The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-11
State Adoption of Bible Study
Urged by Mrs. Menninger.
City of Topeka Ahead of State
of Kansas, She Says.
THE PRELIMINARY OUTLINE
Of Her Instructions for the
Study of the Bible.
Details of State Journal Plan
Announced Next Saturday.
RY MRS CT MENNINGER \

IL. r NJ
Editors note-This is the second of a
series of preliminary articles by Mrs. Men;
ninger on Bible study for high school
course which will begin in the State Jour
nal Septe mber 25.l
In the near future, many of the
states will have adopted a plan that
will standardize Bible study in our
Sunday schools, at least so far as the
high school section is concerned. The
work will be done in the Sunday
schools of the various churches, sup
ported by the International Sunday
School association, yet, after all, the
power that will bring reality to the
movement, lies with the leaders of our
public school system. In this state a
committee of five is at work on the
question of what shall be done, and a
tentative course of study is in prepare
ton which will be presented at the
November State Teachers association.
Meanwhile, Topeka is ahead of the
state. Last winter the North Dakota
syllabus was adopted by, and operated
through the Teachers Training school.
A committee from the high school fac
u1ty, supported by the superintendent
of schools. did it's part, and the results
were encouraging.
First Four Lessons.
The first four lessons given in the
syllabus are as follows, and the entire
course is similarly outlined:
Lesson I. The Creation. Genesis -
(Gen. H., 8-iv, 16.)
Lesson III. The Flood. Gen. VI,
1-ix-19.)
Lesson w. Babel. (Gen. XII, 1-9.)
From this, some teachers might be
able to inspire pupils to working
knowledge of the Bible, but I feel GER
tain that a greater number would have
been interested in the study last year,
if there had been a more tangible
means of getting at the work. Some
thing suggested to be done a little
more in detail. Our Sunday school
teachers are not a body of trained peo-
pie, who have ideas gained from
normal school, but most of them are
busy mothers and fathers. young bust
ness men and women. Many of them
could not possibly find time each week
to make their own outlines no matter
how much they might choose to do so.
Others, who are good followers and
imitators, and succeed in getting fine
results, could not do it at all, as it ap-
pears that Just for lack of a little
larger help we have seemed to fail in
justifying our enthusiasm to take up
the work throughout our city. We
must not try to read pages about the
Bible, because we are given only part
of an hour to recite, and one hour for
study each week, and we do not play
fair unless we use every moment or
our time ina study or the DOCK itself.
1 think no finer hour could be spent
than to talk of Abraham Lincoln, Da-
vid Livingstone, John G. Patton, and
many other noble men and women as
great as any characters the Bible ex-
ploits. but it must not be done during
the Bible study period If teachers
prepare themselves TO give interesting
side lights through their teaching, BIZ
BILE study can be made very fascinat-
ing. Every child has a right to be
taught the leading facts, the great his
torical and literary ideas which are
accepted. and the questions
asked by the high school committee
will cover such points only. Churches
add the coloring to their own teach
ing.
A syllabus of the course, and leaf
let of Topeka plans for credit work
outside of the high school may be had
at the high school building
To Interest Pupils.
1t is the ambition of the committee
having the Bible study for high school
credit in charge for the city, that
many of the pupils may become inter
ested in doing the work in their re-
spective churches Every class is en-