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.