Read Ebook: Seven Graded Sunday Schools: A Series of Practical Papers by Hurlbut Jesse Lyman Editor

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hool society. To the teacher is given the responsibility of seeing that proper decorum is always maintained. As nearly as possible the regular Chautauqua course of normal study is pursued. Regular monthly literary and social meetings are held at the homes of the parents, which aid much to keep up the interest of the normal study. At the end of two years the scholars that have the proper standing on the several written examinations in the normal studies receive, at the annual graduating exercises, suitable diplomas, prepared by the school. The scholars do not understand that they are expected to leave or are excused from remaining longer in the school, but they are only now prepared for a better and higher work, that of teaching and leading others in the good work. Many of these graduates become volunteer teachers; they join what, in our school, is known as our

YOUNG PEOPLE'S DEPARTMENT.

We have now three large classes in this department, numbering in the aggregate about two hundred. One of these classes calls itself the "Reserve Corps." They are mostly composed of the normal alumni. This class take up the regular lesson one Sabbath ahead of the school and, in regular order, become supplies for absent teachers. They also study the best methods of impressing scriptural truth. The other two classes in this department include quite a number of our young married people. They aim to bring out the higher and deeper thoughts and teachings of the lesson.

THE ASSEMBLY DEPARTMENT

is composed of adult members of the school, meeting in a separate room, under one teacher; the number in the class is not limited. The lesson is here taught more on the lecture plan.

A course of reading has been prepared, suited to each grade, which will give new life and interest to our library, and will enable us, without interfering with the regular lesson study of the school, to impress many things of deepest interest, such as temperance, church government and history, amusements and proper entertainments for young folks, leading them on, step by step, to habits of proper employment of leisure hours.

Our aim is to interest the entire church by intrusting the educational interests of the church to the Sunday school society, electing many of our oldest members to offices and selecting them as teachers. One of our officers is over seventy years of age, and no one in the Sabbath school takes greater interest or is more efficient, none more acceptable.

The school is regularly organized and governed by the constitution, as approved by the General Conference, and placed in the Church Discipline. Teachers are selected and placed by the superintendent, with the concurrence of the pastor, in the departments to which they are, in the superintendent's judgment, best adapted, and remain with the scholars or class through one department only unless specially changed by the superintendent. Promotions are made only once a year; exceptional individual promotions may occur in some instances.

This system possibly seems complicated and difficult to carry out; we find it simple, easy, and natural, solving many problems that constantly arise in an ungraded school. It especially solves the problem of how to retain our young people in the Sunday school. Our system is thus given in detail in the hope that other schools may profit thereby.

I will add some suggestions for practically working the scheme:

There must be entire unanimity among the officers and teachers in order to successfully start and carry out a graded plan.

First. It must meet with the approval of the pastor.

Second. The superintendent must with the whole heart be in the effort. In fact, he should be, and I believe must be, the prime mover in every step. The superintendent and assistant superintendents in our school during all these years have every year done all of the work of classifying and arranging of classes, made their own "roll," etc. In this way, and in this way only, can they be properly strengthened for the work. They may, if they so choose, call other officers to their aid; the pastor should, of course, at all times be consulted. The secretary might, in some cases, be of service.

Third. The officers other than the superintendent, are expected to give their full approval and do all in their power, by encouragement and talk, to aid the work, and, where this cannot be had, secure at least no direct opposition.

Fourth. The teachers have much to give up. The scholars in whom they have taken special interest may be taken away from them. They may not be assigned to have charge of such a class of scholars as they desire; they may be asked to take a place or room which to them for some reason is not agreeable. Fears will be entertained by some that scholars will be lost from the school, etc. All these various objections should be overcome. The aggressive members should have much patience until the teachers are, as a body, at least willing to forego their fears and misgivings and will give the scheme a fair trial. Harmony will nearly always produce enthusiastic workers.

METHOD FOR GETTING A PROPER GRADE.

John Brown, Third Reader, age eleven years, March 16, 1892.

Samuel Findley, Fourth Reader, age twelve years, July 13, 1892.

In this way complete the enrollment of the entire school, commencing either with the older or younger scholars, as may best suit; of course those whose ages are above twenty need not be taken; all above that age should be enrolled as married and young people. This kind of an enrollment enables a clear understanding into what class to place every member of the school.

A sheet three feet by two and a half will be needed for a school of a thousand members.

