Once Again – The Sunday school

Mrs M.H. MacFarlane, Trowel & Sword, May 1969

Preamble: Following on from last week’s article by Prof. K. Runia we have the following contribution from Mrs. M.H. MacFarlane who was obviously passionate about Sunday Schools in the Reformed Churches. In a very positive contribution to the debate Mrs. Macfarlane put forward a number of suggestions which she felt would greatly enhance the role of Sunday Schools in the Reformed Churches; her focus being on improving the skills of teachers and the curriculum. At the time, the Christian Schools movement was still in its infancy. With the explosion of Christian Schools around the country today one would expect that curriculum and teaching in Sunday Schools would be of a much higher quality than in the past. Is this the case, or has the advent of Christian Schools made church based Sunday Schools obsolete? What do you think?

Once Again – The Sunday School

In his realistic article on The Sunday School, Dr. Runia gave us 4 points to consider in our approach to this work. He admits himself that he gave us more problems than solutions. I would like to offer a few practical solutions gained from experience during association with Australian Sunday Schools (commencing with child No.1, 22 years ago, and proceeding through many and varied Sunday Schools over the years to child No.6.)

The Sunday School, alas, has been a very neglected part of Reformed Church life. The whole problem demands re-thinking by our Churches of what the Sunday School is, and what it should be.

For too long our Sunday Schools have been looked upon as just glorified “baby-sit” to keep the little ones happy during Church, or to provide an extra half-hour after Church. In fact there are still many of our churches that only provide this half-hour where a short Bible Story is READ (heinous crime), a verse given to learn, and a pamphlet thrust into the little hands to take home. These so-called “Sunday Schools” usually only cater for the child up to 9 years old – just the age when you can really begin to teach him something in Sunday School – and are run by a Sunday School Committee of which the Minister often is not even a member, he sometimes having no association whatsoever with the S.S.

In point No. 1, Dr. Runia discusses the nature of our S.S. Should it be instructional, for our own children, or evangelistic? I ask; should it not be both? Many families outside the church life can be introduced to our church through their children attending the Sunday School. And surely an hour a week to learn of their Saviour’s love with the application geared especially to their understanding, is needed also by our own church children.

So, to have a good Sunday School we must have (1) the children to teach – both outsiders and our own; (2) sufficient time in which to teach them – at least an hour, preferably a little longer; (3) dedicated teaching staff; and (4) the right teaching material.

To deal now with point No.3 – Teachers. It is amazing how quickly a dedicated teacher can learn also to be a qualified teacher. And, having once attended a training session or even read a good book on Sunday School Teaching, a rather lukewarm teacher can become a most enthusiastic disciple.

The main qualification for Sunday School Teacher is to feel that the work he or she does is IMPORTANT. Important enough not to mind missing that “nice quiet Sunday” with cups of coffee with friends… important enough not to mind giving over one or two whole evenings each week to preparing for the Sunday School lessons. Important enough to give up time to think about the individual class members and their problems, even to visiting each family a few times during the year, and arranging class outings some Saturday afternoons. Important enough to read books on Sunday School Teaching and attend conferences and Training Days.

If a teacher is dedicated to his task – teaching his children the living word of God to the point that they (the children) also want to commit their lives to this living Saviour, then he will find no trouble in training himself to BE a qualified Sunday School teacher. And don’t tell me we don’t have such dedication among our Church members! I’ve seen them, and know they are there.

First, all Sunday School Supervisors should buy a few basic books for their teachers to read. An old fashioned book of Spurgeon “Leading Little Ones to Christ” gives the basic idea of what they are there for… Another excellent book on S/S teaching which everyone should study is Sunday School Teaching, by J. Reginald Hill (C.S.S.M. Press), This could provide the basis for a Sunday School Teacher Study Group led by the Minister, which could be part of the life of the Church, say twice a year. (I think the time mentioned by Dr. Runia “every two or three years” is far too seldom.)

There are also films available from Fact and Faith Films, Carlton, giving a wonderful insight into practical S/S teaching. These films are not too expensive, and could be shown in a city centre where several Sunday Schools could participate in their instruction.

