The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-19
SCHOOLS. GOOD, BUT NOT BEST Sabbath Work of Cha- dren Is Criticised. BRETON NOTES MANY DETECTS Some Schools, He Says, Are Best Possible. Believes That as Whole American sys- tme is Not Equal to English
 Methods of Teaching-
 other News.

The American Sunday School has failed to impress Rev. w. Melville Har- ris, who was sent out by the Congre- gationai Union of Great Britain to make a systematic inquiry into the condition of Sunday Schools all over the world. He journeyed and worked two years. gathered great mass or detailed information at first hand. saw the defects and strength of the system and put his conclusions into report that is as comprehensive criticism of Sunday School methods as was ever made.
 He declares that American people are not ahead of those in England. There are few individual cases" he says, that are superior to anything in Great Britain. but. taking the American schools in bulk, l do not think the general level is higher than in our own. They. have more unity between the Church and school in America, but the American system cannot be cracked up at the expense of our own"
 He attributes the recent British re- vival of Interest in Sunday School work to the educational policy of the Gov ernment. He says of this:
 Tt had become increasingly mani fest that whatever was the outcome of the educational battle more responsi- 
 churches and Sunday Schools in the matter of imparting Biblical know ledge Of course, as Congregational ists, we hold that the State ought to have nothing to do with religious education. and with an eye to the future this mission of inquiry was en- tered upon. I found that in almost every school I visited officers and teachers were ready to welcome any -s.- kN-.- Az.. A..- there is 8 general feeling that our methods are capable of improvement. The difficulty is not in getting new ideas received. but in getting them into practice In this matter we shall have to put in a lot of spade-work.
 The churches need awakening as we'll as the schools, and they are awakening. They are beginning, after d long period of indifference, to see that the service of the child is the most hopeful work in which they can be engaged. For far too long the emphasis has been laid on saving the masses; the newer idea. gradually mak- ing headway. is formation instead of reformation.
 My starting point toward reform would be the grading of the Sunday School. The absurd system of division into classes according to age must go. child must have It's needs met according to its development The basis of the new teaching will be more personal contact and more personal ap- peal. Some antiquated methods will have to be put on the scrap heap. The pupil teacher idea will have to be largely developed. It is even possible that paid superintendents or co-pas- torates will be necessary part of the equipment of the Sunday School of the future.
 For a remedy my eyes are turned at present to the Ministerial Training Col leges. The time will come when every ministerial student will receive special drill in the methods of Sunday School work. and the pastor of the future will be the director of the school as well as leader of tFfe church. and of the two functions, the former is the most important"