The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-02-03
SUNDAY SCHOOL
STANDARDS.
The Standard OF Excellence For
The Elementary Grades of The
Sunday School.
Miss Carrie Clark.

MISS NaIGIO Sltiih'
Mrs. Baldwin, our State Elemen-
tary superintendent, is anxious to
put the Standard of Excellence be-
fore every Sunday school in the state
We have thought that perhaps the
best way to reach the schools of
Wayne county would be through the
columns of THE CITIZEN which
has so kindly offered to aid us in
our Sunday school work.
This does not mean that all
schools not meeting the Standard
should seek at once to introduce
many new departments, but 1t does
mean that each school should at
tempt to do one thing at time, and
thus gradually grow to the ideal.
The following is taken from the
Elementary Standard leaflet, copies
of which may be obtained by writ
ing the State office;
THE STANDARD.
I. A Cradle Roll-The purpose of
this department is to give to each
little child the watchful care and
prayers of the church and to bind to-
gether the home and the Sunday
School in an effort to keep the child
for Christ. Many families have
been brought to Christ because of
the interest shown in the baby.
z. A Beginners Departmental
has been proven that unless the chill
dren under six are in a class by
themselves, it is impossible to help
them as they should be helped in
the Sunday school. These little chill
dren differ greatly in their mental
and physical development from the
children of six, seven and eight
years of age, and to do them JUS
tice it is necessary to organize a be-
ginners' class or beginners depart
ment.
3. a Primary Department-The
three years covered by the Primary
Department are years when both the
brain and body are growing more
rapidly than at any other time in the
life The children are going to
school. They have many new ex-
periences. Their training should
differ materially from that given the
child under six or that given the
child over eight So any primary
teacher who desires to help most the
children of this age will separate
them from the children under six
or over eight. The teacher will also
see that the teaching and training
are adapted to their stage of de-
Velopment
4. A Junior Department The
children from nine to twelve have
been realty neglected in the majority
of our Sunday schools. They have
either been held in the Primary De-
partment and treated as babies or
been sent to the main room and
treated as adults. 1t should be re
membered that this is the great
habit-forming age, and that of daily
Bible reading, daily prayer, church
attendance, systematic giving
prompt obedience, should be formed.
1t is the time when the memory is
very retentive and when the child
should be taught much Scripture and
some hymns. 1t is the time when
the child may be expected to ac-
knowledge Jesus Christ as his Saw
ior. This work cannot be properly
done unless the children are sep
arated and have teachers who un-
aerstand their needs and know how
20 meet them.
5. A Separate Place of Meeting
1t is always best to have a separate
room for each of the Elementary
Grades, but with many schools this is
at present impossible. Let those who
have the separate rooms use them.
Lel IlOSo WIN CtHHOI nave d SepdI-
ate room for each grade have as
much separation as possible. If
there is a separate room for the
Primary Department, it can be made
TO serve also for the Beginners by
dividing it with a curtain or screen.
Then the Primary and Beginners
Department could have an opening
and closing service together, being
separated for the lesson study only.
Where there is no separate Primary
room, at least separate the depart
ments by screen or curtain from the
rest of the school. Keep constantly
on the lookout for something bet
ter yet" and press on toward the Sc
curing of complete separation. The
Junior classes could be grouped to-
gether in the main room and cur
tained or screened from the rest OF
the classes during the lesson hour
AS soon as possible provide a sep
arate room for the Juniors.
g. A Blackboard is necessary be-
cause a child learns more thoroughly
what he sees than what he hears
The use of the blackboard. there
fore, deepens the impressions of the
truth made by telling the story o.
the lesson. Fine drawings are no
necessary. Simple outlines leave
room for the child's imagination tt
fill in the picture. Where 1t seem!
impossible to use a blackboard, many
teachers secure large sheets of ma
Mia paper and crayons, and some
use large states and chalk.