Manual of graded Bible courses and habit health first aid outlines...

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MANUAL OF GRADED BIBLE COURSES and HABIT, HEALTH AND FIRST-AID OUTLINES

FOR USE IN

Foreword

To reach children beyond the Sunday school pale — and there are 10,000,000 of them in the United States — with simple Bible teaching, to store their young minds with the very words of the Master, is the special mission of Daily Vacation Bible Schools. With such an end in view, this manual has been prepared and published.

It will succeed if, by its use, teachers are led to more earnest, personal Bible study in finding and giving their daily message to children.

The first hour every morning is given to the devotional, musical, and Biblical part of the program, the second hotir to manual and recreational activities. If this second hour is conducted without regard to the spiritual life of the child, the school will fail in its high mission. " Work or industry without religion degrades man into a beast of burden, a machine; religion without industry, without work, is liable to be lost in empty dreams, worthless heroics, idle fancies." So teaches that immortal spirit, Froebel. Let us, the teachers in Daily Vacation Bible Schools, take to heart his words, " God created man in His own image, therefore man should create and bring forth like God."

In the preparation of this manual there have been many helpers, to whom the international director wishes to return sincere thanks. Dr. Jenny B. Merrill has rendered invaluable assistance in the editorial work, besides contributing two courses of Bible stories, one for the primary age and one for the kindergarten.

Mrs. J. R. SkUlman, our esteemed vice-president in Louisville, Kentucky, has furnished a course on habits and health.

Mrs. C. C. Merritt of New York has condensed some of the latest teachings of psychology and child study.

Miss Ruth Jenkins of Ottawa, Canada, has outlined a course on Bible heroes, and given us a specimen lesson in full, adapted to our advanced grades.

The Rev. J. W. Merrill, D.D., of Chicago contributes two courses for advanced grades on the Temple and Palestine.

Mr. I. W. Nowlan of Chicago has prepared a longer course with references for those who have time for special study.

The extended course on health and first aid has been outlined by one of our international oflRc^s.a physician of broad experience with children, Dr. B. Raymond Ho'obler of 'Detroit.

We take pleasure also in acknowledging the contribution on " Habits" from an experienced visiting teacher of New York City Public vi FOREWORD

Education Association, who has found a parents' pledge card helpful in her work.

To all these contributors we are one and all indebted.

International Association of Daily Vacation Bible Schools

Russell Colgate, President

George W. Palmer, Chairman of Publication Committee

Robert G. Boville, International Director

Table Of Contents

rAGB

Bible Courses and Model Lessons

1. For Primary Grade, with Model Lessons 32

II Si

15-036

26,886

$26,578.99

50,522

44,657-25

I9IS

73.058

57.752.98

60,011 .37

• Decrease of enrollment in 1916 causediby wide-spread children's epidemic. In 1916 the children's Annual Thank-offering amounted to $1,099.72.

One dollar for each child enrolled has provided six weeks of daily Bible training and social care by capable, devoted teachers. Further, it has covered all overhead charges for both national and local expenses.

MANUAL

Issued by the International Association of Daily Vacation Bible Schools,

New York City

Model Photograph of a Vacation Bible School

SUGGESTIONS FOR PRINCIPALS OF DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS

The daily order of exercises has been outlined, to avoid uncertainty and confusion in the schools, as well as to secure the proper amount ■of change and variety for the children. Principals, in adhering to it, should pay attention to the time limit, out of just regard to what follows. Opening exercises prolonged means the shortening of time for the music period and the Bible lesson. If the staff confronts the children at 9.30 ■without a clear understanding as to the hymns to be sung, there will be disorder in the school while the leader is making up his 'mind.

II

While the school doors open at 9:15 a.m, and the school at 9:30 a.m., it is necessary that the members of the staff should be on liand at 8 130 A.M. This is necessary for two reasons : (i) to see that the work for the day is laid out in order, and (2) to see that at least thirty minutes are spent before the doors open, in visitation of the children on the street, reminding them of the School, and personally conducting them to the door. Only one member of the staff need remain in the school, while the others are doing this morning work on the street. This street work is needed daily, from the first till the last day of the school.

The supreme purpose of Daily Vacation Bible Schools is to develop clean, virile Christ-like character in boys and girls. Hence the object of the daily Bible lesson is not to furnish dogmatic or sectarian teaching, but elementary Christian instruction applicable to the daily life of the young who are exposed to the temptations of street life. Bible stories shovdd be carefvxlly prepared and made as objective as possible, but no story is well told that fails to help the child in meeting the daily issues of its life, or that fails to awaken the child conscience, i.e., the sense of accountability to God and truth. Avoid monologues and speeches, and make frequent use of the sand-table. Organize a group of the most intelligent boys and girls to assist in representing Bible characters, where the lesson lends itself to such treatment. Devote a couple of minutes each morning, after the Bible verse, to personal habits, giving four consecutive talks on cleanliness — hands, faces, lips (words), hearts (thoughts). Have a show of hands repeated each morning until the habit of cleanliness is established. Follow the schedule given below.