The CSSM, a most experienced group of children’s workers, will also conduct a S/S Teacher’s Conference Day, 1f they are invited, We had one at Moe, where we learnt so much, that we all went home eager and anxious to put everything into practice at once. The CSSM Missioner John Lane, told me he would be glad to conduct Sunday School Teacher’s Leadership Conferences, when and where we would like to arrange them. Points discussed during these Training Periods are “Proper preparation of the lesson;” “How to present truly the AIM of the lesson, “How to tell the story so the children really understand it,’ “Singing in Sunday School,’ “Handwork,” “Project Work,’ etc. Also understanding the child, and knowing just how much each age group can cope with.

And so we come to point No. 4 CURRICULUM. This has been difficult for all our Sunday Schools here. For obvious reasons we can’t use material from Holland, while the American material is not always geared to the Australian setting, and is also rather expensive. Some material is considered too Pentecostal, etc. etc.

In Moe we use the S/S material put out by Mission Publications of Australia, printed in Sydney. It was introduced to me by Rev. Hanscamp and we find it excellent. This is Bible-based S/S teaching, originally prepared for Aboriginal Missionary Sunday Schools, but now being used more and more by city and country S/S’s of all evangelical denominations. It covers the whole Bible over a period of 7 years, and alternates Old and New Testament material. It is well graded into 5 age-groups from 3 years to 15 plus, and attractively presented in colour. It is also very inexpensive, costing only 10c. per child per quarter (13 weeks).

The very best thing about it is the Teacher’s Handbook, which is really a Teacher’s Training Course in itself. This costs only 50c. per quarter, and sets out the background material, Bible verses to study, AIM (or message) of each story, with interesting remarks on how to present the story, how to gain the child’s interest, visual aids (given free) etc. If a local Sunday School wanted to provide a monthly Teacher’s Training evening, the basis of teaching for the month’s lessons could be studied from this book, with much benefit to all concerned. It is an invaluable help to the young and inexperienced teacher, and I cannot recommend it highly enough . M.P.A., 46 Adina Av. La Perouse, N.S.W. 2036; would be glad to send sample material to anyone interested, or I can give any further information.

Lastly Dr. Runia mentions the role of the parents, and this too is a vital part of Sunday School work. As I mentioned earlier, if the Sunday School teacher can become a friend to his or her children and also become known to their parents – the benefits derived by the children from their Sunday School hour, can be carried over into their home life during the week.

One of the Sunday School teachers in the Presbyterian Church used to have the children of her class around to tea at her home once every month. To get this sort of personal contact into the Sunday School, the classes should be kept as small as possible.

Finally, it would be helpful for Sunday School Teachers – and especially Supervisors and Ministers – to read the excellent book put out by the Dee Why Christian Schools Association, prepared mainly for Saturday Morning Schools, but which applies also in its ideals and insights, to the Sunday School – as it should be.

(Mrs.) DEL MACFARLANE.

This poem is from the latest M.P.A. TEACHER publication:

DEFEATED

I meant to study all the week
And very carefully prepare.
I meant to kneel yes, every day
And bear each pupil up in prayer.
But I was weary, and I found
So many things that I must do
Important things that could not wait
The week was gone before I knew.

I meant to visit several homes,
And mail some cards to absentees
To let them know that they were missed;
For such a word is sure to please,
And often brings them quickly back.
But somehow every day went by,
And not a single card I sent.
And now I ask, "Why didn't I?"

So this morning when I rose
I tried to study while I ate
I briefly read my teacher's book
And hurried out, five minutes late.
I found them singing, and I dropped
Breathless, ashamed into my seat;
For I intended to be there
In time the earliest child to greet.

Time for the lessons, and a group
of eager voices beg their turn
To quote by heart the memory verse
Which I, alas, forgot to learn.
And so I stumbled through the hour,
And built with stubble, hay and wood,
Instead of gold and precious stone
And silver, as His servants should.

"Go feed my lambs" was His command
And shall I hope for them to live
On little morsels such as this,
When mighty feasts are mine to give?
Forgive me, Lord, that I should treat
Thy Word in such a shameful way,
And may I never stand again
Defeated, as I've done today.