Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-09-02
SUNDAY SCHOOLS MEET,
Annual Orange County Convention at
STAFFORD.

The opening praise service was leo Dy
Rev. Mr.. Fogg of Post Mills. At IL a. m.
the convention was called to order by the
president, Rev. J. A. Bates. In the abb
sence OF the secretary, Miss Nj. q. Hatch
was elected secretary pro tenn.
The subject OF "Sunday School Work in
the Light of Modern Pedagogy was in
troduced by Rev. G. F. Partridge of Ran
dolph Center, the substance oil whose re-
marks was as follows:
The definition of pedagogy in the Stand
ard dictionary is "Theory OF education
and its application in order to secure the
best results in instruction and training.
The addition of the term modern simply
refers TO present day methods, which DO
not deal as in the past almost wholly with
the intellect as thinking power, but with
the soul in all its powers of thinking, feel
ing and willing, giving attention to the
intellectu al, moral or emotional and phy-
steal being. The child is treated as liv-
ing being, not wooden automaton into
which knowledge is to be poured through
funnel and drawn out with spigot or
driven with sledge and taken out with a
corkscrew. He is taught to observe, TO
discriminate, to think for himself. Such
thinking affects the moral sensibilities
and causes him to make his conclusions a
part of his life. The teachers part begins
with child study, dealing with the indi-
yidual and adapting his work to the pu-
far using objects for the teaching of form,
color and uses, and by comparison 10 form
judgments, using also pictures and stories,
and beginning with things familiar. lead
ing out gradually from a knowledge of
self and surroundings to the larger field OF
the world.
The old method Of Sunday school wo k
was almost wholly training of memory
in the learning OF Scripture and occasion
ally hymns. Present methods aim at
nothing and so hit it, save in individual
cases where something is added to the
mere idea of covering the salient points of
the Bible in formal manner and in seven
years. The adaptation of modern meth
DDS OF pedagogy to Sunday school work
would require, first, a grading OF the
scholars who should meet in separate
rooms; second, the discardiDg of the pres
ent SO called "helps," not because they
are not good in themselves, but because in
the light of modern methods of teaching
they are hindranees rather than helps, as
they tend to do all the pupils thinking
for him; third, lessons adapted to the va
rious grades, and not the same lesson for
old and young as at present.
The primary grade would include pupils
from five to eight years as an average. For
them the teacher would make much out
OF objects and pictures which would illus.
trate the scripture incidents of the lesson
and also the black board. Their lessons
would only deal with scripture Incl.
dents that are easily understood by
the young child and convey their own
moral teaching. There should also be
much memorizing Of scripture texts, such
as lie at the foundation of moral character
and OF the standard hymns that live be-
cause of their richness, but of none of the
modern jingles that are nothing but
mass of words. No books or 'helpsh
should be used by the scholars but the
q
have them reproduce the story in their
own words.
The intermediate grades, from eight to
fourteen years, should take biographical
and historical selections as the basis of
their study, using the Bible as their text
book, and should be taught the use OF the
bible dictionary and concordance. They
should also do much writing, often being
requested to bring in the following Sum
day summary or the personal impress
sions conveyed to them by the lesson OF the
day. This being the impressionsble peri
cd, the teacher should make much OF the
present as illustrated by the past in char
acter formation.
The grammar department, from four
teen to twenty five, should study the life
OF Jesus as foreshadowed in the old tesla
ment and portrayed in the gospels. They
should make their own text book by TAX
ing two cheap Bibles and cutting out
Jner6IrOH Ine SeltcItu leSSODE. MAKING
Herewith a scripture harmony of the life
OF Jesus, illustrated and explained by such
suggestions as might be furnished
through their own thinking and the use
OF a reference library. 1t should be lit.
erary study but the teacher should make
a wise present day application OF the NOR
al truths brought out in the several les
sons. No theology, as such, should be
taught but Christ aud his teachings in the
light OF today. His life and his words will
lead the young to himself as nothing else
can.
The higher department would study the
development of the Christian church as
recorded in the Acts and Epistles with
such additional light as might be gained
through the use of a reference library and |
collected reading. 1t should be a pure |
literary study without theological debate. |
But what about "doctrine" as peculiar |
to sectarianisms2 Nothing, save that if
you think it should be taught in the Sun
day school let it be taught from distinc- |
tive theologica treatise, and not attempt |
to teach oelominational theology from |
the Bible, for all OF our denomi national 1
systems have many human additions and |
magnify some points to the exclusion of |
others. Let the Biole present its own /
doctrines and The study of the Sunday |
school be study of the Bible with the |
special thought of Sitting np Christ, "who /
will draw unto himself and build up the /
whole manhood, intellectual y,morally and /
spiritually.
In reply to questions raised the speaker
further emphasized the incubation of /
moral truth as taught in the Bible ana
not simply as set forth by the creed of the
church, through the whole course; and
also advised the use by the teachers of all
possible helps outside in the Preparation
of the work, but nothing in the Sunday
school except the Bible.
Session adjourned at 1905.
At l: as song service was led by Rev. B.
B. Sherman of Chelsea.
The following committees were APP
pointed: Nominating committee, Rev.
VIM. Trafton, North Tunbridge; Dea. n.
b. Cobb, STAFFORD; Henry II. Downer,
North Thetford; on resolutions, Prin.
Edward Conant; Rev. E. Blake and MIR.
Norman Burbank.
The address of welcome was given by
Rev. Henry Cummings of STAFFORD. Re-
Spouse by Rev. j. A. Bates. "Team Work
in Sunday SCHOOL, was introduced by
Rev. E. Blake of South STAFFORD, followed
by discussion. II
The idea was to have one scholar give
time, a second place, and a third the his
tory of the people as a class. Two or