Chapter IX: Appendix: D

AIDS FOR SUPERINTENDENT AND TEACHER

Junior Worker and Work

This book is of value to both superintendents and teachers. In it there are seven chapters that deal with various phases in the life of the junior child, at home, at school, at play, in the Sunday school and church. There are nine chapters that are concerned more or less directly with the teacher’s work in the school and between Sundays, such as: A Graded Course of Study, Correlated Lessons, Methods of Teaching, Story Telling, the Value of Handwork and Connecting Truth with Life. The superintendent will find help for problems of management, grading, organization, equipment, the department service of worship, the celebration of special days and in guiding the play life of the pupils.

Rainbow Bookmark

One of the first and most difficult of the tasks that a junior must perform is learning the names of the books of the Bible and its divisions. The bookmark, which has a ribbon for each division, is a help to the child, and it is of special value to the superintendent in varying the department drills and making them attractive.

Junior Badge

The open book, which is the form of the badge, suggests the Bible, and the words “Hear” and “Do” bring to mind the junior motto, “Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only.” The badge is silver enameled in the junior colors, blue and white. It is mentioned as an aid to superintendent and teacher because it has proved to be so great a help to the child in his character building. It appeals to his love of insignia; it enables him to show his colors without phariseeism, and is a silent monitor of great value in times of temptation.

Record of Credits

The average junior child must be stimulated by incentives if he is to form and fix in his life those habits which lie at the foundation of Christian character. Commendation for work well done is the highest type of reward, and to this reward every child who does good work is entitled. In order to be perfectly certain that credit is given where credit is due, an accurate record is necessary, and with this loose leaf record plan it is easy to keep accurately the credits of each pupil as well as of the class as a whole. Each leaf furnishes space for the pupil’s record for a year. Every class should have one leaf for each member and one for the record of the credits earned by the class. The leaves are so dated that the year’s work begins the first of October.

Honor Roll

In order that the boys and girls who are entitled to honor shall receive public recognition, a wall roll upon which the names may be posted every month is most desirable. It is possible to write the names on a blackboard or on a sheet of bristol board and so bring them into notice, but it is much better to add to the beauty of the room and at the same time make the honor seem more worthwhile by having the names inscribed in a framed Honor Roll, with the name and design attractively lettered and colored. In the best of these rolls the mat carries the name and decoration and this is fastened to the frame while the back is detachable, and there are many extra sheets provided so that a new one may be inserted whenever it is necessary to change the roll.

Promotion Certificates

The last day in September is always a promotion day for each pupil in every thoroughly graded school. In some cases the promotion is from one grade to another within a department, but it is quite as important that the fact of such progression should be noted as it is to give a diploma to the child who completes the junior course. A different card has been prepared for each year, with place for noting whatever honors have been earned in addition to the required work.

Diplomas

It is difficult for adults to realize how much a diploma given by the Sunday school is valued by the child who has earned it. The pupil who is honorably promoted from any one department of the school to the next should be given a diploma duly inscribed, rolled and tied with the junior colors, and publicly presented by the pastor of the church or the superintendent of the Sunday school. It is quite essential, where honors are given for extra memory or handwork, that these should be noted on the diploma. On some of the recent diplomas certain honors are designated giving an opportunity to star those that have been won by each pupil.

Temperance Pledge Wall Roll

Every Junior Department should have a wall roll upon which to place the names of the children who sign the temperance pledge. A wall pledge reproducing the wording of the Declaration of Independence pledge can be purchased from the National Temperance Society and Publication House in New York City. The Methodist Book Concern issues a pledge roll which has the name in a colored design and the portraits of Frances Willard and John B. Gough at the sides.

Birthday Cards

There are few ways in which the junior superintendent and teacher can create so close a personal tie with the pupils as by noticing birthdays either by letters or birthday cards. Beautiful birthday cards have been prepared for the four junior years. In the first year there is but one card intended for both boys and girls. These cards were designed and drawn by well-known artists, and are printed in attractive colors. The sentiments are such as will appeal to the junior children.