The Youth's Department is separated into classes of six to eight members each, and occupies the main room, boys and girls in separate classes, but so arranged that there is a class of girls, then a class of boys, and so on alternately; as far as possible for boys we have a lady teacher and for girls a gentleman. We place the older scholars in the rear of the room, or in the "rear circle," as we say in our school.

The roll of the school now serves an excellent purpose; select all the boys that are past thirteen years old, but not fourteen, and list them with their standing in the public schools. This is probably best understood by grade, say:

John Brown, seventh Primary Grade, thirteen years, March 6, 1892.

Samuel Jones, seventh Primary Grade, thirteen years, July 24, 1892.

Jacob Smith, seventh Primary Grade, thirteen years, September 16, 1892.

Isaac Miller, seventh Primary Grade, thirteen years, April 20, 1892.

Joseph Crankshaw, seventh Primary Grade, thirteen years, May 19, 1892.

Thomas Marshall, seventh Primary Grade, thirteen years, February 10, 1892.

You will not have much difficulty, in a school of three or four hundred scholars, to find several class lists all in the same grade and same age. This will also permit the selection of certain scholars somewhat in accordance with their social standing. Probably one or two classes of each age will not all stand in the same grade as in the public schools, and there will be others who are not in the public or any other school. The judgment of the superintendent or committee must guide; age probably will be much the best guide, and one, at least, that scholars will recognize and consent to more readily. As fast as classes are formed the names are placed in their locality on the diagram or school room plan. Sometimes, in order to keep the grade by years, the classes may not number six and sometimes may exceed six. All the classes are selected in the same way, a class of boys, then a class of girls, and the names of the scholars placed on the diagram as illustrated.

Scholars above fourteen and under seventeen are comprised in another department, and should be grouped in the same way, only into much larger classes. Where separate rooms can be had fifteen or twenty will not be too many--young ladies and gentlemen separate. In small schools, of course, the classes would be less in number. The age will largely govern in this grade; only such as are advanced ahead of their class will go into higher grades. The names for each class should be placed in the space they are to occupy on the diagram.

The Normal Department is next to be selected. All above seventeen and below twenty that desire to take the course should be put into one class. If a room can be secured large enough fifty to seventy will not be too many. Ladies and gentlemen are placed in the same class. This class becomes an organized literary society, the teacher ex officio president. They meet frequently through the week at some home; a short literary program is arranged and the evening filled up with proper social entertainment. The class may be composed of all the grades, first, second, third, and fourth, on the same plan as the C. L. S. C. readings are arranged, all the grades taking the same studies at the same time, as the studies are so prepared that either may precede the rest. Not all who enter the Normal will probably pursue the studies with such vigor as to undertake the written examinations, of which there should be at least two each year. A good plan is to have all go along with the class, because such as will not do thorough work enough to pass these examinations will, after all, probably get as much good in this class as they would in any other, and the associations are such as will in nearly all cases retain them in the school; and many times, before the final graduation comes, they will make up the required work and finally receive their diplomas. Only those who have pursued the studies and have, with credit, passed the written examinations, should receive diplomas; this gives the proper recognition and is an incentive to study. All who began the Normal work at the same time pass out of the class at one and the same time, unless by special request some one or more remain behind. Those who have not passed the examinations go out without diplomas, in our school we hold to a two years' course, half of the class moving out of the class each year, and new members being promoted into the class. This, it will be perceived, keeps a continuous class, some coming into the class each year and others being removed, either with or without diplomas. With us this plan is working admirably, keeping up a continuous interest.

The Assembly or Post-Graduate Department: The Department of the Young People is divided into a Reserve Corps and a Young People's Class. The Reserve Corps is made up of young people who have passed through the Normal Department and such others as will obligate themselves to act as supply teachers in cases where regular teachers fail; from this class permanent teachers are usually chosen. Other young people's classes are provided for those who do not thus obligate themselves but are willing attendants.

In addition a Young Married People's Class and an Old Folks' Class belong to the Assembly or Post-Graduate Department.

Having thus arranged to place in some department and class every member of the school, and having every name placed on the diagram in the place or class where each scholar belongs, you can study the school members and their varied wants and desires, and so adjust teachers, rooms, and locations and provide for a thoroughly harmonious school. All this work should be done at least a week before promotion day, so that changes can be made after a careful looking over of the scheme of classification. Do not consult teachers or other officers than those who have been aiding in arranging the classification. You must give teachers and scholars to understand that all has been done that is possible in the judgment of the officers for the interest of all the best possible results. Secure from the school a willingness to submit to the judgment of those whom they have placed at the head.

