and when conquetors and conquered alike are plunged in a common misery. Have courage! Be of good cheer 1 It is for you lo create a new humanity; it is for you to awake a new intelligence. The teacher ’must make the child love peace and its work; ho will banish fr.iin education nil that, which excites halo for the stranger, even hat rod of the enemy of yesterday. '■ A 1 y friends, make hatred hated. Burn all books which leach hatred. Exalt work and love. Make intelligent workers, instructed in the arts they practise, knowing what, they owe to the national and to the human community. Whether we wi-h it or not, (ho. hour lias come when we, must he citizens of the world or see all ci\ihkalion peri.-dj. OTAGO SCHOOL OF lIELICIOUS EDUCATION. Ihe school is now in full swing for the year. Ihe 1925 calendar may be had gratis from the various booksellers .am! members of the stall. The calendar furnishes detailed information concerning the school ami courses of instruction, for the convenience, of lale-comcrs and others interested, the order of classes is hero given:—Every Tuesday evening at. 7.30—0. T. history and religion (Air Maclean), story telling (Mrs Blair), the intermediate department (Mr Blair), devotional, 8.15 to 8.30; 8.30 —O.T. history and religion If. (.Mr -Maclean), cradle roll and home department (Mrs Blair), Christian sociology (Mr .Macl'arlam;). Every Friday evening at s,4s—hisu.iy and theory of pageantry (.Mrs Blair) ; 6.30, history of moral and religions education (Dr Bauson); 7.15, the curriculum in religions education (Mr Blair).

Mrs Blair's rninrc in the history and theory of pageantry <i|wtu-rl lasi, Friday at 5.43 j'l.ii).. -As the Kxhiliirion draws near this snhjeet will take its place in the plans, -All trim are interested tire invited to confer with Mrs Blair without delay. Tho first steps in the organisation of the Student (.'mint'll of the Otago Sehonl of Religious Kdueution too!: plan: last Tuesday, when .Mias Marjorie K. Jleatlier was elecii'd president and -Miss Kthel h. U lend inning vice-president.