The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1915-01-07
TEACHER TRAINING IN THE
SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF NORTH
DAKOTA AND WARD COUNTY

Once more take pleasure in send
ing you a word of greeting on this,
the beginning of a new year. Since
last sent you communication many
changes have been made, a great many
schools have made such a success of
their Teacher Training work that it is
beyond all expectations; very, very
few have discontinued their class. At
our last County Convention at Donny-
brook, N. D., the writer had the pleas
ure of presenting to class of grad
yates at Aurelia, N. D., their diplomas.
During the past two weeks have Sc
cured the enrolment of two new
classes in that same school. Ask your
self is Teacher Training work a sue
cess or are these people deluded in
starting two new classes at the COM
pletion of former one. Or if you
are interested in Sunday School work
ask yourself these questions, Is your
Sunday School the best that it can be
made? Are you giving to it's work the
best of which you are capable? If
your business or your family or your
social obligations receive the same
quality of attention which you give
your Sunday school, how would they
fare?
No man can answer for another. Al!
the writer knows is that in the same
vicinity where one school is doing
good, constructive work, he can find
many which have made no significant
improvements in their methods for
eight, nine or ten years. 1t cannot be
that these poor schools are waiting for
better methods to be demonstrated.
That has been done time and again.
The progressive schools with their de-
partment organizations, their graded
material of instruction, their practical
service work and their Teacher Train
ing groups are growing rapidly. But
their neighbors are waiting for light
ming to strike and arouse the indolent,
apparently, for little that is agrees
sive has been attempted. What do
you need most in your chool next
year? Better teaching, probably. Is
it possible for you to secure such?
What are you doing toward this end ?
If your school carries out next year
precisely the program which it worked
this year, what guarantee have you
that the coming season will see better
teaching? You will need new teach
ers. From what source will you Sc
cure them? The older students Of your
own school, of course. What have you
done to train them for this important
task? And your present teaching
force, is it worth their while to give
an hour a week, perhaps, in connection
with prayer meetings, for the study of
the Christians task?
Any teacher who is determined to
do his best will see to it that he can
afford this much, and if the opportun-
ity to join a class is withheld he can
take up the work by correspondence.
The Resolution for 1915.
1t is a question of interest on our
part. We must select some activities
for special emphasis next year. Shall
we not resolve, first, to take on no
more responsibilities than we can dis
charge acceptably? And secondly, to
do nothing in Sunday school work that
is not an expression of the best of
which we are capable.
l shall give letters prompt attention
upon any phase of this great question,
and shall be glad to aid you in any
way in my power toward the greatest
forward movement in Sunday school
or Biblical education, known as Teach
er Training.
Yours very truly,
FRED w. GRONINGER,