The guardian., 1954-08-21

taken Christian education quite
seriously in the last so years
but the emphasis Of it has be-
come popular n the last Is years
in the last go years the sincere
study has been made but in
the last IS years it has been
popularity visible
When we think of Christian
education many people immedi-
ately say, oh that is for chill
dren. Christian education is
developing a practical and sub
jective awareness of Christ
through coordinated channels
or techniques of teaching from
early childhood until physical
expiration takes place. In life
Christian education is an in
ceSsant activity at all times
progressing to a high mark in
Christ Jesus. The Roman Cath
olic church is a great church
for the Christian education of
children and does a splendid
job in promoting loyalty to the
physical Church and somewhat
to the spiritual. This place of
Christian education cannot be
adequately discussed at the pre-
sent time.
Christian education is applied
from the Graded roll at birth
up to four years old and some
times o about 31a years. The
parent and the teacher work
together. The teacher keeps the
roll Of all babies or little chill
dren and at various times of
the Church calendar makes
contacts with the parent con-
corning the child. A card, litera-
ture, letters, and periodic visits
which involve seeing both child
and parent are some of the
techniques used before and af-
Ter christening or baptism.
Glasses may be held for young
parents in order to guide them
into applicable methods of APP
preaching religion in these early
years. 1t seenss unimportant to
many to emphasize this age
of development but these years
can do so much for the future
OF the child if the parents and
the Church have an effective
cradle roll teacher. It is also
beneficial to the parent.
The beginners age runs from
Sh of through years of age
which is the time that parents
begin sending their children 10
the Church School or more
popularity known as the Sunday
School. The primaries are from
6 through 8 years the juniors
intermediates from IL through
Il years; the seniors range
from 9 through II years; The
from Is through II years; the
young people are from 1S
through "A years, the young
adults are from Is through 35
years; and the later adults are
from IS years on. Special groups
are developed from 35 upwards
giving continued growth In
Christian education. This is the
best known grouping for teach
ing advantages. The Protestant
church has trained men and
women, printing materials and
techniques applicable to each
age group. The purpose of ali
suggested materials and techni-
CUES is to direct the individual
to Christ and His Kingdom
Further, it is to place the per-
son into position of D ractica-
Christian benefit and to give
him spiritual insights to tht
mysteries Of Gods power. The
end of Christian education /,
not In materials and techniuues
1t is Christocentric all the way
through. Take Christ out of Il
and the material and sachniuut
are Of very limited value. Chris.
tian education has taken It's
various steps of progress in the
last so years In the matter OF
curriculum development. The
Bible centered curriculum tc
social charges. The material
centered curriculum neglected
the pupils total consideration
The teacher centered currich-
luln, based on a teachers per-
Sonal conception, neglected both
the material and the pupil. The
pupil-centered curriculum neg
lected individual differences OF
pupils. The eXperienced-center-
ed curriculum was found to be
the best approach in building
a curriculum TO teaching and
has been found to be advan-
tageous in placing the individ-
ual and especially the child in
the atmosphere of experience
where not too much is already
laid out for him but rather
through side line guidance he
works 1t out for himself. When
curriculum is built around this
approach decisions and growth
are inevitable. The teacher