Training the Teacher Part 39

(3) _The Primary_, for children from six to nine.

(4) _The Junior_, for children from nine to eleven or twelve.

(5) _The Intermediate_, for boys and girls from twelve to fifteen or sixteen. (In some schools, a Senior Department, coming between the Intermediate and the Adult, is recognized.)

(6) _Adult_, for all over fifteen or sixteen.

(7) _The Home Department_, for those who cannot attend, but who will study the lessons each week.

(8) _The Teacher-Training Department_, for those who are preparing to become teachers.

In many schools of several hundred or more, the Adult Department indicated above is divided into a Young Men's Department, a Young Women's Department, and a Senior Department of cla.s.ses of either s.e.x.

An educational test may be required for promotion with honors from one department to the other; but transfer (without honors) may be made upon the age basis. Without departments there can be no thorough grading.

#33. Departmental Organization.#--Each department should have some organization within itself, at least a superintendent in general charge. The superintendent of the department determines in what cla.s.ses new scholars shall be enrolled, and carries into effect the plans of work outlined by the cabinet or the superintendent of the Sunday-school. The teachers should be especially adapted to the work of the department, and should remain in that department as long as they can do their best work there.

#34. Cla.s.sification (or Grading.)#--Proper cla.s.sification cannot be maintained unless some one especially appointed for this purpose gives it careful attention every Sunday. Neither teachers nor scholars should be allowed to bring new members into their cla.s.ses without the consent of the officer in charge of the cla.s.sification, nor should new scholars be permitted to join whatever cla.s.s they wish, regardless of proper cla.s.sification. Eternal vigilance is the price of grading. The superintendent of cla.s.sification will determine to what department the new scholar belongs, and his word should be final.

#35. Promotions.#--There comes a time when a scholar ceases to belong in one department, and belongs in another. Promotions should be made regularly, and at a public service. All members of the school up to and including the intermediate scholars should be promoted at the same time, changing seats, as far as possible.

#36. Records.#--The general records of the school should be well kept, in ink, in a good book adapted to the purpose. There should be annual, quarterly, and weekly reports which should be comparative and complete.

Officers and their Duties

#37.# The officers will vary in number and work, according to the size of the school and the character of its organization. Certain officers, however, are needed, no matter how large or small the school may be.

Many schools are under-officered; it is oftener so than otherwise. Not all of the officers we shall name here could be profitably used in a small school, and yet each of them is important.

#38. The Pastor.#--Since the Sunday-school is a church service, the pastor not only has privileges there, but has responsibilities as well. His chief responsibility lies in the directing of the teaching, for the pastor of a church is as responsible for the teaching that is done in his Sunday-school as for the teaching that is done from his pulpit. This determines largely his place of greatest opportunity--the selecting of material for the teacher-training cla.s.s, and helping to select and appoint the teachers in all departments of the school. He should not act as superintendent, if it can be avoided, neither should he usually teach a cla.s.s, except as a subst.i.tute teacher. He should attend the school regularly, and have a vital part in the program of every session.

#39. The Superintendent.#--The superintendent should be regarded as a church officer, and, except in union and mission Sunday-schools, should be elected by the church to which the Sunday-school belongs, in the same manner as other church officers are elected. He should have general charge of the Sunday-school, and be regarded as its executive head. He should have sole authority to appoint all of the other officers of the school: such appointment to be confirmed either by the church or some body representing it, such as a Sunday-school Board or teachers' meeting. He should have a voice in the appointing of the teachers in all departments. During the school session he should study the school, seeking to discover the weak places and how to strengthen them.

#40. The a.s.sistant Superintendent.#--The a.s.sistant superintendent should take charge of the school in the superintendent's absence, and should also have specific duties to perform in every regular session.

These duties will be determined by the size and requirements of the school, and the efficiency of the other officers.

#41. The Secretary.#--The name of this officer indicates his duties.

His reports should be neatly kept in ink, in a book prepared for the purpose. They should be comprehensive and comparative, so that it may be determined at a glance whether the school is growing or not. He should make reports weekly, quarterly, and annually.

#42. The Treasurer.#--The duties of this officer are likewise indicated by his name. He should be more, however, than the custodian of funds. He should endeavor to increase the offerings to the proper amount. He will pay out money only upon orders properly placed in his hands.

