News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-03-14
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
Thoughts and Suggestions for Primary
Teachers.


may have many advantages over
those of larger towns and cities, We
have also many more difficulties with
which to contend and thoughts and
suggestions which might be helpful
to teachers in primary departments
in larger schools, would seem out OF
place in our own,
Doubtless many advantages re-
suit from grading, and in this way
bringing the little ones together in
room by themselves, but in order to
make a success of that in our own
schools, two very essentials factors
are lacking, the scholars and the
room.
There seems to be at present. no
other way practicable for us, than
having our schools together in one
room. and then striving to make the
most possible of the opportunities
given US.
One great need in our Sunday
schools is the be- p of more of the old
er ones in our congregations, and
surely many in our congregations
need the Sunday-school.
Children like to be where the fathers
and mothers are. If we want to
keep our children in the Sunday
school, let US be there ourselves.
Each teacher should be adapted to
to the special class she is to teach.
One who from peculiar fitness would
NTH nlInn nil
might make most miserable failure
were class of little ones committed
to her care.
1t is generally conceded in our pub
lie schools that the very best teachers
should be employed in the primary
rooms, and should not the same rule
apply iu our Sunday-schools?
We know that at no time during
ones whole lite, is the mind so suscep-
tible of impressions, as during the
years when properly classed in pri-
mary work, and the impressions then
received, will be those which the child
will carry with him through all the
coming years of his life, and who will
say that in all character building,
the child is mot the father of the man ?
TO teach children successfully, re.
quires not only a great amount OF
tact and patience, but a thorough
knowledge of child nature, and the
methods which have been developed
by experience. A teacher of tact will
not be long in discovering that each
child under her care, has it's own 10.
diVidual peculiarities and needs
which must be met by the teacher
Then, too, the home training may
have been very different; while one
child is tenderly nurtured in q
Christian home, another comes from
a home where no religious teach
ing has ever come into it's life. w
find nevertheless, that children thu
world over, have many characters
tics in common and one who loves
her class and shows sympathy, kind
ness and interest in each word anC
act, will soon beget love in return
and love is the keynote of all success
full teaching-and really of all that il
to be taught-it is the embodiment
Of the teaching of Him, who, wheI
on earth, blessed the little ones.
Good order is one of the essential
of teaching, which can usually be Sc
cured by keeping the children so in
terested that there will be no though
of the proverbial mischief which idl
hands find to do. Another strons
point is to be able to hold the atten
ton of the pupils, to keep them 81
busy and happy that they will b
sorry when the bell rings for closing
To do this, will require the mos
careful study and preparation on tn
part of the teacher. Someone ha
aptly defined the difference between
good and poor preacher-"One ha
something to say, and the other ha
to say something" Avoid if posi-
BILE, in your class, ever coming to tn
place where you have to say some
thing. Do not make the mistake @
expecting too much of children
Truths which may seem very simpl
to US, may be a perfect enigma t,
them. They may not be able t,
comprehend the most simple doc
trines, yet no scholar in our school
is too young to be taught, and t.
understand that God loves him.
The teacher who is in the RICH
place can best judge herself of way
and means by which the most goo
can be accomplished in the elias,
Never for one moment allow YOU
selves to be discouraged in your worl
1t may seem to you, and doubles
does, that you are doing very littI'
but God only knows how much 20
have done, or are still doing.
We know that many who hay
gone ont into the world to do til
best work for the Master, have bee
those whose early training has bee
in the country homes and Sunda,
schools of our little hillside town
Many still remain among the hill
living noble consecrated lives, eith'
of which class could echo in the
hearts the sentiment of the beautif
tribute paid to his first Sunday-scho
teacher, by the Rev. John L. Bake
in @ letter written and read to o,
church, shortly after the death of b
brother, who for more than twent
years had been one faithful SUPERB
tendent and choir leader. In spea