General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1
TEACHERS’ MEETINGS - THEIR IMPORTANCE, AND HOW TO CONDUCT
L. T. NICOLA
(Read before the Sabbath-school Council.)
ARE teachers’ meetings important? Should teachers’ meetings be conducted? I remember when these questions were considered and discussed GCB February 27, 1895, page 387.1
at much length on occasions like this, but at the present time they seem almost superfluous. Advancement has been made. To day we discuss modifications of these questions. It is now how important are teachers’ meetings, and how should they be conducted. GCB February 27, 1895, page 387.2
IMPORTANCE
Teachers’ meetings are designed to assist the teacher in his preparation for teaching. The importance of preparation for any work is properly measured by the importance of the work itself. Preparation for Sabbath-school teaching should be considered from this standpoint. The teacher holds the most important place in the Sabbath-school, and the best results in the school come from his work. Faithful teachers have given the Sabbath-school the important position it holds in the work of God. Magnify the teacher’s office. The good, old-fashioned Sabbath-school class cannot be too highly praised. It had the presence of God; the bonds between teacher and class were closer and more sacred than could exist in other relations in the school. Souls were converted, and God was glorified through the teacher’s work. GCB February 27, 1895, page 387.3
I have in mind a good woman who taught a class of thirteen girls for a number of years. She labored and prayed for the conversion of her class. Finally every member was brought to the Saviour, and then, realizing that her work was only begun, she labored faithfully for a term of years in further instructing them in the things of God. Those girls, now grown to womanhood, ever speak the name of their beloved teacher with reverence; and why should they not? Too much importance cannot be attached to the teacher’s position and work. GCB February 27, 1895, page 387.4
I have also been taught the value of the teacher’s work by experience as a member of a class in a Sabbath-school during boyhood days. I can never discharge the debt of gratitude that I owe to one faithful teacher in that school. He so completely won my young heart that the precious instruction which he gave has ever had special charms for me. The reviews and general exercises conducted by the officers of the schools of which I have been a member, while interesting and of value in most cases, have produced upon my mind nothing like the impression made by godly teachers. In view of such considerations as these, who can fail to see the exceeding importance of the teacher’s work, and a thorough preparation on his part for his duties? GCB February 27, 1895, page 387.5
The successful teacher must of necessity give special attention to three things in the preparation of his lesson: (1) Spirituality; (2) Acquirement of knowledge; (3) Methods of imparting knowledge. Sabbath-school lessons are spiritual in their nature. The things of God “are spiritually discerned.” “Without me ye can do nothing.” There can be no such thing as teaching a lesson without knowledge of the lesson, and methods of teaching count for little or nothing unless the first two steps are taken. This threefold effort must be made with reference to each lesson. But to accomplish this, a week of preparation is necessary. Very true. GCB February 27, 1895, page 387.6
Where, then, is the necessity of the teachers’ meeting? The answer is: The teachers’ meeting is designed to direct and make most effective the preparation of the lesson. The teachers’ meeting is the rallying point of a week of preparation. The teacher here comes in contact with the most valuable investigations of his fellow-teachers. If he has difficulties, they are generally removed, and the assistance he receives, influences the entire scope of his preparation. The teachers’ meetings are as important to the teacher as are recitations to the student while attending school. The necessity for teachers’ meetings is not affected by the size of the school. The teacher, under whatever circumstances, may begin his preparation with reference to the teachers’ meeting; he closes under the special influence of its helpfulness. GCB February 27, 1895, page 387.7
HOW TO CONDUCT
Teachers’ meetings should be conducted as near midweek as possible. The meetings should not continue over one hour, and there should be a definite understanding as to the time when they should begin. Teachers’ meetings should be made teachers’ meetings. GCB February 27, 1895, page 387.8
The first two statements need no explanation. To the last proposition special attention is asked. The teachers’ meeting should not be made the receptacle for all the odds and ends of the Sabbath-school work. We often hear of “counsel” and “free discussion” in regard to the needs of the Sabbath-school work being brought into the teachers’ meeting. Many a teachers’ meeting has been “counselled” and “discussed” to its ruin. Some have talked, on such occasions, of settling disputed points in regard to the lessons, but this work is often a waste of time. GCB February 27, 1895, page 387.9
