Training the Teacher

by A. F. Schauffler; Martin Grove Brumbaugh; Antoinette Abernethy Lamoreaux; Marion Lawrance

	[Organizing and Conducting a Teacher-Training Class]	[5]
Charles A. Oliver
1.	[The Book]	[11]
A. F. Schauffler, D.D.
	[How the Bible Came to Us]	[123]
Ira Maurice Price, Ph.D.
	[The Gist of the Books]	[129]
Compiled
2.	[The Pupil]	[139]
Antoinette Abernethy Lamoreaux
3.	[The Teacher]	[181]
Martin G. Brumbaugh, Ph.D., LL.D.
4.	[The School]	[219]
Marion Lawrance
	[Appendix]
	Teaching Hints	[259]
	Paul's Journeys	[266]
	The Twelve Tribes, Map	[270]
	Assyria and Canaan, Map	[270]
	Exodus and Wanderings, Map	[271]

---

Organizing and Conducting the Teacher-training Class

CHARLES A. OLIVER

Teacher-Training Superintendent Pennsylvania
State Sabbath School Association.

Teacher-training Needed.—No more serious problem faces the Sunday-school to-day than the question of securing more teachers and better teaching. We owe it to those who are called to teach the Word to see that means of thorough preparation be brought within their reach. The best teachers will welcome a better training for Christ's service and many good people who have not found their place in the work of the church will gladly engage in Sunday-school teaching after they have been specially instructed in the Bible and in the principles of teaching.

This book provides the essential elements for the teacher-training course in four sections: (1) The Bible material which is the basis for all Sunday-school instruction, under the title of "The Book," by Dr. Schauffler. (2) A study of the working of the mind at various ages and under differing conditions (a brief study of psychology), under the title of "The Pupil," by Mrs. Lamoreaux. (3) A study of teaching principles and the application of these principles (a brief study of pedagogy), under the title of "The Teacher," by Dr. Brumbaugh. (4) A study of the place in which this instruction should be given, that is, "The School," by Mr. Lawrance. Additional material for instruction will be found in the chapter "How the Bible came to Us" by Professor Ira Maurice Price, and "The Gist of the Books."

Starting a Class.—(1) No better beginning can be made than a prayerful conference between the pastor and the Sunday-school superintendent to determine the need and possibilities of teacher-training within the local school. (2) The nearest representative of organized Sunday-school work in your county or State will gladly furnish you with printed matter pointing out the teacher-training plans in successful use in your denomination. (3) Select your text-book and familiarize yourself with it. (4) Call the teachers and officers together. Have a half-hour social feature, to be followed with an earnest address on the need and the plan of teacher-training. Teach a sample lesson from the text-book. Endeavor in that meeting to secure at least a few persons who will agree to enter a class and will promise to do personal work to secure other members. But do not make the mistake of requiring a large class before beginning. A leader and two or more students will constitute a class.

Who Should Enter the Class?—Two general plans are now in operation. One provides for a training class for present teachers. This class should meet at a convenient time during the week to follow the course in a teacher-training text-book. A whole evening could profitably be given to class work. If this is not feasible the class may meet for study at the time of the weekly teachers'-meeting or before or after the mid-week prayer service.