PRESBYTERIAN SABBATH SCHOOLS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15098, 22 March 1911, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN SABBATH SCHOOLS' ASSOCIATION.

A conference of ministers, superintendents, and teachers was held on Monday night in First Church Hall, Mr J. W. Todd presiding. Tho clergy were represented by the Rev. A. Cameron and the Rev. R. K. Davies sent an apology. Mr Smith, of the Cavcrshani School, opened the discussion with an address on "Preparation for Teaching." Ho dealt with the present status of our young teacjiers and of the method of adding to the staff, which is so well known to all those who take any interest in S.S. work. While praising tho work that has been done by these teachers he showed tho injustice of tho method now in use of taking a young man or woman, without any training whatever, for tho work of teaching) and giving him chargo of a class of boys or girls (and they aro not always angels), and expect* him to keep them in order and also make tho lesson interesting for them. And under present circumstances what can a superintendent do? Ho must do tho best with the material at hand. Is it any' wonder, said Mr Smith, that 60 many of our boys and girls, as they grow up a bit, drift away from school and aro lost to the church? He outlined a schemo to got over this difficulty by establishing tencher training classes in connection with ©very congregation, and he thought there would bo no trouble in enlisting the services of State school teachers who would tako the older Bible class boys and girls aJid instruct them in the "art of teaching " and handling boys and girk. He stated that as an oxtcachor himself he intends to start such a training class immediately in connection .with his own Sunday school.

■Mr Reid (of St. Andrew's) spoke vory eloquently and earnestly in favour of the scheme, and mentioned that he had' been working on tho sa/me lines for some time, and found it to answer tho purpose very well. ,

Messrs D. , Torld, A. Burn, Rev. Mr Cameron, A, Wilson, D. Beath. J. Ironside. J. Matthews, Duncan, nnd Wpbb also spoke of the schcrruv which is likely to bear Fruit, as tho following motion wns earned unanimously:—" That, tho session and superintendent of each church in Dunedin connected with tho S.S. Association endflhvour to start immediately a teachers' training class on the lines outlined," and Messrs Reid, M'C'racken, Ironside, and Smith, with Misses Love, Ralston, with | power to add. were recommended as an advisors board, who will give any information on the subject to sclionk Mr Smith was heartily thanked for his thoughtful and instructive, address.