In this work the number of departments into which the school is to be
divided must be fixed. The following will probably be found requisite:
Primary, Junior, Senior, Normal, Assembly, and Reserve Departments. The
Primary Department may be graded in unison with the school and a course
of four years' study be adopted. The Normal Department takes the
Chautauqua Assembly course of study. The Assembly is the adult Bible
Class of the school. Graduates of the Normal Department constitute the
Reserve Department. This department studies the Sunday school lesson a
week in advance of the rest of the school, and stands ready to fill the
places of absentee teachers. The main body of the school constitutes the
Junior and the Senior departments. The course of study is for these
Departments, and covers a period of eight years. Their grading is a work
of tact and difficulty.
The scholars should be formed into classes, averaging seven to a class.
These classes, when organized, should be seated in the school, with the
view of promotion from year to year. In a school of five hundred pupils
the classes would average about five to each grade.
Where these departments occupy the same room the Juniors may be seated
on one side, according to rank, and the Seniors on the other side. The
position of the class, being won by merit, becomes a place of honor
which the superintendent wisely uses. In the first organization a
perfect grade is not attainable. Out of the material given only an
approximation to the ideal can be hoped for. Time will cure defects.
Each year the entire system moves. With a few annual promotions the
actual attains the ideal and the system becomes perfect in its grade.
In this we make haste slowly.