The Sabbath School by Edward Eggleston

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 20, 1880

The Sabbath School.

By Edward Eggleston

THE TEACHERS' MEETING.

There Must Be One.—There cannot be unity without it. There cannot be any good teaching generally prevalent without it. If there is no Teachers' Meeting, the Superintendent should bend his first efforts to have one. It is a very first essential to success.

What it is for.—First of all, to keep alive the interest and earnestness of the teachers. To stimulate them to diligent and earnest work. To give them counsel in regard to the management of their classes. To help each one to understand the lesson. To give each teacher the benefit of the sympathy of all the rest. To train teachers in method in teaching. It is the heart and soul of the school; and, as a rule, the most interested and benefited classes are those whose teachers attend the Teachers' Meetings most regularly.

How Often.—Once a week, if possible. But the superintendent must not undertake impossibilities. If the teachers cannot be gotten together once a week, on account of the multiplicity of other engagements, they should at least meet once in two weeks. But the pastor should take care that other meetings are not placed above this. Neither the weekly prayer-meeting, nor, indeed, any other of the week evening meetings compare in importance with that one where the "workers" of a church prepare themselves for the church's greatest work. As a rule, a weekly meeting is better sustained than any other.

Perseverance.—It is the hardest thing about the school to do. To sustain the Teachers' Meeting will tax all the Superintendent's patience and perseverance. But if he begin with a firm conviction of its importance, he will never cease to strive for the accomplishment of this good end—an end rarely ever perfectly attained.

Means.—There are some means of securing a good attendance, which must be observed. 1. Never regard a meeting as a failure if there are two present. If but few attend, make the meeting more interesting than ever. 2. Talk about it, insist upon it, and always mention it to absent teachers in such a way that they will feel that they were missed. 3. Always have something to give your teachers at the meeting—make it worth attending. 4. Begin promptly, and close early. 5. Put your heart and soul into the meeting.

The Leader.—The Superintendent is the true leader. During the time devoted to lesson-study he may give place to his pastor, or some one else, if better adapted to the work than he is himself. But the Superintendent should always have general charge, and it is far better that he should conduct it throughout, unless in some special cases.

How Conducted.—Never monotonously. It is usually better to give the first half of the meeting to the study of the lesson. This should never be allowed to wander on without purpose. Do not allow curious discussion. Politely shut it off. There are three great points to be brought out. 1. What are the difficulties to be explained? 2. What are the practical lessons to be enforced? 3. How should this lesson be taught? It is often well, after the lesson, to have ten or fifteen minutes of free, social conversation. It makes the teachers acquainted with each other, and makes the meeting free from stiffness. There are then two inquiries which should be made in regard to the school. Do not propose more than one or two on the same evening. 1. Are there any suggestions to be made in regard to the general management of the school? This should be asked not oftener than once a month. The counsel given should never be in the way of dictation to the Superintendent, but should be carefully heeded by him. 2. How is the attendance in your class? 3. What do you find to be the best way of securing constant attendance? 4. Do you visit your scholars? 5. Is there any religious interest in your class? It is often best to ask the different questions of different teachers. Very frequently it will be found best to ask the general question: How do you get on in your class? Or, What is the state of your class? The closing of every meeting should tend to bring back the teachers to a sense of their responsibility. Apply some thought in the lesson to your own heart, and that of your teachers, and then engage in prayer. Let the closing prayer be brief. Let it breathe the burden of the souls of the school. It should always be offered by the Superintendent. Call on others to open, but let the Superintendent close.

Where.—At the most convenient place. Sometimes at the houses of teachers, sometimes in some room connected with the church or chapel in which the school meets.

Results.—If one teacher comes, if one class is better taught, if one soul is saved, through the quickening influence of the meeting, then it is not in vain that you have labored.

—E. Eggleston in S. S. Manual.