The Sabbath-School Index: Pointing out the history and progress of Sunday-schools, with approved modes of instruction.Pardee, R. G. (Richard Gay)
Religion
The Sabbath-School Index: Pointing out the history and progress of Sunday-schools, with approved modes of instruction.
Pardee, R. G. (Richard Gay)
Sunday schools
I have never found two infant-class teachers who conducted their
schools exactly alike. Each one has some peculiarity in his or her
mode. There is no standard mode of infant-class instruction.
Adaptation according to circumstances is the rule. The children should
be received with great care into the infant-school, and be given to
understand that it is a place for the holy worship of God, and to
learn of him. The children should always be greeted by the teacher
with a loving smile, that is free from every trace of giddiness, and
with words of sincere, respectful welcome. Great evil is done if the
teacher is cold, morose, or fretful in spirit or manner. The teacher
should pray with, as well as for, the children. They may repeat the
words of the prayer after the teacher; and it is well to prepare them
for the act, by some such remark as, "Children, we want to thank God
this morning for this holy Sabbath, for the Sabbath-school, for kind
teachers, for the blessed Bible, for our God and Saviour Jesus
Christ," and so on, mentioning the different objects of desire. Let
the prayers always be short and simple, and sing but one, two or three
verses at a time. The addresses should always be clear and suited to
the children. An excellent model of scriptural talks to infant-class
children will be found in "Peep of Day," "Line upon Line," and
"Precept upon Precept." "The Tract Primer" and "Child's Scripture
Question Book" have also some good things to work up for
infant-classes. There are various other helps from which good
suggestions can be gathered.
The children should recite their verse or verses simultaneously; then
by benches, or classes, and then by a few individual scholars called
upon, so as to ascertain if all have learned it. The time cannot be
wasted by hearing each scholar recite in turn where there are only one
or two teachers. Care should be taken not to burden the young mind. A
small, bright, clear, pleasant Bible truth is best. As the good Dr.
Ryland used to say, "Simplify and repeat: Simplify and repeat,"
remembering that simplicity is not poverty of expression. Learn, also,
how to carry thoughts _into_ a child's mind, and not leave them, as
many do, at the doorway. Aim at Christ and salvation. Let no hymn be
sung which you are not, beforehand, careful to see that the children
really understand. Make every truth clear and simple, and let them act
the lesson out with appropriate gesticulations and motions. When
speaking of God, let them do it reverently, and perhaps by all
pointing their little fingers upward.
Bible stories and anecdotes are generally best and most interesting
for infant-classes. Use the blackboard freely with words and
appropriate figures, for such little ones learn best that which they
learn through the eye. Teach little at a time, but teach that little
well and thoroughly, is a grand motto for the infant-class teacher.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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