SUPERINTENDENTS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 5, 1878

SABBATH-SCHOOL HINTS.—NO. 2.

SUPERINTENDENTS

It is sometimes difficult to find a proper person for superintendent, especially in small schools in the country, as it often happens that no one of the church or company is fully qualified to fill the position. In such cases, the best that can be done is to select one that has the most natural fitness for the place, and encourage him to go ahead. It frequently happens, though, that persons of this class are the very ones who do not want the position, and excuse themselves on the plea of inability; but if really urged they will consent to “act” till somebody is chosen. This “acting” is often like one of the three following examples.

1. One superintendent goes to the school, but he has picked out no hymns to sing, and has given no thought to the opening exercises. Listlessly turning the leaves of the hymn book, he selects a piece to sing, and the old stereotyped prayer is offered; this kills the life and interest of the school in the outset. A lack of promptness and freshness characterizes all the exercises, and at the close of the school no good impression has been made, simply because the superintendent lacked a little wholesome interest in his work.

2. Another being chosen who is somewhat gifted in speech-making, determines to exhaust his resources, if need be, in bringing the school up to what he conceives to be a model pattern; and as the programme gives a certain amount of time to “general remarks,” he improves it to the last moment in remarks so decidedly “general” that none see his points, and all are glad when he is through. On yielding to his successor, he too may look back and see “failure” written on his work; unless, perchance, before it is too late, he sees the defect, and provides a remedy to avert the impending calamity. This can be done. If superintendents who have a gift for speech-making can cure themselves in no other way, let them do it on the plan adopted by a certain chorister in the Presbyterian church who afterwards joined the Society of Friends. The old habit of singing still clung to him, but he did not think it right to give way to it in the presence of others. So when the impulse became irresistible, he retired to his chamber and sang alone. In like manner, superintendents, when they feel a speech “coming on,” might make it without disturbing the school.

3. A third enters upon his duties with a deep sense of his own incompetency, yet feeling that he will try to discharge his responsibilities in the fear of God and by his help make a success of the work. He enters the school, commences promptly, and goes on calmly with all the exercises, without evincing a doubt as to what comes next, or how it is to be done. There is nothing boisterous or indecorous in his conduct; but he moves quietly about the room, arranging classes and giving instruction, until by the tap of the bell he is admonished that the time for general questions has arrived. These he puts in such a manner that all feel he is well acquainted with the lesson, while his method gives life and freshness to the exercises, and inspires teachers and pupils with more energy and to greater thoroughness in the work.

The secret of his success lies in the fact that from week to week he prepares himself, by study and prayer, for the discharge of his duties. He studies the lesson thoroughly in all its parts; being careful to ascertain the bearing one point has upon another, and the relation each sustains to the whole. He also studies carefully, not only the general wants of the school, but those of each class separately, and the capacity of every pupil under his watchcare. When difficulties present themselves that he knows not how to surmount, he prays to God—prays earnestly for wisdom to direct the work to a successful issue, and that those under his charge may be brought into the fold of Christ.

The Sabbath-school superintendent may feel that his sphere is contracted, and long for a wider field of usefulness; but he should be careful that the work intrusted to him in this direction is done in a manner to commend him to God. Although it may seem to him to be a small work, yet it is a precious one, and great in the sight of God.