RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Hfr-

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21266, 21 February 1931, Page 5

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Hfr-

•;*!: By Amplxus. THE TEACHER. The eyes of the ages are toward him, The love of the race is his own; The heart of the world will reward him. With a name that is more than a throne. The life that he lives is unending, For he is the servant of youth; Earth is lit by the flame he is tending, This priest at the altar of youth. READING TO THE CLASS. Reading to the children in class is an old device, and probably has always been the refuge of the unprepared and inefficient teacher since Sunday schools began to be. Many a superintendent has groaned inwards as he noticed Miss So-and-so arrive with a story book tucked under her arm, and knew that after her children had said their memory work and read the Scripture passage round, the rest of the precious time would be spent in reading aloud from the book. Nowadays, a new horror has crept into the schools. It is no longer the story book you see being opened in class, but the lesson for the day as it is found in the magazine.

The letter which drew our attention to this, plunged us in the depths of humiliation. It is not that our correspondent is not appreciative. The magazine,” he says, ‘‘is too admirable in some respects, and I fear some of my teachers depend utterly upon it, so much so that they bring it to the school, although I have let them know as tactfully as I can that I do not approve of the practice.”

Superintendents do well to be concerned to discourage, and, if possible, check this practice, which is destructive of real Sunday school work, to say nothing of the teacher’s own self-respect and his influence with the children. There is no great harm in the unpractised teacher taking a few written notes with him—say, an outline or a few questions on a postcard, but what are the children likely to think if their teacher merely reads out to them from a printed page? Surely, that their teacher has taken little or no trouble by way of preparation, and that he knows no more about the lesson, perhaps less, than they do themselves. We are tempted to recommend Napoleonic methods in dealing with this abuse. Large classes are inadvisable, but , the right kind of leader can handle 20 and even 50 or 100 children, and do something at least for them. _ If you are strong enough, dispense with the teachers who are not triers, and do your best to strengthen that which remains. But remember that it is often the system, or the want of a system, which breeds the abuse. Where young people are pressed into the service with the assurance that it will make little or no demands on their energy and efforts, ■where there_ is no provision for a common preparation of the lesson and no carefully cultivated realisation that attendance at such preparation should be a point of honour with everyone who teaches, it is not surprising that young men and women who are not sure of themselves are bewildered by the difficulties of handling a class .without having realised what is meant, and so cast about for any expedient that will keep the children quiet.—Scottish Sunday School Teacher.

PRESBYTERIAN BIBLE CLASSES, The Presbyterian Bible Class Summer Conference at Masterton was indeed a memorable one, and will live long in the memory of those privileged to attend. From the afternoon of arrival wo were assured of a ‘“warm” welcome, and throughout the week the weather maintained a very high standard, a not inconsiderable factor in the enjoyment ot conference. After we had registered, and had received our meal ticket#, and ribbon, we were shown our sleeping quarters, which proved very comfortable, and left nothing to be desired. Meals were served in a huge marquee erected in the High School grounds, and so good was the catering that people were seldom late, though perhaps the eatables were not the only attraction round the marquee. On the first night, the delegates were given a civic reception in the Xown Hall, being officially welcomed by his Worship the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, who, in a short speech, immediately made the delegates feel at home in Masterton. His Worship expressed the belief that the conference would be productive of much good work both to the delegates and to Masterton also. The Rev, E. J. Rich, vicar of St. Matthew’s, extended a welcome in a short, forceful speech, on behalf of the Masterton Ministers’ Association, and wished delegates a very successful conference. The Rev. J. Davie, president of the conference, also welcomed those present. In the course of his speech he paid tribute to the wonderful support given by every section of the community. Everyone, he said, had freely and readily done all in his power to help. Mr Davie expressed his gratitude to the local committee for its loyal co-operation and valuable services in making conference comfortable and happy, especially mentioning the work of Miss Lois M'Gregor, who had been associated with the movement since its inception, and whose experience, business ability, and whole-hearted consecrated devotion to the work had meant everything in preparing for conference. In. conclusion, Mr Davie hoped that delegates would approach conference with a high-minded seriousness, realising God as a Father of Love and themselves as coworkers with Him, for if that were their attitude conference would be not only comfortable and happy, but also prontOn behalf of the delegates, the Rev. R. M. Ryhurn, director of Youth Work, expressed thanks for the warm welcome they had received. He also thanked the Local Committee and all who had helped to prepare for their stay in Masterton. He said he felt that the B.C. Conference was one of the most important gatherings of the Church, giving a sense of its Dominion-wide activities, STUDIES AND SECTIONAL MEETINGS. From every point of view, conference was very successful. In the Study Circles much interest in discussion rose round the comprehensive subject, “The Voice of God.” The hour spent each morning on these thought-provoking studies proved most valuable, as each group of eight or nine members met and discussed God’s revelation to us. Study Circles were followed each morning by sectional meetings. The Sunday school teachers’ sections, conducted by Miss Clayton, Miss Moss, and Mr Chisholm, dealt with the problems confronting Sunday school teachers in their great task, with all its glorious possibilities and opportunities for service. The meetings took the form of discussion on the training necessary for teachers, the organisation of the different departments 1 , the characteristics of children in the different stages of their development, and the methods of teaching and modes of approach most suitable for and applicaable to those different stages, “ BERT ” DAVIES SPEAKS. On the first Monday, B.C. members were privileged to hear their own missionary from China, the Rev. “ Bert ” Davies, and Mrs Davies, who gave most interesting talks on the work in the Kwangtung province, and especially round its capital. Canton. Mrs Davies has been on the field for 25 years and Mr Davies 21 years. Mr Davies told of the development of the mission work during the years, of its medical, educational, and spiritual departments all linked together. He stressed the need for another doctor and appealed for a volunteer. He told of changes in organisation; of co-operation among the different branches of the Church in one “ Church of Christ in China”; of difficulties, hardships, and real dangers to be faced, such as encounters with pirates and bandits, and of the joy of the work, which brings its own reward. Mrs Davies followed with a further interesting address, dealing with the devotional side of the work, and with the teaching of singing. Mrs Davies’s address reminded us that we of the young men’s movement arc only too apt to underestimate and fail to appreciate the value of the service rendered by the noble women who devote their lives to Christ’s cause in foreign lands. TO MOUNT HOLDSWORTH. On Tuesday an all-day picnic was held to the beautiful bush-clad Mount Holdsworth. At 6.30 a.m. over 150 enthusiasts, bent on reaching the summit, departed by bus and lorry. They were followed at 8.30 a.m. by the less energetic, who nevertheless looked for a day’s fun and enjoy-