The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-07
NECESSARY THINGS in SUNDAY
SCHOOL WORK.
BY MRS. O. s. NICKERsON.

Lessons in the following are necessary,
viz: In constancy of attendance, in punctu-
atty, in attention and sometimes lessons in
tidyness. This last, however, believe is not
essential as general thing in the ordinary
Sunday-school. In a mission school it is
generally the thing which requires the
teachers first notice For US the first duty
then is to teach our scholars to be punctual
and constant, or better stated, to be always
there and to be always there on time. And
how can we better teach these virtues than
to practice them ourselves? How many
times have been in or near classes where
as soon as the teachers failure to appear
was discovered, have heard such remarks
as, ooh dear, teacher isn't comingi let's we
go homel" or 81 guess she thought twas too
rainy to come; I wish l hadn't" and per-
haps the next Sunday found the child's
place vacant. Very many are kept at home
by company, who would never be absent on
account of the weather, and this is one of
the evils of Sunday visiting.
The commandment says, "The seventh
day ia the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in
it thou shalt not do any work." which l
interpret no unnecessary work. If it is
wrong for me to do unnecessary work my
self is it not wrong for me to make it for
others, by so planning my visits to them as
to keep them at home from church or school,
or both, in order to prepare the earlier or
extra dinner? A teacher really interested in
her work and in her class, will never be
IL &h1e Ct he
fringe upon the time set apart for and which
belongs to her pupils. Neither should the
teacher be late at the session. In a school,
with which am acquainted in Boston, those
members who are not present at the hour
for beginning, are not allowed to enter until
the opening exercises are completed. This
is an excellent plan for the children are thus
taught that if they would enjoy the singing
and concert reading, which almost invari-
ably all children do like, they must be
promptly in their places when the superin-
tendent's bell strikes. This plan also does
away with much of the noise and disturb
ance incident upon the entering of the tardy
ones. Let the children see that their
teacher is always present on time, and they
There are many things to be considered in
securing the undivided attention of class
inYthe Sunday. school. In the first place it
is desirable that the children be grouped
about the teacher where he can look about
upon all and give each one as much notice
as every other. Nor should the classes be
too near toge Their, for thus if the teachers
voices be loud, or adjacent children mis-
chievous, the classes are cause of disturb
ance to one another. But of course the
chief factor in gaining attention is the
teacher himself; he must make himself and
what he says interesting, or some will be in
attentive; and that he can do after proper
study of the class and lesson.
Thus in the ways which have mentioned,
and in numberless others, which as one
becomes more and more experienced in the
work. will open up before the teacher, we
may become fitted to work in this part of the
Masters Vineyard, and after we have gained
the interest and respectful attention, then
we are we'll begun and the time is come for
us to let the children see that we are work
ing for a purpose: namely, the develop
ment of their moral aud spiritual life.
Very little, except precept, can be given
to the younger ones, but beginning with
scholars of twelve years of age and older,
an occasional question to find out whether
the higher life is being awakened and fed. OF
suggestion or remark to show the teach
er's real interest in such life, may prop
erly be considered an imperative duty. /
shall never forget the day when my own old
teacher, but year ago passed to the higher
life, stopped the class, group OF eight girls
just as We we're leaving the school, and
looking earnestly round the circle, said in
low voice, "Girls, don't forget that I'm
praying for each one of you" We were al
gayety aud thoughtlessness just the mo
ment before, but each one, am sure, felt al
did, that we had something precious t.
carry away, the love of that good womani