All preparations being completed before the day of promotion, it will not need to exceed thirty minutes after the school is opened on promotion day to place every scholar in the class and department to which he belongs in a school of six to eight hundred scholars. The superintendent, with diagram in hand, remains at his desk, the assistants being his aides. He first calls the names of the Old Folks' Class and asks them to go into whatever room is assigned them; next the Young Married Folks' Class, the Reserve Corps, and Young People's Class, each in order will be asked to retire into the rooms or apartments assigned them. The teachers assigned for these classes will at once be asked to take charge of such classes. The Normal Class members will be asked, with their teacher, to remove into the room assigned them. Then the classes between the ages of sixteen and seventeen, with their teachers, to the rooms assigned them. The assistant superintendents will see that the rooms are in readiness and that the scholars recognize the rooms that they are to occupy. In the same way classes whose ages are between fifteen and sixteen, with their teachers, will be arranged in their rooms or apartments. In like manner the classes between fourteen and fifteen. This disposes of the Assembly or Post-Graduate, the Normal and the Bible or Senior Departments. If in a modern room, with a full suite of apartments, these departments can be asked to close their doors and proceed with arranging themselves for work.

The Youth's Department comes next in order. Every class, section, or desk being numbered to correspond with the diagram numbers, and the assistant superintendents being fully posted as to the order of these numbers, the teachers should be asked to remove to the class place to which they were assigned by the superintendent. The older scholars will be asked first, by reading the names of the scholars who belong to each class separately, requesting them to move to the class to which they were assigned. Read slowly enough to avoid confusion, waiting after the names of a class are read until all are fairly in their places; soon all will understand and the work will proceed rapidly. Having thus called every teacher and every scholar and placed them in their proper classes in their order in the Youth's Department , this department is set to work; the names of the scholars are carefully ascertained by the teacher of each class, preparatory to making up the class record, then the lesson can be taken up. All children between the ages of eight and eleven are placed in the Intermediate Department and placed under the care of the teacher selected for this division. Then all children under eight years go into the Infant Department. In some schools these last two departments might be placed in one room and a suitable number of teachers provided, so that grading, similar to that of the Youth's Department, might be arranged.

THE WILKESBARRE PLAN.

BY GEORGE S. BENNETT.

THE topic assigned me is a large one. Being a business man I shall not attempt anything theoretical, but shall be as practical as possible. The best way I can serve you will be to give you the result of the effort made by our own school in trying to solve some of the problems of to-day, in the organization, management, and grading of Sunday schools. We have been asked to do this, and in speaking, therefore, of our own school, do not accuse us of seeking only to parade our school before you. We shall give you only the plans that have worked well with us, and tell you of the system and methods employed and now in actual operation in the Sunday school of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilkesbarre, Pa.

It has taken some time and much labor to get our machinery in working order. We do not claim to be pioneers or original. We have taken many of our ideas and plans from others; we have no patent right on our system. What we have is yours, and if we should find anything of yours in this line suited to our use we should not hesitate to appropriate and incorporate it in our own.

CHURCH AND SCHOOL.

We have a short and simple constitution, the form of which can be found in the Discipline of the Church.

The school is a part of the church, and is under the supervision of the Sunday School Board, consisting of the pastor, the Sunday School Committee appointed by the Quarterly Conference, the officers and teachers of the school. The superintendent is nominated annually by the Sunday School Board, and confirmed by the Quarterly Conference. The other officers of the school, male and female assistant superintendents, secretary, treasurer, librarian , chorister, organist, teachers of the Primary and Intermediate Departments , and the teacher of the Teachers' Class, are elected annually by ballot of the board. The teachers are nominated by the superintendent, with the concurrence of the pastor, and are elected annually by the board. The school is thus brought under the immediate care and control of the church, and is not a separate or distinct organization. Being thus one department of the church the official board of the church annually appropriates a sum of money sufficient to meet the ordinary running expenses of the school. Extra expenses are met in various ways.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

We have an Executive Committee of five, elected from among the officers and teachers, with the superintendent as chairman. This committee represents the school in the interim between the stated meetings of the Sunday School Board, conducts all examinations, has charge of all promotions from one class or department to another, the distribution of pupils to classes, and the assignment of teachers to classes.

BUILDING.

