The Republican journal., 1903-06-04
SUNDAY SCHOOL INSTITUTE.

| 1FOm the nearby towns were represented
| by superintendents, teachers or pupils.
The meeting opened with the hymn, 81 love
Thy kingdom, Lord" and prayer by Rev.
| E. 5. PhilbrOOk. Mrs. AlOnzO Petit of
Elizabeth, N. j., gave an Informal talk on
Sunday school work in the various grades.
The prime object Of the Sunday school, she
said, is to bring the children to Christ and
into the church.
The first grade of the Sunday school is
the cradle roll-names of children enrolled
and prayed for before they are old enough
to 60 to the Sunday school. The future
men and women, the best and the worst,
are in the cradle today. The beginners are
children from to years of age. They
must be taught by stories illustrating the
love and care of the Heavenly Father. The
child can be instructed in what people do,
not what they are. Do rot teach little
child about Jesus as child, as that carries
the idea of helplessness, but rather teach
what he did so far as can be done within
the comprehension of the pupils. If the
youngest pupils must be in the same room
with the others, put up screens. The
children will pay attention to their own
work and not notice the others.
The primary classes are from to 8 years.
Mrs. Petit thinks we have always put too
much work on this age. They should be
taught the foundation truths, but do not
teach them to repeat song or verse of
| Scripture unless they understand it. How
,oyah of tho or6'c nrovor do tho poonIo
mean when they repeat it? A child should
not repeat it until he has been taught the
meaning of its petitions We cannot give
children of this age abstract truths. We
must give them their lessons in story form.
As an illustration she cited Luke 2:1-1S for
the birth of Jesus; Mark 1917 for the res
direction. In answer to question as to
whether teacher should remain in one
grade or advance with her scholars, Mrs.
Petit said tea cher should find the grade
for which she was best adapted and re-
main there.
The junior grade, from 9 to 13 years, she
termed the Patriarchal age. The pupils
can then understand what they read about
the leading events and people of the Bible
sand map can be used to illustrate the
travels of the patriarchs, of Joseph, the
Exodus, of Joshua, the division and settle
ment of Canaan, the travels Of Paul, etc.
The child should be taught habits of home
Bible study. Give him something interest
ing to look up at home and do not forget to
ask about it the next Sunday. Teach them
the duty of giving and the objects to which
they give.
The intermediate grade, from Is to II
years, is for the general study of history,
of the Old Testament, the New Testament,
church history from Paul to the 18th CEN
tury, and missionary history of the world
in modern times.
The classes from II to 20 shonld be teach
ers' training classes. That is the age at
which we lose our boys and girls from the
Sunday school Their interest should not
be allowed to flag, and they should be train
ed to continue in the work. Every teacher
should be grounded in the history and gov
ernment of her denomination. She should
study the Bible as a whole; should study
, the child how and what to teach.
| These various grade outlines were for
supplemental work, outside the study of
the regular lessons of the school. She ad-
vses forming teachers unions OF two or
| more schools to consider methods and take
counsel. The superintendent should have
program prepared in advance, and not
wait until the school opens. She would
keep the Youngest scholars in a room by
themselves as they do not understand what
is being done She would devote 20 minutes
to the supplemental work, % to general ex-
ercses and 10 to the lesson. She would
have the lesson SO prepared that 1T can be
presented in the briefest possible manner,
and still get the spiritual thought well I'M
pressed upon the mind.
At the evening session Mrs. Petit gave
very instructive and helpful talk on
"Lesson Constructions" teaching the Sun
day school lesson for next Sunday, PauPs
Voyage and Shipwreck. In preparing the
lesson the teacher should read the whole
chapter several times so that several truths
in the lesson will stand out clearly. Then
select one truth that will be Of the greatest
help to the children. Never try to teach
more Gudu one u utu d W bA0 } ouAe-
er scholars. When you have decided what
point to emphasize, use what lesson helps
you can to find illustrations to aid you in
impressing that truth. Be sure that you
know your lesson thoroughly before try
ing to teach In teaching use only plain,
simple words that the children can under
stand.
In teaching the junior scholars study
the lesson week in advance, so that you
can give the children something to do at
home during the week. Have them read
few verses daily of the chapter from which
the lesson is taken, and have them read the
story of Jesus stilling the tempest and
Jonahs experience in the storm in cOnnec-
tion with the chapter, Have them bring
their Bibles to the class and have them
! look up and read references when you call
for them.
An opportunity was then given for asking
questions, which Mrs. Petit answered in Il
very bright and interesting way. She
would never have more than s scholars in a
class in the lower grades. For the country
churches, where the Sunday school has to
meet in the main room, she suggests that
two or three pews in the back OF the church
he taken out. This will make place for
the primary scholars and will also be help