Some have recommended “definite” and “interesting programs,” including the review of Bible geography, the reading of essays, of select articles from papers, the discussion of methods of general Sabbath-school work, etc., etc. In view of what has often been brought into teachers’ meetings, I feel free to suggest that the main consideration is not how much can be brought into them, but what can be kept out. Notice! The time of the meeting is brief. The teachers need assistance in the direct line of the preparation for their work for the following Sabbath. What does this always include? — Spiritual assistance, a thorough knowledge of the lesson to be taught, and a knowledge of the best methods to be employed in teaching the lesson. An hour faithfully spent on these points is seldom of sufficient length for doing justice to the undertaking. It is not that general preparation is unimportant to the teacher; he should spend much time in preparation for his duties; but the teachers’ meetings must not be held responsible for his advancement in this regard. GCB February 27, 1895, page 387.10
Fifteen or twenty minutes of each meeting may well be spent in earnest prayer, all the teachers participating, either in oral or silent petitions. Thirty minutes should generally be spent in the study of the lesson, and the remainder of the time can most profitably be used by the teachers in bringing out the most precious points learned in connection with the preparation of the lesson, and in suggesting methods for illustrating and enforcing the truths of the lesson. GCB February 27, 1895, page 388.1
The simpler the program, the better; and the more directly the teachers’ meeting is made to bear upon the work the teachers have in hand, the more successful will be the meeting. GCB February 27, 1895, page 388.2
EDITORIAL NOTES
THE question of publishing reports of committees, especially of resolutions, in the BULLETIN in their original form was raised in Conference yesterday, and has often been proposed to us privately. At first thought, it might appear to be only a waste of time and a cause of confusion to publish a report and then have it remodeled, substituted, or perhaps, vetoed entirely, before it is adopted. Why not, then, wait until a final disposition is made of these recommendations, and then simply publish the results? For several reasons, the BULLETIN replies: First, the discussion and amendment of these reports and resolutions, constitute by far the larger part of our Conference proceedings. If the original draft of these were omitted, the discussions would necessarily go with them. These discussions, if conducted as they should be, as they have been so far, and as we believe they will continue to be, are productive of good. They serve to educate, and to unify sentiment and opinion. To eliminate these discussions would not be justice to our absent readers. To avoid all confusion in the matter, it is only necessary to follow the minutes carefully, and make the necessary references. And in the end it will probably be best to publish these resolutions in an amended and correct form. GCB February 27, 1895, page 388.3
THE General Conference has called together workers from all parts of the great harvest field. Among those who are here are a number from the South. The evening after the Sabbath, these met at the home of Brother Irving A. Ford. About twenty were present, among whom were L. H. Crisler, A. F. Harrison, H. S. Shaw, Grant Adkins, D. W. Reavis and wife, B. F. Richards, W. H. Mason, W. R. Burrows, C. N. Woodward, John White, and Ben Spires. The evening was spent in listening to short speeches from those present on the work in the South, which inspired a desire in all present from this city to participate in the grand work in the “sunny South.” Elder H. L. Crisler offered prayer. All felt that they had enjoyed a very pleasant evening. GCB February 27, 1895, page 389.1
THE BULLETIN would respectfully suggest that the written reports of lady secretaries given in the Tabernacle be read by proxy. Let them be placed in the hands of some one who has good vocal power and who will use it. This suggestion will apply also to some of the gentlemen who speak or read. GCB February 27, 1895, page 389.2
THE report of the Visiting Committee of the Haskell Home by Mrs. E. H. Whitney, and alluded to in the minutes of the Seventh-day Adventist Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association, will appear in our next. GCB February 27, 1895, page 389.3
THE first hour of last evening’s service was occupied by Elder and Mrs. John A. Brunson in a most interesting and stirring talk upon Japan. They spent three years in that country as missionaries of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Brunson spoke the first thirty minutes, and in a very touching manner depicted the condition of women and their relation to Buddhism. Elder Brunson spoke more particularly of the situation and circumstances of the country in regard to missionary work. Among other pleasant remarks he alluded to the “jinrikisha” as the pull man car of Japan. GCB February 27, 1895, page 389.4
The discourses will be given later. GCB February 27, 1895, page 389.5