RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Evening Star, Issue 22194, 23 November 1935, Page 6

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

[By Forward.]

SUCCESS OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. The astonishing thing, when' we have done with the scholar, is not that he knows so little, but that he knows so much. Moreover, the results of Sunday School training arc not to he reckoned merely by what he knows, but by what be feels and by what he is. Fortunately many influences play upon him during these 10 years besides actual teaching. The atmosphere of worship the influence of the character ol teachers, and of many other clua-clr contacts— these all enter into the building of character. That is why the Sunday School, though its opportunity is very slim when reckoned in hours, accomplishes so much. 1 What a reminder to make the most of all the factors in religions training other than actual teaching. Probably we accomplish most for our chidlrcu by what wc are. We certainly do more than we realise, when wo lead them to worship.—A. J. G. Seaton. PRESBYTERIAN SUMMER CON- , FERENCE. Plans are well in hand for the forthcoming summer conference, which will be held in Dunedin during the holiday season. . At the last meeting of the committee the reports of conveners of the various committees showed that the work is being carefully planned, and that the comfort and welfare of the campers will bo all that is desirpd. The three camps, in Columba College, John M'Glashan College, and the Maori Hill School, will be conveniently situa-ted-with regard to meals and meetings. The morning meetings, consisting of study circles, a devotional meeting, and sectional meetings for Sunday school teachers and Bible class leaders and members, will all be held at Maori Hill while the evening meetings will be held in Knox Church. The speakers for the evening meetings have now been arranged, these being Rev. C. J. Tockor and-Rev. B. S. Watson, while a missionary pageant is being prepared. Th© recreational side has not been overlooked, and arrangements are being made for an all-day-picnic, a garden party, and sports of various kinds, while opportunity will be given to delegates for visiting the popular resorts in and around Dunedin. Altogether a happy time of fellowship, inspiration, and instruction can be confidently looked forward to by all who intend*to be present.

OTAGO METHODIST SUNDAY: SCHOOL UNION. At the quarterly meeting of the Otago Sunday Softool Union, held at the Central Mission on November 11, the president (the Ilev. G. Densem) occupied the chair. . ■ After a brief devotional service general business was transacted. A letter regarding our schools at Broad Bay and the Kaik was received, and it was resolved that Miss G., H. Bane and Mr King pay a visit to . these schools as early as possible. _ The speaker for the evening was Mr Hilliker, secretary of the United Temperance Reform Council. With the aid of a well-prepared chart he gave some useful and instructive information regarding the destructive effects of alcohol on the human body, particularly the brain. Mr Hilliker spoke very forcefully and convincingly, giving substantial proofs, for his arguments It was up to the Church of God,” he siad, “ to fight this menace, and to fight it to a great victory.” , At the conclusion of his address Mr Hilliker was accorded an enthusiastic vote of thanks, and the meeting was brought to a close with the Benediction. BRINGING A SCHOOL UP TO DATE. (By Ernest H, Hayes.) Get rid of the old idea that the Sunday school is just for a teacher’s lesson, sandwiched between opening and closing exercises, with an address superimposed on the lesson in case the teacher’s work is less effective. The Sunday school of to-day stands for worship as well as teaching. While its function must always be to educate, we find that this can only be successfully ac-, complished in an atmosphere of worship. Hence the emphasis in the modern Sunday school that is laid upon the order , of service, on getting tiie right atmosphere for worship, and on using the best educational methods. Thirty minutes for a teachers lesson is far too much if the work is to be effective. It is far better to divide that time between the teacher and the scholar, giving the teacher quarter of au hour to open up the lesson and then allowing the scholar the same period for expressing it in some form of suitable activity. It is really doubtful whether, even with the oldest classes, the scholars are capable of taking in a lesson that takes 30 minutes to “ put over.” For scholars under 12, 15 minutes, is usually ample, and the lesson is best presented in the form of a story. With scholars over 12 and under 15, 20 minutes’ lesson is ample, unless the scholars are to cooperate in. working out. the lesson with the teacher. After the opening hymn every item of the service should be carefully planned so as to be in line with the lesson theme. The Bible reading should bo appropriate to the subject, but not the actual lesson passage. An introductory talk by the superintendent is a very useful feature when it is carefully prepared with the needs of the teachers’ lesson in view, and does not 'poach upon the lesson material itself. These talks should not last more than eight minutes. Through them the superintendent can do much valuable work He can teach a great deal about the Bible and its Books; he can link up the teacher’s lessons; and he can relieve the teacher’s story of background material and of Eastern colour that would impede the progress or movement of the lesson story itself. The closing worship of the school is, perhaps, the most important of all and needs to be most carefully prepared. It should not last more than five minutes in the ordinary way. A carefully chosen hymn will do more to clinch tho teacher’s lesson than any set address if it is introduced by one or two questions that help tho scholars to understand why it has been chosen. A few questions about the lesson itself, and the repeating of the Golden Text, which expresses the thought of the lesson, may also be useful, but I would rule out any address in the ordinary W As an alternative to the introductory folk it is sometimes found useful to take a supplemental talk after the lesson, when for a few minutes the superintendent can illustrate or round off a series of lessons in a telling way, thus introducing the closing hymn. After the hymn a short, prayer linked ou to the lesson is all that is needed. Such a programme cannot be effectively worked without a teachers’ preparation class. Hero we come to the vital element in a modern Sunday school. Tills preparation class should not he regarded as a lesson dictating class but as a conference Mwecn,

loader and teachers, at which the "ork of each can bo so carol idly planned that there will bo full co-operation and every worker will be able to do\ctail bis work intelligently into that ol others.