DIOCESAN SUNDAY SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 21824, 13 September 1934, Page 9

DIOCESAN SUNDAY SCHOOLS

MEETING GF TEACHERS The annual meeting of the Diocesan Sunday School Teachers’ Association was held in the crypt of St. Paul’s Cathedral last night, Bishop W. R. Eitchett presiding. It was stated in the annual report that at the annual examination 107 candidates passed, 22 first-class honours, 37 second-class, and 50 passes. Thanks were due to the examiner (Rev. Win. Powell) for the questions set and for conducting the examination. The prize-giving was held in St. Matthew’s Schoolroom on May 23, when a short programme contributed by pupils of the various Sunday schools was enjoyed by all present. The teachers’ festival, held on December 9, was again a distinct success, Mrs Edmond kindly lending the use of _ her garden for the afternoon. The picnic held at Ontram on February 10 was also a success, nearly all the schools in Dunedin participating. ' A letter had been received from Deaconess P. H. Park, Sunday school organiser in Canterbury, asking if the association would like to have the teachers’ training week at the end of this year held in Dunedin, and it had been decided to undertake the organisation, of the training week in Dunedin. Posters had been sent out to. all parishes in the diocese and to all centres in the dominion, and it was hoped that the local clergy and teachers would co-operate to make the training week an outstanding one. Thanks wej’e due to the Rev. W. A. Hamblett and the vestry of St. Matthew’s for the use of the schoolroom on various occasions, the diocesan office for the use of room for meeting, and to Dean Cruickshank for the use of the. Cathedral crypt for meetings. Thanks were also due to Bishop Richards for his interest in the association, his prize for the highest marks gained in the senior grade being eagerly sought for by examination candidates. Every happiness was wished him in his retirement.

The following officers were reelected: —President, Archdeacon A. C. H. Button; vice-presidents—the Very Rev. Dean Cruiekshank, Rev. W. A. Hamblett, and Rev. A. Wingfield; secretary and treasurer. Miss E. Blyth. It was decided that theteachers’ festival be held _ on December 8. the function to consist of a garden party and tennis tournament in the afternoon’ only, the committee to arrange details being Mr E. Bond and Misses Robinson, Gore, and Ferry. The combined picnic will, be held on February 23, a suitable ground to be selected by a sub-committee. •

The syllabus for the ensuing year is to be drawn up by a sub-committee consisting of Dean Cruickshank, Archdeacon Button, and Rev. W. A. Hamblett.

The president (Archdeacon Button) welcomed Bishop _ Fitchett, and asked for his co-operation and help in the work of the association. If he. could do anything to forward this work as he travelled through the diocese, they would be glad. The association embraced most of the schools in Dunedin, and also Oainaru and Milton, but there was no constructive policy throughout the diocese. If the syllabus, as drawn up ,by the association, could be used by all Sunday schools he was sure it would be a great factor in linking up both the children and the teachers.

The Bishop said he looked upon the work of Sunday school teachers as a wonderful work. The instruction given was most valuable; but the real value lay in the association of the children with teachers of good character, and the bringing of the children in close and intimate touch with the church. The teachers gave time and thought to teaching the children as well as they could, and he would do all he could to help the association.