Part 39 (1/2)

(3) _The Primary_, for children from six to nine.

(4) _The Junior_, for children from nine to eleven or twelve.

(5) _The Intermediate_, for boys and girls from twelve to fifteen or sixteen. (In some schools, a Senior Department, coming between the Intermediate and the Adult, is recognized.)

(6) _Adult_, for all over fifteen or sixteen.

(7) _The Home Department_, for those who cannot attend, but who will study the lessons each week.

(8) _The Teacher-Training Department_, for those who are preparing to become teachers.

In many schools of several hundred or more, the Adult Department indicated above is divided into a Young Men's Department, a Young Women's Department, and a Senior Department of cla.s.ses of either s.e.x.

An educational test may be required for promotion with honors from one department to the other; but transfer (without honors) may be made upon the age basis. Without departments there can be no thorough grading.

#33. Departmental Organization.#--Each department should have some organization within itself, at least a superintendent in general charge. The superintendent of the department determines in what cla.s.ses new scholars shall be enrolled, and carries into effect the plans of work outlined by the cabinet or the superintendent of the Sunday-school. The teachers should be especially adapted to the work of the department, and should remain in that department as long as they can do their best work there.

#34. Cla.s.sification (or Grading.)#--Proper cla.s.sification cannot be maintained unless some one especially appointed for this purpose gives it careful attention every Sunday. Neither teachers nor scholars should be allowed to bring new members into their cla.s.ses without the consent of the officer in charge of the cla.s.sification, nor should new scholars be permitted to join whatever cla.s.s they wish, regardless of proper cla.s.sification. Eternal vigilance is the price of grading. The superintendent of cla.s.sification will determine to what department the new scholar belongs, and his word should be final.

#35. Promotions.#--There comes a time when a scholar ceases to belong in one department, and belongs in another. Promotions should be made regularly, and at a public service. All members of the school up to and including the intermediate scholars should be promoted at the same time, changing seats, as far as possible.

#36. Records.#--The general records of the school should be well kept, in ink, in a good book adapted to the purpose. There should be annual, quarterly, and weekly reports which should be comparative and complete.

Officers and their Duties

#37.# The officers will vary in number and work, according to the size of the school and the character of its organization. Certain officers, however, are needed, no matter how large or small the school may be.

Many schools are under-officered; it is oftener so than otherwise. Not all of the officers we shall name here could be profitably used in a small school, and yet each of them is important.

#38. The Pastor.#--Since the Sunday-school is a church service, the pastor not only has privileges there, but has responsibilities as well. His chief responsibility lies in the directing of the teaching, for the pastor of a church is as responsible for the teaching that is done in his Sunday-school as for the teaching that is done from his pulpit. This determines largely his place of greatest opportunity--the selecting of material for the teacher-training cla.s.s, and helping to select and appoint the teachers in all departments of the school. He should not act as superintendent, if it can be avoided, neither should he usually teach a cla.s.s, except as a subst.i.tute teacher. He should attend the school regularly, and have a vital part in the program of every session.

#39. The Superintendent.#--The superintendent should be regarded as a church officer, and, except in union and mission Sunday-schools, should be elected by the church to which the Sunday-school belongs, in the same manner as other church officers are elected. He should have general charge of the Sunday-school, and be regarded as its executive head. He should have sole authority to appoint all of the other officers of the school: such appointment to be confirmed either by the church or some body representing it, such as a Sunday-school Board or teachers' meeting. He should have a voice in the appointing of the teachers in all departments. During the school session he should study the school, seeking to discover the weak places and how to strengthen them.

#40. The a.s.sistant Superintendent.#--The a.s.sistant superintendent should take charge of the school in the superintendent's absence, and should also have specific duties to perform in every regular session.

These duties will be determined by the size and requirements of the school, and the efficiency of the other officers.

#41. The Secretary.#--The name of this officer indicates his duties.

His reports should be neatly kept in ink, in a book prepared for the purpose. They should be comprehensive and comparative, so that it may be determined at a glance whether the school is growing or not. He should make reports weekly, quarterly, and annually.

#42. The Treasurer.#--The duties of this officer are likewise indicated by his name. He should be more, however, than the custodian of funds. He should endeavor to increase the offerings to the proper amount. He will pay out money only upon orders properly placed in his hands.

Test Questions

1. Name four conditions that mark the organized Sunday-school.

2. What facts should enrolment show?

3. What is meant by grading?