IV

The moral and spiritual ptirpose of the Daily Vacation Bible School should be kept in view through all of its varied activities, (a) In the musical work, the object is not merely to secure correct singing, but to influence child nature through obedience to the laws of music, and to implant the love of good songs and good music, {b) In the manual hour, the object is not to make things, but to build character. Hence slurring over mistakes in hammocks, baskets, or any other work should be steadily discouraged. Train the children to respect material and property that does not belong to them, and develop unselfishness in them by inducing them to devote a portion of their best work for the pleasure and comfort of sick and crippled children in hospitals. The hour of manual work is invaluable as an opportunity for personal contact, for the practice of good manners, and thoughtful acts. You will soon learn what books your yotmg friends are reading and be able to help lo MANUAL OF GRADED BIBLE COURSES

them by suggestions; what company they are keeping — here again is your chance; what they are aspiring to be — an opening to show them how to prepare themselves for the futvire. Turn the conversation on the Bible lesson for the day, in an easy, natural manner.

V

No growth in character can take place in a Daily Vacation Bible School, where order does not prevail. Hence every care should be taken to sectire this atmosphere by good school methods. The first of these is to arrange beforehand every detail of the day's program and know what you are going to do next. The second is to provide for the orderly entrance of the children when the doors are opened, and for their oversight and entertainment (using the piano), tmtil the school formally opens. When they change class rooms let them march to music. Rushing about the rooms, or changing rooms in mob fashion is demoralizing. Do not retain the kindergarten section in the main school after the opening exercises. Dismiss the children, at the close of the school, by having them march out to music, without permitting any break until they are on the street. The third is to introduce in your school some simple method of self-government, by which the children may be taught to be responsible for their own order. The City Government plan is one of the most effective. A mayor in your school, elected by the children with some regard for proper forms, can become a great force for good. He naturally chooses, in consultation with the teachers, his own officials to assist in the different departments that are needed in the school. Care must be taken that the officials appointed do not become little tyrants. The average boy needs careftil coaching to save him from a little temporary bimiptiousness.

VI

The daily afternoon open-air work is essential to the moral influence of the school. The boys and girls need help as much in the afternoon as in the morning. They have no organized games; usually they have only the street for playgroimd. Quarreling, profanity, and cheating will undo all the good resiilts of the morning. Provide organized games, umpire, if necessary, and teach the young to play clean, straight games. Devote some of the time to visitation of the homes, and organize excvirsions to parks where convenient and possible.

VII

The religious tone of the . school is, in the last analysis, dependent on the spirit of the staff, on its harmony, cooperation and conscientious discharge of plain duties. If differences or difficulties arise, take them at once to the superintendent, and do not discuss them with others first. Do all within yotu- power to interest the pastor and members of

MANUAL OF GRADED BIBLE COURSES ii

the local church in the welfare of your children. Request your friends to send flowers and provide outings. Do not, however, arrange any excursion the week before Commencement or the day after, but make the Commencement your closing object of interest to the children. Do not neglect to mail your daily postal report to the superintendent at the close of each session, and do not fail to attend the weekly conferences unless excused by him.

vni The spirit of service and ministry is the keynote of the Daily Vacation Bible School movement : service to children and service by children. If the latter is not attained, if grasping selfishness niles, the school is a failure. How can self-reliance and self-forgetfulness be realized? (i) As far as possible boys and girls should pay for the material used during the manual hour, as a lesson in self-support. If, however, at the close of the season, they carry off, for their owti use and gratification, every beautiful object made, the school has failed to implant the spirit of service. (2) Hence the vital importance of visiting during the first week of tlie season some nearby children's hospital in company with a committee of boys and girls, appointed by the school. Let them report on their visit, so that the school may be led to vote that each group of workers prepare some choice and suitable gift for their sick and crippled comrades. (3) Another outlet for altruism is the children's Annual Thank-offering made during the fourth week of the session. In August, 1910, the first year, 10,000 pennies were contributed to extend the work in 19 1 1 . Let the boys and girls luiderstand the purpose of this offering, so that intelligent s^nnpathy may accompany their pennies. A list of honor schools is published annually. Schools contributing ten dollars or more are included in this list.