The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-01-27

Ter enduring Jnree years OF perSecu-
tion without complaint He was
ever recognized as one of the largest
bondholders in heaven.
You can see how large his es-
tate was and how difficult it would
be to compute its value so as to fur
nish you the inventory you require
for record on your books. l have
given you faithfully such items as
have come within my knowledge.
Sincerely yours,
GRADING THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
If we are to do our best for the
Sunday schools in which we are
working we must make a serious
effort to bring biblical instruction to
the level, pedagogically speaking, of
the day school. The three things
which will do more to do this than
all others are graded schools, grad
ed lessons, and trained teachers.
Leaving the latter two to future
discussions we will concern our
selves in this article with grading
the school.
By grading we mean the group
ing together of pupils for the pur-
pose of instruction and the adapta-
tion to classes thus formed of sub
ject matter and method of teaching
Every school has some system of
grading. No school puts four-year-
old children into classes with white
haired grandfathers but this is about
the only general statement that can
be made in regard to the grading of
some of our schools. Scarcely any
thing in the whole work of the Sun
dow cohnn1 ic in oh ho
this matter of grading. In many
schools classes are formed because
of friendship between teacher and
scholar or scholar and teacher rath-
er than because of advancement.
Anyone who will stop to consider
cannot but realize the Importance of
this phase of Sunday school work.
The grading in public schools is
considered necessary. A teacher
would think it impossible to teach
children who have been in school
one year in the same class with
those who have attended four years.
Yet in the Sunday schools where the
aim is spiritual and where we are
teaching the greatest of Books, we
often attempt this very thing.
There are reasons for this for it
is because of lack of authority, tran
sient membership, having but one
room in which to meet, and inade-
quate facilities, it is difficult to
properly classify Sunday school pu-
pills. Yet Sunday school may be
graded to a certain extent and if
done the work will be much more
effective.
We have taken up in our last four
| papers the first four grades of a
well organized Sunday school,
The Cradle Roll, birth to 8 years !;
Beginners Department, 8 to 6 years !;
Primary Department, 6 to 8 years
Junior Department, 8 to 12 years.
| Following these there should be In
termediate Department, 13 to 16
years; Young Peoples Department,
16 to Is years; Adult Department,
all over Is years of age.
While the children are supposed
to be classified chiefly according to
! their ages yet there are exceptional
cases where pupils are advanced be-
yond their years. Such pupils
should be placed in classes with
those of their own intellectual ad-
vancement.
Examinations on Supplemental
work are often used as a condition
of promotion. These should not be
rigid and absolute. Those who have
satisfactorily completed the supple
mental work may be promoted with
honor but those who have not mas
| tered the work should not be held
| back on that account.
| Each department should have its
own superintendent with as many
teachers as are necessary. In
small schools one person may serve
as teacher and superintendent but
where there are many classes it is
best to have one person in charge of
the department.
The teachers in each department
must be adapted to the work of that
department. Many teachers who
would not be at all suited for teach
ing intermediate or adult scholars
can accomplish wonders with schol-
ars in the Beginners or Primary de-
partment. The reverse of this is al
so true so great care should be TAX
en- that each teacher is where she
can do her best work.
There should be regular promo
tions when all scholars except adults
are advanced to the next higher
grade. The promotions should be
iiiSluO OhS VI biC lCdIul
of the school. Appropriate exercises
may be conducted on Children's day
At this time certificates of promotion
may be given to those who have COM
pleted the supplemental work. These
certificates are made in a variety OF
forms and are beautiful and mex
pensive. Marion Lawrence suggests
giving each child leaving the Pri-
mary department a Bible. This, ii
seems to me, is a beautiful sugges-
ton. The child, when it leaves the
Primary department should be able
to read intelligently and the Bible
itself should be used in the Junior
department.
1t is always better to have a
change of seats at promotion time
In schools where no separate rooms
are provided it is better to have one
section of the room for each depart
ment. AS a rule it is better to have
the teachers, instead of being pro-
NOTED with pupils, remain to teach
the same grade year after year. II
this is done she will master the diff