The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-09-11
Knowledge Of Psychological Facts
About Child Deemed Necessary
by Prof.W. S. Athearn
In Talk.
BIBLE SCHOOL PERIOD
Many Interesting Phases of the Work
Discussed at the Iowa Chris
tIan conven-
ton.

The Bible school period at the Iowa
Christian convention was held yester-
day afternoon. A thorough discussion
was made Of the various phases Of
the Bible school work by several
speakers and many plans advanced
for the improvement of the work in
that department in the Iowa churches.
All speakers spoke of the Bible
school as one of the most important
branches of the church work, terming
those who are finally called upon to
support the church. They spoke of
the rapid changes in methods of
teaching within the last few years
and the instruction Of the system of
grade curricula in many schools. Prof.
w. S. Athearn urged the necessity of
the knowledge of psychological facts
by Bible school teachers for success
full work.
: Leon S. Dudley. state bible school
superintendent, in his printed report
puts down program for the future
work, many phases OF which We're
i touched upon by speakers. He adj
j vises in his report; first, make the
Bible school department self-support-
/ Ing; second, religious education bases
upon psychological and pedagogical
principles; third, to emphasize to the
noble corps of volunteer teachers In
the Bible school the need of how to
teach as well as what to teach; fourth,
to make the Bible school net to
save the child. rather than a sieve
through which the child shall pass:
fifth, all that has proved fruitful in
the state work be maintained
!
The Attendance Campaign.
y A. c. Smithers of ST. Louis, presi-
! dent of the Christian board of publ
cation of st. Louis, religious work
\ err Of national note, talked upon the
church attendance campaign to be
conducted in the various Christian
churches throughout the country be-
4 ginning next Sunday with view OF
seeing what organized effort can ac
complish. Mr.. Smithers' talk also
touched on other parts of the church
work and was enthusiastically re
ceived
4 Rev John T. Houser gave talk
on the chuch efficiency congress and
an efficiency campaign to be conduct
ed in Davenport. superintendent Leon
S. Dudley handled two subjects, Re
courses for Iowa Bible School Lead
ership," and Our Plea for Religious
Education He pointed out that moth
ing could be accomplished without
leadership,
Miss Grace Jones talked upon this
Graded Curricula." She outlined the
work which should be divided into
primary, junior, kindergarten, inter
mediate and senior divisions The
place of Roy Hyten was taken by Mr.
Wade, who discussed what Village
Bible School Can Do"
Prof. Athearn's Address.
One OF the most interesting Of the
! addresses was that of Prof w S
Athearn of Drake University. upor
the subject, Heads, and What's il
Them Prof. Athearn presented tn,
idea that child must be trained a:
child, giving way to the various
periods of child's development, ant
not treating the little one as a nina
ture production of the parent
He illustrated the nerve centers o
the brain, using the blackboard tt
illustrate, taking the child from brit
until the age of twenty-four years
dividing the periods into those from
birth to three years from three Il
five years; from five to nine years
from nine to twelve years: from
twelve to sixteen years, from sixteer
to eighteen years; from eighteen tt
twenty-four years. He traced the de
velopment of the child through thes,
various periods to maturity.
"The time has come when we mus
demand that the Sunday school teach
er must understand the head Of thu
child he said, in giving application
of the psychological facts to sunda,
school work. We must set the chill
in the midst and know the child. TIL,
Sunday school teacher must know tn,
ichild and its head as well as the Bib,
and understand the methods of un
folding child's mind and the church
to have successful Sunday school