RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20418, 26 May 1928, Page 5

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

By Ampucs.

The prime .»jential for moral and religious education is that the young should live a common life with moral and religious leaders. —-G. A. Coe. LEADEKSHIP TRAINING. The Youth Committee of the Dunedin Presbytery has been considering the question of leadership training. With a view to finding out what is being done, the convener circularised the euperintendents of Presbyterian Sunday schools within the bounds of the presbytery, and communicated with the district secretaries of the Bible Clara Unions. The response was not very great, and what there was indicated that very little is being done in training teachers or leaders. An interesting report was received from the departmental leaders of a suburban school, which Bhows what can be done within the school itself, to solve this problem. BEGINNERS' DEPARTMENT. Our training class ia held on Thursday evening. In this class, we discuss the problems arising in our department. Part of the time is spent in child study We plan the programme for the following Sunday, and the expressional activities. We prepare our story to tell and practise new hymna. Of course,' it may be necessary to alter some of the things planned, as the response of the child is more to be desired than our plan. Therefore, our programme is not inflexible, but a plan is necessary. Each teacher needs know the plan for the Sunday's lesson and service, a.nd the value of each part of it to the child. The class opens with prayer, not always taken by the leader, and time is spent in Bible reading, and the meeting closes usually with short prayers, each teacher taking part. PRIMARY DEPARTMENT. The teachers' preparation and training class is held each Wednesday from 6.45 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. The meeting is divided into four sections—(l) Devotional, five minutes; (2) business, five minutes; (3) supplementary (child nature, teaching methods, expression work). At present we are considering the characteristics of the order of service. (4) The lesson, 20 minutes. The class closes with prayer and the benediction. JUNIOR DEPARTMENT. A weekly preparation class is held on Thursday evening. We begin with a period of devotion —prayer by the teachers —following on with child study of junior children, the study of methods in use in the department, and a discussion of special problems. We then prepare the lesson for the following Sunday. INTERMEDIATE DEPARTMENT. A weekly teachers' class is held' every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. The time is short, but it is all that can be managed at present. We open with a short devotional period led by one or other of the teachers. The balance of the time is spent in lessqn preparation for the following Sunday. Sometimes th G leader does all the work, at other times the teachers take a part. If any difficulty in the class work occurs, it is discussed, and a solution is sought out. If we had more time wo would take up child study. The committee proposes to hold a conference with the committees of the various youth organisations with a view to furthering the work of leadership training. , . . THE SUPERVISOR OF THE CHILDREN'S DIVISION. In a previous article the organisation of the local church school was seen to consist of a director of religious education, who is the executive officer of the Committee of Religious Education appointed for his special ability to direct the religious education work of the ' whole church; supervisors for the three divisions, children's, young people's, and adult. These supervisors have control of the departments to which they are appointed. It is their task to be responsible for the carrying out of the general policy for the division, and to take charge of all instructional and cxpressional agencies. For instance, the Supervisor of the childrcns' division "will be responsible for the work of the cradto roll and home department, the'beginners' department, the primary department, and the junior department; that is, those departments dealing with children under the age of 12. Be or s ' le W W co-operate with the departmental leaders ia their work. , What are the qualifications necessary i for such a supervisor? First of all comes enthusiastic, earnest, Christian character, without which all other qualities are nothing. Next comes training in the work of all these departments over which there is control. This training must be both theoretical and practical. It is useless for one who has had no practical experience in the working of a graded school to attempt to supervise on theoretical knowledge only. The special problems of the work are to be solved only by those who have some experience of it. Besides these two important qualifications a supervisor should have individuality and initiative. Many important decisions will be called for in the course of the duties involved, and many plans will need to be made. Leadership ability, the power' of winning the co-operation and ■sympathy ,of those holding underpositions, teaching ability, so that the knowledge possessed may be imparted to others, a desire to advance and grow, and | a sincere love for children and interest in their welfare, are important qualifications. The duties of the supervisor in the childrens division are many and varied. A woman may possibly be most suitable for the position, owing to her ability j to understand and get near to little ! children. She would join with the leaders of departments in seeing that buildings were suitable, equipment provided as necessary in each department,, | and activities planned to meet the four- ! fold needs of the growing child. She would move about from department to department noting, the needs of each, the personnel, the organisation, and the administration. She would see that each department had its leader, secretary, pianist, doorkeeper, deputies for each of those, and sufficient teachers. She would see that each of these_ undertook his or her share of responsibility in the carrying on of the departments, and that proper arrangements were made for preparation of the room, furnishings, materials, etc. She would assist the leaders of departments by nvggestions in the matter of the training of the teachers week by week. She would help to keep unity between the various departments of the school, through the carrying out of the aims drawn up by the committee. In each department she would see that the right pictures, models, maps, and other necessary equipment were provided. With / the superintendent of the cradle roll _ she would arrange that mothers might have suitable subjects for discussion at their meetings and be helped in the training j of the tiny children during the most im- ! pressionable years of infancy and early childhood. In each of the other departments she would see that the leader carried out her responsibilities in the conduct of the department, in the training of the teachers, in the supervision of the teachers' work, in the preparation for the worship of the department, in planning, and in the carrying out of through-the-week activities. Here, then, lies a great field of service to bo explored. There is no limit to the results possible in a programme of religious education that includes thoroughly equipped leadership in every department of work. The ideal is high. May we ever reach out towards it, and more -steadfastly forward toward the goal, knowing that the cause is His Who has called us to extend His Kingdom throughout the whole world.