RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Evening Star, Issue 19794, 18 February 1928, Page 16

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

[By Forward.] “The world cannot move forward and onward without religion.” LOOKING FORWARD. Once again the days of vacation have passed, and church workers are looking forward to another year of service. The past few weeks have been a time of physical and, we hope, spiritual refreshing, preparing us for the work that lies ahead. The New /ear is a time of new beginnings, and in our church work there is much to learn from the mistakes and successes of the past, and much room for new resolutions. What is this year going to bring forth in the religious education of the children and young people in our midst ? Have we made up our minds that it will see great things attempted for God and great things expected of God ? This is a time of stock-taking, first of ourselves and then of our machinery. The work entrusted to the religions educators is a most important one. How important it is, therefore, that those who undertake it should examine themselves in order that they may not put a stumbling block in the way of some little one. Some of the essential qurlities of a good teacher are Christian character, loyalty, punctuality, sympathy, knowledge, patience, humor. Which of these is lacking in us? Can wo do anything to improve ourselves? Personality is the strongest factor in the making of a successful teacher, and Christian character and experience build that personality. Many a person is remembered for what he has been when what he has said is forgotten. Children quickly detect insincerity, and unless teachers have a firm belief in the experience of what they are teaching the lessons will be of little value. Shall we not, in this time of stock-taking, resolve that our sincerity will make itself felt, and that we shall do all in our power to equip ourselves for our task. Wo see so clearly our limitations, but let us not forget that wo have at our back the unlimited resources of an omnipotent God. Prayer is the key that unlocks the door to God’s great storehouse. “If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God, Who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.” Not only sincerity, but knowledge, too, is needed in this work. The teacher needs knowledge of God, a personal knowledge of Jesus as Saviour and Lord, of the Holy Spirit as Guido and Teacher, and of the Bible, his textbook and God’s plan for men. He needs, too, knowledge of the children whom he is to teach, of child nature and characteristics, and of the _ best methods of presenting to the children the knowledge he has of God and His will. The editor of the ‘lnternational Journal of Religious Education ’ wrote recently: “Attention has often been called to the necessity of leading the Sunday school pupil to ‘ live the lesson.’ Is not here an argument for the teacher to live the lesson before attempting to teach it? Traditionally, Sunday school teaching has consisted in peddling platitudes to a more or less receptive pupil, hoping thereby to win his allegiance and enthusiasm for the ideal presented. More lately attention has been given to the necessity of concreting any ideal in actual situations before it can become a part of the pupil’s experience.” In such w'ays teaching is becoming a harder thing, and the need is becoming greater than ever for adequate preparation. What about our teachers? Is all that i.s possible being done to assist them? Is there a training class in every department? Could not this be one of the ideals of this new year? Knowledge is very necessary in our work, and it is the duty of every leader to take every opportunity of equipping himself or herself in order that the teachers may be taught. Have we resolved that we will study to make ourselves workmen that need not to bo ashamed? Have we a definite aim for our boys and girls and young people? It is essential that the aim of our work should be kept clearly in our minds—that of winning the young people for Christ and His service.

Let us also take stock of our machinery. There should be no need in these days_ of speaking of the necessity of grading, hut there are still a few who do not fully realise it. Are our schools as well organised as they should be? The wise loader will seek to introduce something new every year. Some people are very much afraid of new ideas. A Yale professor has sa id : “ Tho more I see of my classes, the more I marvel at the infinite capacity of the

human soul to resist the introduction of knowledge.” There is often a great unwillingness to see the value of a new idea, because it often means breaking with an old custom and establishing a new. No school is perfect, and for the sake of efficiency there must bo progress. What improvements can we make in our work this year? Can the environment be improved and our rooms made more beautiful? Can our classes be better organised and graded? Can our services bo made more attractive, more worshipful, more reverent? Is our equipment sufficient for our needs? All those rind many more questions might bo asked at the beginning of this year. Whatever is done, let it he for the greater efficiency of the work of religious education among onr boys and girls and young people, remembering always that Ho Who has called ns to it has said: “Lo, I am with you alway ” “The Lord is my Teaclier. I shall not lose the way to wisdom. He leadeth me in the paths of learning; H: preparcth a lesson for mo every day; Ho findeth tho clear fountains of instruction ; Little by little Ho showefft me the beauty of truth. The world is a great book that He hath written. IL turneth the leaves for me slowly. They are all inscribed with images and letters. His face pouroth light tin the pictures and words. Then am I glad when I perceive His meaning. Ho taketh me by the hand to tho hilltop of vision.” —Henry Van Dyke. “ STUDY TO SERVE.” . These words, made so familiar by their constant appearance on Bible class text books, well express the aim of the Otago School of Religious Education, for it exists solely to help teachers and leaders to thoroughly equip themselves for Christian service. There are two terms, of twelve weeks each; the Biblical lectures covering studies in both the Old and New Testaments; while there are courses especially adapted to the needs of all church school workers. For those engaged in teaching children there are courses on primary and junior work, while workers in the young people’s division are well catered for in the leadership courses, which include a study of tho practical problems of work among adolescents. Other courses are principles of moral and religious education, organisation and administration of religious education, music and worship, the use of art, child psychology. The first term commences on the last Tuesday of this month. The director, Mr A. T. M'Naughton, M.A., Maitland street, will be glad to meet Sunday school unions, Bible class district committees, and others interested, with a view of laying before their members the work of the school. ’■ Study to show thyself a workman, approved of God; ono that needeth not to bo ashamed.” ■NORTH-EAST VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL. Promotion Day service at the above school was presided oyer by Mr D. S. Beath, school superintendent. The church was well filled with children and parents. Proceedings commenced with a hymn and short prayer, after which Mr Beath welcomed the parents, and asked for their co-operation in the great work of the Sunday school. During the taking up of tho free-will offering another hymn was sung. This was followed by a short reading from Mark x., 13-16. Then came tho placing of the babies’ names on the cradle roll. Round each child’s neck was hung an enrolment card, and the mother was given u beautiful bouquet of flowers. The Rev. Geo. Miller offered up a dedication prayer. As each department, from cradle roll to senior Bible class, receivad its promotion diplomas, appropriate songs of welcome and response were sung or march music played by the organist. Two B.C. members who were being promoted to the important position of school teachers were presented with bouquets. Several new teachers were introduced, also new scholars from various other schools. In welcoming these, Mr Beath said ho hoped that the associations they would have one with another during the coming year would be for the uplift of us all. The minister welcomed the teachers back to work, and expressed his pleasure in having so many members of the congregation willing to give their time to this very important work. He hoped that tho boys and girls would receive much blessing, and that the year’s work would be crowned with success. Prayer and the benediction, followed by the sanctus, brought a most impressive service to a close. The recently-formed Parents’ League has already proved its usefulness by undertaking the management of a most successful picnic, which was held at East Taieri on Saturday last._ This is only the beginning of its activities, and it is going to y be a power for good in the work of tho school.