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The Sabbath School

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 18, 1881

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 7, No. 31.

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The Sabbath School.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

DELINQUENT MEMBERS.

The following question in regard to absentees, is one which no doubt troubles many Sabbath-schools:—
"In our Sabbath-school there has been some difficulty in dropping from our record book the names of negligent members. Some members have been absent for three months, and others for a longer period, the only visible cause being a lack of interest. The persons whose names are dropped are dissatisfied with the action taken by our school. Did we do right or not? What is the rule of Sabbath-schools generally in such cases?" W. H. B.
It would be difficult to say what course schools generally do pursue, but there can be no question as to what course they ought to pursue for their own good. A person who has not attended Sabbath-school for three months, and has no interest to attend, ought no more to be considered a member of the school than one who never attended. The record books ought to show at all times the exact working membership of the school. If they do not, it is of no use to keep them at all. There ought to be no any honorary members of the Sabbath-school. Having one's name on the record while not in attendance can be no benefit to the individual, while it is a serious detriment to the school.
As soon as a scholar absents himself, his teacher should ascertain the reason, and if the absence was unavoidable, should mark him "excused." He should also try to induce him to return the next Sabbath if possible. If he does not intend to come, and cannot be persuaded to, his name should certainly be removed. This need not, however, hinder the teacher, or other members of the school, from making efforts to induce him to attend.
When a member is unavoidably detained from the school for some weeks, on account of sickness or absence from the place, it is best to mark him removed, and not to consider him a member until he returns, when his name may be re-entered in his class. This plan is followed in some schools with the best results. It is not considered as a mark of disgrace to the pupil, but as necessary to the maintenance of the best order in the school. E. J. W.