Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-08-03
METHODS SCHOOL
CLOSES SESSION
Graduating Exercises Held
Friday at College Chapel
-110 Certificates
CONFERENCE WAS SUCCESS
Increase i'm Enrolment and En-
thusiasm Over Previous
Year

The graduating exercises of the
Alma School of Methods occurred at
the college chapel, Friday evening, at
which time DR.. John Steel Of Winona
Lake, Indiana, gave an inspiring ad-
dress taking as his general theme the
work OF the Sunday school and the re-
lation il has to our daily life. DR.
Alfred Ray Atwood, dean of the
school, presented the graduates with
their diplomas. Sixty-one Interna-
tional Sunday School association GER
tificates and fifty Denominational
Teacher Training certificates were
given out.
In point of enrolment, attendance,
and spirit the school this summer was
the most successful since the estab-
lishment of the work three years ago.
The enrolment reached ninty-six dur
ing the week and included presons
who were actually taking work under
the various instructors. Eighty of the
total enrollments came from outside
this locality, In the state there were
twenty-five towns who sent repre-
sentatives to the school and several
were registered from Ohio, Illinois,
Indiana and California. The enroll
ment Representatives. FIVE different
states.
The school this year under the
management of Dr. Atwood was able
TO secure the services of many eminent
teachers i'm Sunday school work.
Among the speakers and teachers
from out side the city and state were
Or. R. w. Cannon of Chicago, DR.. j.
A. Adair of Stockbridge, Rev. j. T.
Neneklasen of Grand Haven, Rev. II. ID.
Borley of Flint. DR. X. b. Wilson of
West Unity, Ohio, Dr. John Steel OF
Winona, Indiana, Miss Sarah Good
man of Chicago and Miss l.. NJ Criss-
man of Grand Rapids The week was
given over to class room work on Sun
day school methods and management,
platform speeches and stereoptican
lectures.
Many excellent address were Civ
en- during the week on subjects of vi
tai interest to all Sunday school work
ers. Particularly interesting were
those given by DR.. Cannon on "Sun-
day Pedagogy" DR.. Adair on "Relig-
Gus Psychology" Miss Goodman on
kindergarten and Primary Work."
and Rev. Veneklasen on young Peo-
piles Methods"
The Alma School of Methods was
organized in the summer of 1914 un-
der the direct supervision of DIR. AL
fred Ray Atwood, educational super
intendent of the synod of Michigan.
DR.. Atwood has since the opening of
the school acted as dean and it is
through his able management that the
school has attained such success. DR..
Atwood has carried on such a syste-
matte advertising campaign during
the year that this summer students
came from a radius of a 1000 miles
for the weeks training at the Alma
school. Besides completing all ar
i'angements for the school Or. Atwood
took an active part in the work of
the week teaching classes and address
ing the school several times. One of
the interesting features of the school
and one for which DIR. Atwood is di-
rectly responsible is that the Alma
School of Methods is the first school
in the country with the possible ex-
ception of the New Jersey schools TO
hold "A three year consecutive train
ing school
The educational displays in con-
nection with the school were sent out
by the Congregational, Baptist, Meth
odist and Presbyterian publishing
houses. The displays contained books
on Sunday school methods and man
agement and religious publications.
The Anti-Saloon League of Michigan
also had a display showing the effects
of the use of alchoic beverages.