Test Questions

1. Name four conditions that mark the organized Sunday-school.

2. What facts should enrolment show?

3. What is meant by grading?

4. Name the princ.i.p.al departments into which a school may be divided.

5. What officer should receive and locate new scholars?

6. What are some of the factors in wise promotion of school members?

7. State the pastor's chief responsibility for the school.

8. What are the duties of the superintendent?

9. The a.s.sistant Superintendent?

10. What are the secretary's duties?

11. The treasurer's?

Lesson 4

The Sunday-school Organized (Concluded)

#43. The Superintendent of Cla.s.sification.#--This office may be filled by one of the a.s.sistant superintendents, but in a school of one hundred or more, it is well to have a separate officer. His duty will be to cla.s.sify the new scholars, first ascertaining by personal investigation the department in which the new scholar belongs. This is a most important office, and cannot be neglected a single Sunday without detriment to the grading of the school.

#44. The Librarian.#--This officer should have charge of the library or libraries and of all supplies. New books should have his approval before being added to the library. He should properly cla.s.sify the books, so that those in each department may know which are best adapted to their needs. It would be well, if possible, to give him control of a library fund, with authority to add one or two books at a time as the funds will allow. All such books should be announced from the platform on the day they are placed in the library. A library maintained in this way will always be fresh, and never lose its interest.

#45. The Birthday Secretary.#--This officer takes charge of the birthday contributions of the members. Each member of the school may be asked to contribute on his birthday as many pennies as he is years old, or as much more as he may choose. The money thus gathered may be used for benevolent and missionary purposes and become the means of creating considerable interest.

#46. The Subst.i.tute Teacher Secretary.#--This officer should see that cla.s.ses whose teachers are temporarily absent are supplied with teachers. Having secured a list of names of those who will subst.i.tute, he should send notices each Monday to those who are pledged for the following Sunday, notifying them that their date is at hand, and asking them also to attend the Workers' Meeting that week.

#47. The Biographer.#--Some schools call this officer the Historian.

He keeps in a book, or by the card system, permanent records of all the members, with date of entering the school and other items of interest, such as date of promotion, of joining church, removals, deaths, etc. Where this work is properly done, the records become exceedingly interesting and valuable.

#48. The Door Men.#--A door man should be placed in charge of each door entering the building, or opening from one room into another.

These door men should know just when the doors may be opened for people to pa.s.s without interfering with the school. They should be in their place before the school begins, allowing none to enter the room when their entrance would disturb the services. They should pay special attention to strangers and visitors, and prevent boisterous conduct or talking about the doors.

#49. The Ushers.#--Every school should have at least one usher, and as many more as are needed. In a school of three hundred or over, several ushers can be used profitably. They should be in their places early, to pay proper attention to visitors, and to see that they do not occupy seats intended for regular scholars. They can also look after new scholars as they enter, and see that they are directed to the Superintendent of Cla.s.sification.

#50. The Courtesy Committee.#--This committee will be needed chiefly in larger schools. Its purpose is to make visitors welcome, and show them every courtesy that is possible. The Courtesy Committee relieves the superintendent and other officers of this particular duty, thus enabling such officers to do those things for which they are responsible. Visitors greatly appreciate this attention, and will go away with a good impression of the school. A Guest Book may be kept, to secure the names of visitors.

#51. The Missionary Secretary.#--Every Sunday-school ought to be a missionary society. The Missionary Secretary will endeavor to cultivate missionary interest and spirit in the school. He can do this by securing a proper distribution of missionary literature, by helping to prepare missionary programs and concerts, by keeping in touch with those phases of mission work supported by the school, or church or denomination, and reporting from time to time. He will have charge of the missionary maps, charts, and curios.

#52. The Temperance Secretary.#--This officer should endeavor to cultivate the spirit of temperance and good citizenship. If temperance pledges are used in the school, it would be well for him to keep a record of them, and to enter the names permanently in a book, reporting from time to time how many names he has. He can aid the superintendent, also, by helping to prepare temperance concerts, and by introducing various appropriate features into the program on Temperance Sunday.

#53. The Superintendent's Aides.#--These are usually boys, twelve to sixteen years of age, who are hands and feet for the superintendent.

They prepare the platform and room for the school service, put the blackboard into place, adjust the hymn-board and the flags, if they are used. They may also distribute the hymn-books and Bibles.