Part 11 (1/2)
The department superintendent should have special charge of his department and be responsible for building it up; also for department teachers' meetings, and should be personally acquainted with every scholar. The department secretary should keep an alphabetical and birthday card index of scholars; send welcome letters to new scholars; provide the superintendent with a list of new scholars, that they may be properly presented to the department; send lists of absentees to teachers; keep a record of correlated work accomplished by scholars, quarterly lesson examinations, etc.
_Teen Age Department_
In some schools the custom is to combine the Intermediate and Senior Departments into one and to regard the years, 13 to 20, as a series of eight grades. Several large schools are enthusiastic about this plan, and as the wors.h.i.+p requirements are much the same in the teen years the Opening and Closing Services are acceptable to all grades. This arrangement also is adaptable to limited equipment, and affords a certain amount of hero-wors.h.i.+p to the younger boy on account of the older boy being present. It also offers the older boy a field of service through helpfulness to the younger members of the department. In some schools this adaptation is known as the High School Department.
_Boys' Departments_
During the last few years separate Boys' Departments have come into favor with some Sunday school workers. These departments should not be attempted, however, until every cla.s.s is organized (see chapter on The Organized Sunday school Bible Cla.s.s), and there is efficient leaders.h.i.+p to guide them. A premature start may be ineffective and prejudice parents and boys.
=The Departmental Committees=
_Executive Committee_
The Executive Committee has direct oversight of the general affairs of the department and acts officially between sessions on matters needing prompt attention. It is made up of the officers, general superintendent of the school, the pastor of the church, and the president and teacher of each cla.s.s.
_Inter-Cla.s.s Committee_
The Inter-Cla.s.s Committee has the direction and supervision, through sub-committees, of all the activities of the department, such as:
Athletics Outings Camping Socials Entertainments Lectures Library Vocational Talks Practical Talks Congress or Senate Debates Current Topics Practical Citizens.h.i.+p Service Councils Degrees and Initiations Employment Bureau Home Cooperation School Cooperation
_Committee on Sunday school Life_
This Committee has a twofold function, the planning of the department program for general school festivals and matters of general school business. The diagram shows the activities of this committee.
COMMITTEE ON SUNDAY SCHOOL LIFE
FEAST DAYS GENERAL BUSINESS
Children's Day Sunday School Board Meetings[7]
Christmas Teachers' Meetings New Year's School Elections Easter Members.h.i.+p Campaigns for Entire School Rally Day School Needs Anniversary Picnics Specials, Etc. Socials, Etc.
_Committee on Church Life_
The Church Life Committee also has a double task. Its activities along the lines of church life are as follows:
=Committee on Church Life=
WORs.h.i.+P MEMBERs.h.i.+P AND BENEVOLENCES
Morning Preaching Service Evening Preaching Service Mid-week Prayer Service Special Services Invitation Current Expenses Extension Support Social Life Auxiliary Organizations
_Committee on Inter-Church Life_
The Inter-church Life Committee, through its representatives on the Inter-Sunday school Councils and Committees, cares for its part of the common teen age Sunday school life of the community. In this way the Sunday school is made to loom large as the teen age organization in the town or city. Some of its activities would be:
Inter-Church Council Normal Inst.i.tute Training Cla.s.ses Athletic League Church Census Boys' Conferences Girls' Conferences Publicity Special Cooperation.
SUNDAY SCHOOL SECONDARY DIVISION
THE TEEN AGE BOYS' DEPARTMENT
(Every cla.s.s organized)
ORGANIZATION
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OFFICERS
COMMITTEES
Church Board [a]
------------------------------------ Sunday School Board [a]
Sunday School