RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Evening Star, Issue 22276, 29 February 1936, Page 6

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

[By Foewaed.]

OTAGO SCHOOL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. • The work of the school for this session js now about to commence, and the opening meeting will be held on Tucsdav evening, when students may enrol before the general meeting at 8 o’clock, at which Rev C. H. Olds will give an appropriate _ address. The school is offering a wide" and varied course for all workers among the young, and past and intending students will find something of special help m the courses presented. school is the first pf its kind in Australia or New Zealand, and during its 13 years has helped greatly in raising the standard, of work done in Christian education both in Dunedin and further afield.; Anyone interested should _ get in touch, with the director, Principal: Hadden,or any of the lecturers, who will be glad to supply information. ,

OTAGO METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

The quarterly meeting of the aWva union was held at Caversham Sunday School, the president, Rev. G. Densem, occupying the chair. After the transaction of the usual business the chairman referred to the retirement of tha superintendent of the Cargill Road Sunday School (Mr W. W.. Ashby), Mr E. J. King, on behalf of the union, congratulated Mr Ashby on his nno record of Sunday school teaching.- and leadership, and also thanked nun sincerely for the yeoman service rendered to the union in past years. Mr Ashtofl suitably replied, and was accorded a! hearty round of applause. Mr Densem then _ introduced the speaker for the evening, -Mrs Duke, Dominion president of the Y.W.M.A.U., who gave a most helpful and instructive address dealing with mission work as a whole. _ Mrs Duke stressed tha need for missionary education in the Sunday school. She spoke of the splendid work of the missionaries in. the Solomon Islands, and the heroic sacrifice made by the wives of these men in their lonely outposts. Mrs Duke also dealt briefly with home'missions, and gave an interesting description of the work being carried oh. At the conclusion of her talk Mrs Duke was thanked by the president, and the meeting showed its appreciation by applause. Mr J. H. Cumherheach. proposed a vote of thanks to the Caversham staff for their‘hospitality, and the meeting was brought, to a close. RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS. Now that the public schools Lava once more settled to another year’s work, plans for giving religious instruction under present facilities to the scholars will be engaging the attention of those men and women who carry on this work. In the Otago Education Board" district it is estimated that 50 per cent._ of the children receive religious teaching under the Nelson system, the syllabus issued by the Branch Council of Religious Education being of great assistance to ministers and voluntary workers alike. It is pleasing to record that a second edition of this ‘ Syllabus of Religious Instruction for State Schools ’ has had to be printed, and it contains additional information for committees desiring to introduce this instruction into their schools. ‘The ‘ Syllabus ’ has been very carefully planned and splendidly prepared, and gives many valuable hints find suggestions, with lessons for all grades. The British and Foreign Bible Society is also helping ’in making.' this work more. effective by offering to 'supply well-printed and - well-bound Bibles at a very nominal cost. We are glad to give publicity to the following information, which seems not to be too well known:—

State school teachers are at liberty if they so desire to co-operate in the Nelson System.

The Bible may be used in the teaching of literature and other general subjects in the curriculum. Out of a total number of 2,600 State primary schools 1,600 are one-teacher,; and 500 two-teacher schools..

Many facilities are thus being given! those willing to assist in this work, a' very fine course being open to all wishing it at the Otago School of Religious Education, which opens early . next month. THE TEACHER’S DEVOTIONAL LIFE. Our greatest danger to-day is not slackness of teachers, indifference tc» the church, or falling away of scholars,so much as an absence of spiritual power and a temptation to rely, upon training and method instead of the presence of the Holy Spirit. The reason why so much of the Sunday school work in the old days was Successful, in spite of the crude indifference to psychology and educational method, was this reliance.- on spiritual power. It is still true, to-day that a poorly-equipped teacher,; inspired with a love for Christ, and gifted with an attractive personality, will get straight into the very heart, of .the citadel of youth, and capture it for the Master, leaving the psychologist or trained educationist still fumbling outside the door trying to find the right key that mil turn the lock. Do not let me be misunderstood—l am not suggesting that we should slacken. our efforts in any direction to train our teachers, and improve our methods ol work. I merely want to emphasise and underline the fact that ah. such efforts cannot be divorced from spiritual equipment in Sunday school work. Mere machinery is lifeless without the powsjj that will turn the wheels. Fortunately, in most cases, those who are keenest on the training of teachers are equally insistent on the cultivation of spiritual gifts.—E. H. Hayes. DEPENDABILITY. " A prominent Sunday school itorker once said that after a generation of working for the young he had come to the conclusion that all Sunday school workers could be divided into-two classes—those who are absolutely dependable and those whose interest is spasmodic and fitful. That teacher_ or officer who can be absolutely relied upon is .a great asset to any school. Fortunately there'is a very large, and no doubt an increasing number of such people. They take their task seriously. They look upon it as a great privilege and responsibility to do such work. There are well-meaning people who undertake to teach, and who in many cases are capable teachers, hut their efforts are spasmodic. A very little thing prevents their. attendance, : a slight indisposition of health, an unexpected visit from friends, or some such happening is sufficient to prevent their attendance at school. ... It cannot be made too clear that such lack of steadfastness is one, of the greatest foes of Sunday school work. Spasmodic goodness at best is a poor thing. The success of the work of religious education depends upon the people who take their work seriously, put their very host into it, and refuse to be turned aside.