The building occupied by our school is one of the finest ever erected for Sunday school purposes. When dedicated, in 1877, Dr. Vincent declared it to be the most complete Sunday school chapel in the United States, and this, he added, meant the world, for the buildings of the United States for Sunday school use were infinitely superior to those of other countries. It is constructed in the shape of a semicircle and is two stories high. The first, or ground floor, contains a prayer room, church parlors, class rooms, and the library. The second, or principal floor, is arranged especially for Sunday school uses. This is a vaulted room with a gallery running entirely around it. Beneath the gallery, and facing the superintendent, are placed the Primary and Intermediate Departments; their seats are on raised platforms. Large folding doors with glass panels and illuminated Scripture texts shut off these rooms from the Junior Department. The gallery over these rooms contains five large Senior Class rooms. The floors are a series of wide platforms, and chairs are used for seats. Lifting glazed doors, beautifully ornamented with appropriate Scripture texts, shut off these rooms from the auditorium. The main floor is occupied by the pupils of the Junior Department, who sit on chairs grouped around their class tables. The Normal Class sits at one side and the Reserve Corps at the other side, behind the Junior Classes. The superintendent, from his platform, commands a view of the entire school. He can see everyone and everyone can see him and the blackboard behind him. The rooms are so arranged that at the opening and closing exercises the schoolrooms can be made one audience room. The visitors' gallery is behind and over the head of the superintendent, facing the school. The woodwork of the interior is of Southern pine, finished in oil. The entire building is beautifully painted and frescoed, but the decorator's hand is shown more prominently on the walls and vaulted ceiling of the Sunday schoolroom, where the passion flower and grapevine are artistically blended with the Greek and Latin symbols representing Christ. In the arch over the superintendent's desk is a large--almost life-size--oil painting on canvas, and attached directly to the wall. It is a copy of Hoffmann's celebrated picture, "Christ in the Temple," and is pronounced a fine work of art. The floors are all covered with carpets, which are of colors that harmonize with the wall decorations, and the rooms are seated with chairs, making this Sunday school building unusually attractive and elegant.

GRADING.

Our school numbers 700, officers, teachers, and pupils, with a large percentage of men and women in the Senior Classes. We have most of the modern appliances for Sunday school work, and a most enterprising and faithful corps of officers and teachers. Until within four or five years our school had been divided into the usual Primary, Intermediate, Junior, and Senior Departments, and the teachers had for many years sustained a successful weekly teachers' meeting for the study of the lesson. There were, however, manifest weak points in the work done. The instruction on the part of the teachers, in many cases, was superficial, and there was lack of study on the part of the pupils. The Sunday school had been considered too much as a place where an hour or two could be pleasantly passed on the Sabbath, where the members could be entertained without much work or study on their part, and consequently was of little profit. Our officers and teachers for some time considered how our school might be improved, made more efficient, and more satisfactory results be obtained. A committee was appointed to consider the whole subject. The public school of to-day is looked upon as a model in method and thoroughness of work. While there are many points of difference between the two, yet progressive Sunday school workers have sought to overcome the apparent difficulties, and incorporate, as far as possible, the best features of the secular school.

Some of the members of our committee had been either directors, officers, or teachers of public schools, and thus gave to the subject the benefit of their knowledge and experience. The committee spent considerable time in studying the plans adopted in successful schools--some of the more noted were visited; prominent Sunday school leaders were consulted, and in every way light and information were sought. They in due time made their report, which, after being thoroughly considered and discussed, was unanimously adopted, and the committee were instructed to carry out the recommendations of their report. The committee had a delicate task to perform, to take a school of 700 members and arrange them in the different grades sought to be established. The whole plan was carefully explained to the school, and printed circulars, containing full information, were placed in the hands of the Senior Department, where the greatest changes were to be made. The teachers for the new classes to be formed were first chosen, then the committee met with the other teachers of the classes in the Senior Grade, and by mutual agreement their scholars were permitted to leave any of the existing classes and join any of the new classes to be formed as they saw fit, without the least hesitation or embarrassment either on the part of pupil or teacher. The members of the Reserve Corps were secured by special invitation from the superintendent. The classes of the Junior Department were, with the general consent of their teachers, divided by the committee into the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth years. The committee used their best judgment and made the assignments without examination, general attainments and age being the standards. Transfers were also made from the Primary to the Intermediate, and from the Intermediate to the Junior Department of such as should be promoted. Most of these changes were made on a review Sunday, though some time was previously taken in the necessary detail work, and the transformation was accomplished with the best of feeling, both on the part of teachers and scholars.

We have six grades. Primary, Intermediate, Junior, and Senior Departments, Normal Class, and Reserve Corps.

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