The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-05-20
TEACHER TRAINING
IN SUNDAY SCHOOL
DR.. WALLACE A. STEARNS DIS.
CUsSED THIS IMPORTANT
PHASE OF SUNDAY SCHOOL
WoRk-To BE MADE FEATURE
OF GRAND FORKS CONVENTION

One of the important features at the
coming state Sunday school convention
at Grand Forks. June 10. IL and 10
will be teacher training. DR.. Wallace
Stearn has prepared the following able
discussion of this work:
The teacher training department IL
one-by no mean the least-of the
accredited departments of the ,associa.
ton. According to certain statistics
and these at best are variable-S5 pei
cent of the additions to the church
come through the Sunday school. IAN
the church realizes only about SO pei
cent of the possibilities through the
Sunday school. It is to meet this
problem that the department OF
teacher training has been organized
Again, accession through the Sunday
school grows up naturally and church
membership thus comes about as the
logical conclusion of a course OF
religious training. Further, the goa
sought is prevention rather thar
rescue. 1t is a commendable thing tt
save the closing years of a misspent
life; it is even better to save a life
entire to it's utmost possibilities.
But the first need of the church is
for skilled teachers. There is need OF
leaders, guides, competent instructors
1t is as easy to work detriment in the
Sunday school to a growing mind as
In a day-school. The, Lord blesses
our efforts: He cannot overlook the
evil effects of stupid ignorance. Give
to religious instruction but a moiety
of the wealth of learning and skill ac-
corded secular education and the
problem of religious education is
solved.
1t costs: SO does every good thing,
everything worth having, and the
choicest product of any common.
wealth Is after all sound genuine,
trained, efficient and symmetrical
men and women. Take religion -
despite the crimes committed by
stupid, bigoted men in the name Of
religion-out of history and the hap
penings Of history fall apart as pearls
unstrung. And bigotry, after all, is
not so much an argument against the
validity of religion as a witness to it's
deep hold Of the hearts Of men.
The department OF teacher training
is a working proposition, there aretno
theories. The department recognizes
an actual condition and seeks to meet
1t. The people of North Dakota, for
example, have ascertained definite
need and are possessed of certain
uStiliIIC duFdAldSG Is Ut u~lSaQYanTAReS.
Taking people and matters as they
stand, the association, teacher train
ing and all, meets people on their
own ground and seeks results by
measures the simplest and most eff
fectiye possible.
Crude at the start, without the adj
vantage of IN precedent, the ~associa-
ton has worked up to IA well organic
ed, widely extended organization. It
must be remembered too, that the as
ISOLATION seeks, not to supplant but
to supplement. The office of the
teacher training department is not
theological but pedagogical. 1t deals,
not with matter, but with method.
Making use of courses and text books
prescribed by the several demorstra-
tons the department asks for no
PECULIAR. Interpretation of scripture
and what is sought. in pedagogy is in
keeping with the best that scholarships
affords.
AT present two courses are offered.
one, a briefer course, covers in :.
years study Old and New Testaments.
pedagogy, psychology, Sunday schools
and their organization and church
history. The second, requires more
time and enters into more detailed
study. The several courses offered by
the several demonstrations are en-
ployed and promoted, as is also the
high school syllabus course. In case
there is no choice, as lis the case in
some mixed classes, the department
is willing to offer advice. While en-
rollment under some demonstrationaI
board is urged, such enrolment lis of
course no compulsory. The interna-
tional diploma is often asked FOR
without additional registrations and
there is no law against such enroll
ment. We are glad, however, to note
an increasing willingness to secure the
double registration.
From modest beginnings the as
sociation with it's departments has as
suTed creditaple proportions up to
1908. Glasses had been organized and
ten had graduated. The next four
Years brought more classes and thir-
teen graduates, last year sixty receiv-
ed diplomas. This year 100 or more
are expected to graduate. An al,1,,,n;
association has been organized and
already is a substantial f-oreshowr;ng
OF things to come. The university has
met the people and the people are
growing in confidence and ia willing
ness to avail themselves of the
privileges afforded. it ranks WITH 4be
agricultural college in members o,,,.
largest state institution.
What has been is an earnAst ~
what is to be. With a present 81 I
rollrnent of 1900, for another wear mr.
goal is set for j, 800 enrolled woTSiny
students, and these, many Of 81
worthy people but beyond the reach m
other educational agencies. but once
reached set in 81 new way ana insnirs5
with higher ideals