The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-03
sunday study.

eminently fitting study of that section
of the Bible which has been selected as
the lesson for the day, but the prepare.
lion ON Sunday Of work to be reclled
on Monday-an occurrence not ipire
onent when the weekly holltay Is sat
urday. IL.
4 few incidents may serve to mus
trate the point mo1e clearly. a le"Ch
or in a New England school where 'he
class of scholars is exceptionally pleas
ant. as they come. for the most part,
from refined and well'educaIed
families. has been called upon TO
excuse scholars from some lessons
more often on Monday morning than
ON any other. The reasons for the re
Quest were rather striking. a Siri
once said : please excuse me from re
citing Latin this morning. Mamma
wanted me to 90 to Sunday'school III
the afternoon. SO ] didn I have time TO
get all nv lessons. - Another made the
same request, pleading in extenuation
Il was going to learn my lessons yes
terday. but we had company, 80 !
couldn't study \ third pupil mad
the lessons were not prepared.
On one occasion an examination
which required careful reading OF a
certain book. was to be written on Mon
day morning. and afierward, from the
conversation of the scholars with one
another and herself, the teacher DIS
covered that many of them had left the
work largely OF entirely to the prCced-
ing Sunday.
In the primary and grammar schools
there is very little if any room for such
a complaint. The work is Sd arranged
that little preparation is needed beyond
what Il done during the daily sessions
But in the high schools the number
and class of studies are such that IN
most cases one or more hours must be
gwen every day at home IN addition to
the study hours OF the school session.
The fault in the matter. however, does
not lie with the work. but with The
pupil or his parents. The lessons Tor
Monday are no longer, no more difficult,
than those assigned for any other OF the
five school days, and it is frequently the
case that they are not quite as long as
usual. But the scholars, tired with the
week IS work, throw aside their books,
and give themselves up TO eDJoyment
Of their brief freedom. Friday Is gone,
ana Saturday too, before they realize
It. and unless they are themselves con-
scientiOus, or their parents object. the
lessons are left until Sunday with the
thought. II shall have plenty Of time
tomorrow.
The defense which some would make
in behalf of this Sunday study is that it
Is no worse than reading foolish novels
or stories in the Sunday papers, or
spending the time in as silly and profit
less conversation. 1t is true, and | am
willing to say not only is it no worse.
but much better. to learn something OF
value than 10 waste the day in such un-
profitable ways. But Sunday was given
us for something better than the per
Torrance of a neglected weekday duty.
and why should 1t not be improved
The teacher is almost pOwerlcss in
this matter. as such things must, Of
course, be left TO the home training
Yet VOID of remonstrauce will quick
" show on which side he stands. ard
will often bring a blush to the scholar 5
face. or win an acknowledgment of the
unhtness Of such a habit. But even
the word may be resented. a. in one in
stance. when the answer was given
promptly, I'VE shouldn't agree about
that.
Parents, however. can make sure tina
the lessons are learned on the day be
fore, and with little additional thought
and effort they can easily provide good
books for Sunday reading. not of the
goody-goody style, which disgust all
sensible and healthy minded boys and
girls, but stories of noble deeds, of
brave men and women. which will he
helpful and invlgOrating, and viii in
spire to effort in the same direction.
How extensive tins Sunday study j.
the teachef already mentioned has been
unable 10 ascertain. as her opportuni.
ties Tor gaining such information from
others have been few. bat the amount
done by the pupils in that school was a
surprising and sOrrOwful revelation.
and it is earnestly to be hoped that the
practice is not SO prevalent elsewhere.
The habit is a strong argument in favor
of Monday as school holiday. Al
least. any extra work should be as
signed to some other of the five DAYS.
and examinations which demand add
tional study should never be appointed
on Monday, in order that the schools
and teachers may not III any way be re-
sponsible for this desecration of Sun
day .-Sunday School Times.