p. 137 | The Sabbath-School by W. C. White

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 23, 1882

The Sabbath-School.

By W. C. White

To the Sabbath-Schools in California.

SINCE our last annual meeting I have written but little about the Sabbath-school work in our State, because other branches of our work have demanded my entire time and strength. I desire to give more attention to this work hereafter, and as we are now near the close of the Lesson Year it seems best to make some suggestions about future work.

Very soon our Primary Classes which began with new books last April, will have completed them, and it must be decided what each scholar shall study the coming year.

In some schools the Record Books are nearly filled, and new ones should be provided, and various changes and improvements should be planned to make the next year as successful as possible.

In many of our schools the classification is quite imperfect, especially of the younger scholars, from the fact that there are so few of the same ability and advancement, that those of very different qualifications are associated in one class, and also because removals and additions frequently disarrange a good classification.

Where there are persons qualified and willing to teach, the scholars should be grouped according to their ability, if it requires the formation of quite small classes. We regard six as a desirable number for a primary class, and eight for adult classes. But in most cases it would be better to have less rather than more.

Between this time and April 8th, from which date the next quarter should be reckoned, all necessary changes should be planned. Those scholars now completing the study of Book Number One, should be examined carefully as to their knowledge of the history it covers, and as to their ability to comprehend the more difficult lessons of Number Two; this of course will require a careful examination of Number Two, before any are promoted to its study. Only those who have mastered the first book, and are able to comprehend the second, should be promoted. The others should study the first book another year. Hunt up some new ones to join the class, and give them their old teacher if possible. Let that teacher study the subject so much more thoroughly and teach so much better than he did the previous year that the lessons will have new interest to the class.

Those classes using books Number Two and Three should be examined in the same way. Book Number Four is now being printed, and will be ready in a few weeks.

We have been pained while visiting some schools to see youth and even children in the senior classes. They could trace the history and memorize scripture, but were not prepared to comprehend the more difficult lessons which the senior classes are now studying.

The first lesson in the Instructor, headed "Scenes in the Life of Christ," is written especially for them, and is exactly suited to their wants. Therefore those who but partially comprehend the lessons of the senior class, should be united to or formed into an intermediate division. We are procuring some helpful class maps especially suited to the wants of this division which we shall mention in a few weeks.

W. C. WHITE, Pres. of State S. S. Association.