The Chautauquan, Vol. 04, December 1883Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
History
The Chautauquan, Vol. 04, December 1883
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
Chautauqua Institution -- Periodicals; Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle -- Periodicals
In Lesson I we considered the place, purpose and prerogatives of the
Sunday-school. That it may keep to its place, accomplish its purpose,
and enjoy its prerogatives, efficient organization is necessary. By
universal consent the chief officer of such organization is called “The
Superintendent.” Experience has proved that the character of the school
and its success or failure, as measured by the standards already given,
depend very largely upon the character of the superintendent and his
understanding of his work. This lesson will content itself with answering
briefly three questions:
I. _What are the Qualifications of the Model Superintendent?_—The purpose
of the school is the conversion and spiritual education of those who
are under its influence. This, therefore, must be the purpose of the
superintendent. As one can not teach what he does not know, so he can not
accomplish a purpose unless he knows practically the steps which lead
to its accomplishment. The superintendent therefore must be (_a_) _both
converted and spiritually educated_. Conversion implies oneness with
Christ in will and desire. Christ’s will is the conversion of the world.
To effect it he instituted the church on earth. The superintendent must
therefore be (_b_) _a member of the church, and a firm believer in it and
its power_.
The church in its endeavor to accomplish its holy mission has instituted
the Sunday-school. Its special function is the teaching of the word. Its
great need is and has been competent teachers. Their appointment and
continuance in office rests with the superintendent. The superintendent
should therefore be (_c_) _a good judge of human nature_; (_d_) _a person
of approved teaching ability_.
The school in active operation uses as its only text-book the Holy
Scriptures. The text-book is a difficult one. It deals with the deepest
problems of spiritual life and death. It is the offspring of a remote
day, and is filled with allusions to a state of society and social
customs entirely foreign to anything with which we are familiar. A
trained teacher in secular education with no knowledge of this book
may make utter failure as a teacher of it. A knowledge of it in its
entirety is absolutely essential to the teacher in the Sunday-school.
The superintendent must therefore be (_e_) _a thorough and intelligent
scholar in Bible lore_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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