The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-25
THE TEACHERS PART.
Securing the Cooperation Of the Parents
in sundsy-school Work.
BY MRS. LOUIS RExFoRD.

Read at the Chicago Univers alist Sunday
school Union at Englewood, Jan. 49,
One happy class of workers to be seen in
the Sunday school are the teachers; busy in
one place, giving a suggestion in another,
anxious to assist the Superintendent, well
coming the children to their places, and fin
ally holding the attention of their classes
while lessons are drawn from the life and
teaching of Him who best knew how to live.
One Sunday school has been known to -four
ish with no teacher except the Superintend-
ent. 1t is fortunate for the teachers that all
Superintendents are not SO talented, else for
them much good would be lost. No good
work is done without its benefits to the
worker, and no teachers give to their classes
more than they receive in return.
Unless the teachers be wide awake, enthu-
siastic, aud above all, regular in attendance
the interest in the classes will soon fade, and
like neglected flowers, the plantlets of hu-
mainly will disappear from the class, If not
from the Sunday-school.
All are imitators in degree of what sur
rounds or precedes them. That there is
nothing new under the sun is daily verified
in thoughts, feelings and actions. Much
that child learns is but to repeat what it
sees in the words and deeds of others. Sun
day-school teachers may be ever SO studious
and enthusiastic and yet, through a parents
thoughtless neglect of duty undo all their
careful work. If child sees father and
mother careless in regard to Sunday school,
perhaps never there, it is quite apt to be in
| fiuenced by this example, and the response.
bility of always being present seems very
| light. Often the Sunday-school scholar just
buddinginto manhood or womanhood allows
other things to absorb the time previously
given to the school, AID soon becomes
stranger instead of support May not
parents example have its effect here?
How much it adds to a child's enjoyment
of any pleasure to share it with father or
mother, and how our Sunday school would
grow if the parents were as anxious to be
| there themselves as they should be to have
their children in the school. Are these not
sufficie mt reasons for bringing the teacher to
the front ranks in the work of securing
more hearty cooperation of the parents in
the school? Let the teachers see their duties
broadening beyond the classes to the parents
and homes of the children and good results
shall not be wanting.
The way is made clear by the children;
ohild's name has but to be mentioned to
gain the parents willing ear. Parents are
always glad to meet those whom their chill
dren love, and cordial invitation and
friendly reception into the school where they
may find much to interest and retain them,
completes the good work. If it does not there
are other and more earnest efforts to be
made. The Sunday school is the nursery of
the church; in it the children are being edu-
Gated not alone for the present, but for the
grand possibilities of the future, and from it
the church gains reinforcements of strong
young workers. If the parents do not real
ize this, it should not be beyond the province
of the teacher to give lesson here.
Some may think there is nothing for the
older folks to learn in the school. Perhaps
these could be induced to come to help others
and ere long they may realize that the text
book of the Sunday school ever unfolds new
lessons, its resources being inexhaustible.
Was there ever Sunday-school graduate
or Bible student satisfied that his work was
mastered? Many parents may be attracted
and brought into the school through the in
terest and pleasure their children find there;
and here the teachers find another and per-
haps their best opportunity for this work.
God bless those fathers and mothers who
put aside all obstacles and after church re-
main with their children in the Sunday
school! What an inspiration their presence
gives to all, and what noble work they do!
1t may be only their plain duty, but duty
conscientiously observed has developed some
of our grandest men and women.
When strangers are brought into the school
care should be exercised in selecting for
them the places they would most enjoy.
Some may be natural leaders and find pleas
ure in joining the ranks of teachers, while
others can but follow. Sunday-school work.
ers cannot expect strangers to the work to
share their enthusiasm, but these additions
to the school need not long remain stran-
gers.
Another important factor in this work, and
| one which goes far to continue it when we'll
begun, is the Bible class. Here the respon-
| sibiIity rests in part upon the teacher, and
partially upon the Superintendent who ap-
pointed that teacher. The necessity of a
good wide awake person in this position can
hardly be exaggerated. One able to so ar
range the work that the lesson shall not be
one of the least of the delightful features of
the Sunday school.
As " in union lies strength" let the teach
ers unite their efforts and give this subject
careful consideration. The cooperation of
the parents in the Sunday school is source
of strength which cannot be neglected. Let
the teachers bear this upon their minds, in
their hearts aud into their work, and nobly
do their part.