Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-11
TRAINED TEACHERS.
Best Results to Be Obtained BY Those
Who Know How and Why.

VINO Know How ana why.
Paper by Rev. R. E. Hough, General
Secretary Sunday School and Y. p.
c. u. of A. r. P. Synod of the South,
before York County Sunday School
convention.
1 have neither time or inclination 10
indiscriminately heap criticism upon the
heads of Sabbath school teachers. 1
feel that we should rather attempt to
faithful and indispensable service Of
the many thousands who are this very
day gladly toiling that the rising gen.
Grafton may, in some measure, be pre-
pared for life's duties. Never since
the establishment of the Sabbath
school as an institution have saner
methods been employed, more conse-
Grated service rendered, or more con-
scientious teachers engaged in the
work than at this present time. There
is no means by which to measure the
result of their labors. And Of this one
one thing / am sure unless there Is
serious error in the oft-repeated but
unchallenged statement that eighty
per cent Of the .church's annual in
crease comes from the Sabbath school
the work of the teacher, even as we
find it today, deserves a good, broad
merit mark rather than much OF
the promiscuous criticism and CEN
sure one hears so often. There Is an
injunction Of the Holy Scripture which
we need to remember in this connec-
ton. In 1t we are commanded to
"Render therefore unto all their dues"
And If we fail to honor this noble
band of Sabbath school teachers who
a., 1a,, fh1 olf Of ~
time and their talents. without money
and without price, and often without
thanks or due appreciation, as their
work deserves, we become a trans
gressor of this command.
But withal there is a place for
friendly counsel and constructive crit
icism in Sabbath school teaching as in
all other matters. And one Of the
very hopeful signs of the teacher
training problem Is that no class Of
workers so heartily welcome this kind
Of help as the teachers themselves.
Everywhere we find them seeking from
every available source assistance to
properly discharge the important du-
ties of their office. They are reading
the latest books and periodicals, and
are attending conventions and schools
and institutes where they may eX-
change ideas and plans ever hoping
that something will be placed in their
hands that will enable them to prose-
cute in the best possible manner their
God-given task of bringing up gen.
Grafton of Christians and church work
ers who will in every way be worthy
of their great opportunity. In my own
work I find that the majority Of the
letters which come to me asking for
information or assistance are from the
hand and heart of the teachers of our
schools, and as l look out over the
field l see nothing which so brightens
the Sabbath school sky and makes 1t
radiant with hope for a better day as
this general uprising on the part Of the
teachers themselves for adequate
training.
l. This general demand for trained
teachers is in accord with the spirit OF
the age. 1t is not fad Of the few. or
scheme thrust forth by those who
are striving and straining after some
thing new, but 1t is the hopeful and
healthful demand of virtually the en-
tire constituency of the church and
the school, growing out of the import
ance of the work and the eXigency of
the times. Skilled workmen in every
department of service Is the demand
of the age, and the world stands pledg-
ed to pay almost any price to the one
who can do what it wants done in the
quickest and best way. And as a re-
suit of this spirit we find various
kinds of schools being established and
maintained. many of them at great
cost. Only recently l was reading
that the lobster fisheries Of Rhode Is
land had established a system Of In
struction for the men who raise lob
sters. 1t has proven to be good in
vestment, for the lobster business has
increased at a most wonderful rate.
The big department stores also are
finding it profitable to train and in
struct their employees. not only how
to sell goods. but in regard to every
thing connected with the business.
The United States government believes
in training her sailors and soldiers. /
am informed that thirteen ships, COM
prising nearly one-fifth the total ton
mage OF the navy, and manned by one
fourth the entire naval force, are used
as school ships. where young men may
be trained for defending the flag upon
the sea. Besides, the training stations
at Newport and San Francisco have
been enlarged and a new station is
being established. on the Great Lakes
at a cost of a quarter million dollars.
The United States government does
chance. or that anybody may be pick
ed up will do to trust with the honor
and defense of the country in naval
battle. A similar condition prevails in
the army. The physician is not allow
ed to practice without license backed
up by long course Of study and
training The minister is not allowed
to preach without being ordained. The
| lawyer must submit to a crucial test
before being admitted to the bar. The
secular teacher is pushed and pulled
into something of q scientific peda-
gogue by the annual examination. And
even the man who planned this church
building. as we'll as the one who erect
| ed it. had to be trained for the work
before you would trust him with the
contract. The teacher training move
| ment, therefore. is not popular inno-
| vatiOn that will soon spend It's force,
but one that is destined to grow and
| develop in influence and power with
| the passing years. For as long as the
recitation room is the battle ground of
the Sabbath school, and It will be that
| till the end of time. we will need train
| ed teachers to preside over them. and
| for such task no culture can be too
fine and no mental equipment too per-
| feet. Here is fashioned for good or
| i'll much of the lives of our future
| church membership and of our citi-
ZcnShip. Hence | say If the church
has any teaching to do. If she has any
| confidence in her textbook. and any
regard for the command of the Mas
| ter and her own preservation she
above all other institutions should in
siSt most Strenuously upon the proper
equipment and training of her teach
| ing force Without question the chief
work of the school is teaching. and the
very greatness of the work calls fol
thorough preparation Of heart and
mind. The Sabbath school has growi
to be an institution of such size. dig.
nifty and power that she cannot long
or afford TO have any part OF her work
done carelessly. much less her chie1
| business.
| II. The intellectual equipment Of