The Sabbath-School by James Edson White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Mar 7, 1878

The Sabbath-School

By James Edson White

AFTER a correct system of study has been arranged for the school, a standard of scholarship next claims the attention of the superintendent and his assistants; this cannot be done without a class record. The deeper interest of the school and the better preparation of the lessons will immediately show that such a record is invaluable. No teacher of a common district school would think of getting along a day without his record book. The same ends which are met by the use of the record book in public schools are met by its use in the Sabbath-school. 1. The scholar who knows that a faithful record is being kept of his attendance, scholarship and deportment, will make extra efforts to be punctual in attendance, perfect in his lesson, and correct in the rules of deportment laid down in the school. 2. The teacher can tell by a glance at the record book the exact standing of each scholar, and can labor with those who from any cause are making an imperfect record. 3. The superintendent can, as often as once a month, examine all the class record books of the school, and by them form a correct estimate of the earnestness and ability of the teachers.

The teacher should consider himself responsible for the attendance and deportment of his class. If any member is absent one Sabbath he should ascertain at the next school the reason for such absence and endeavor to impress upon the mind of the scholar the importance of regular attendance, and to inspire all with a determination to have a perfect record. If any one is absent from the class two or three Sabbaths in succession, the teacher should take the first opportunity to call at his home and ascertain the cause of his absence, and by conversing with the parents, interest them, if possible in the Sabbath-school work, and in the importance of having their children regular in attendance and perfect in their lessons and deportment.

Much depends upon the interest the parents take in the school. In fact, I have seen this matter worked out so many times, that, if I have never seen the parents, I can tell in a month the exact interest the parents are taking in the advancement of their children in the Sabbath-school, by the action of the children themselves. If the parents think the hour for the school is too early, the children will say so in school, and will almost always be late. If the parents think the lesson too hard and says so, the children will say so too, and have an imperfect lesson.

On the other hand if the parents concur heartily with the measures adopted at school, and makes it a matter of home discipline that the scholar shall be present, punctual, and perfect in lesson and deportment, the class record will show that this is the case. Parents, remember that the class record is simply an index of how you at home are leading your children in the way of truth.

The class record is not applicable alone to the children's classes, but is just as useful in the Bible-class. I know many think it unnecessary to keep a record of the Bible-class. I ask why? The answer is, "We don't need it." Now if you do not need the class record, it is from one of two causes. Either the discipline is unnecessary as you are always perfect, or you are not willing to be subjected to the discipline.

If you are always perfect, the class record will not trouble you, and it will be a great encouragement to the children to know that they are held to nothing but what their parents are willing to accept. If you are not willing to be subject to the discipline, my advice is to get a deeper interest in the school and the truths there taught, and the lessons and discipline will not trouble you. If this latter is your reason it shows clearly that you need just such discipline as the close work in the Sabbath-school will give. Don't require the undisciplined minds of the children to be subject to rules which you are not willing to submit to yourself. If the child can submit to it, surely more mature minds should find it in no difficulty at all. J. E. WHITE.