Relation of Church-Schools to Sabbath-Schools
By Pearl Hallock
THE terms “Sabbath-school” and “church-school” have become so familiar to us that we use them without thinking of their significance. But let us notice: A school “is a place for acquiring knowledge and mental training.” Knowledge is “clear and certain perception of truth and duty.” Therefore a school is a place for acquiring a clear and certain perception of truth and duty. The Saviour says, “Thy word is truth.” Thus we see that a school is or should be a place for acquiring a clear and certain perception of the Word of God, and our duty not only to God, but to our fellow men and ourselves as well. What, then, could be more fitting than such a school on the Sabbath, the day the Lord has given us in which to think and to learn of him—a school which none are too young, and none too old, to enter, but all can be studying a clearer perception of truth and duty, the rays of truth becoming brighter and more distinct in the minds of the older ones as they endeavor to present them to less mature minds, the younger members of the flock? Our Sabbath-schools are schools on the Sabbath for the church; our church-schools are schools on the week-days for the church—both having the same grand principles, both the same great object; namely, the preparation of the children and youth to be messengers for God, to carry this last message of truth to a lost world. Even in the earliest days of the history of God’s people there was felt a need for such schools. I say schools; for the instruction received on one day not being considered sufficient to counteract the growing evils in the world, consecrated ministers (the reformers of that time) began to provide teachers whereby each child might receive daily such instruction and training as were necessary to carry forward his work. Men and women gave their lives to this work of saving the children and youth, and God greatly blessed their efforts. To-day our children are in even greater danger than were the children in those days; and are not the souls of our children as precious as were theirs? Then is not the need of schools now even greater than then? The Lord himself directed the education of Israel, and the Lord himself has given directions concerning our education. In the very nature of the terms, Sabbath-school and church-school are inseparable, one working, planning, praying, hand in hand with the other, even as sisters. “Can the church-school be a help to the Sabbath-school?” I hear you ask. I answer, Yes, emphatically yes, in many ways, some of which may be suggested. The church-school may develop an interest in the Sabbath-school by studying the lesson for the following Sabbath during the week. One of the most interesting Sabbath-schools ever brought to my notice was one where the children, having studied the lessons each day in school, looking up all geographical and historical facts of interest, memorizing the most important truths and where found, were eager and anxious to tell the lessons they had learned during the week, in fact, they almost became the teachers, in their enthusiasm, while the teachers were put to shame, realizing how short a time they themselves had spent on the lesson. Are lessons thus learned by the children easily forgotten? You say, “Parents can do this in their own homes.” That is true; but do they? Ask the majority of the teachers, and they will tell you that very few children come with the lesson learned; their parents were too busy, and a casual reading of the lesson in the Scriptures, or a hurried going through the lesson (simply answering questions) once or twice, is not sufficient to impress deeply the minds of the children. I quote: “And even greater care should be taken by the parents to see that their children have their Scripture lessons than is taken to see that their day-school lessons are prepared. Their Scripture lessons should be learned more perfectly than their lessons in the day-school. If parents and children see no necessity for this, then the children might better remain at home; for the Sabbath-school will fail to prove a blessing to them.” Again; the teacher in Sabbath-school urges the children to learn the memory verse. All know how few respond. Let us enter a church-school. The teacher has carefully written on the blackboard: “Memory verse: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.’ Zech. 4:6.” It is plain, where all the children may read, and after having called their attention to it, she reads it with them. The children, although so young, soon learn not only the words of this verse, but lessons from it by having it constantly before them. The interest they manifest in this is surprising; the first of each week they ask for the new verse, and are eager to learn it. These children are anxious to attend the Sabbath-school, and give new life and inspiration to the teacher there. Weary parent or teacher, is there some boy or girl with whom you are almost discouraged? Do you wonder how the child can ever be reached? You know that the physical activity of one often disturbs a whole class, and yet the teacher in Sabbath-school has not the opportunity to discipline that the teacher in the day-school has; consequently the close of the Sabbath-school finds his nerves tired out, his energies exhausted. Be not discouraged, O teacher! You would do anything to win the children. You would like to understand them better, but you have so little time with them that it seems impossible. Have you ever thought of this? The teacher in the day-school is intimately associated with the pupils for five days of the week, five hours each day, and perhaps has learned many things that would be a help to you. She is equally interested in the pupil. Can you not talk this matter over together, and then with the Lord? Here, also, in a chance for the parent. The co-operation of the three—parent, Sabbath-school teacher, and church-school teacher—will mean much. In unity there is strength, and the united efforts of all those who have the largest part to act in a child’s life can not fail to bring forth results—fruit for the kingdom. Now, in what way may the Sabbath-school be a help to the church-school?—By each member’s showing an active interest in the church-school, not by criticizing and tearing down, but by helpful words and suggestions; by each parent’s sending his children, by giving his means, by co-operating with the teachers in their work. The work is not easy. The path is not always strewn with flowers, and yet it would help the church-school teacher, O, so much! to know that each member of the Sabbath-school of her church was praying for the church-school work, was praying for its success, that it would bring forth a bounteous harvest—children ready for the kingdom. We often hear the question, “Well, why are there not greater results seen from these schools?” Why not? You who feel inclined to ask this question, please ask yourselves this, “What have I ever done to help bring forth greater results? What do I intend to do?” When each one realizes his responsibility in this, we feel that we can truthfully say, “The Lord will do great things for us” in this work. In fact, he has already done great things, greater than we can ask or think. Since the Lord has said that the children are his heritage, is any price too great for us to pay for their eternal salvation? And will not any sacrifice look small if we—parents and teachers—can come bringing our sheaves, the children, with us, and can say, “Thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word;” and then listen to the sweet welcome words, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord”?