p B M W M W M W M i im a m Ê Êm m Ê m m m m Ê Ê Ê ÊM Ê Ê m Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê m Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê m Ê Ê im Ê Ê m fÆMmÏÏÏ the I
Ü EDUCATION
CHRISTIAN
B £ f5 I N E $ $
Looking Ahead In Christian Ed
ed ited b y M a rga r e t Ja cobsen , M . l . Assediate professor of Christian Education, Biola Bible College
APlanToTrain Yonr SundaySchol Teachers
L et’s eavesdrop on this conversation. Three Sunday school superintend ents are pooling their problems. “We can’t have another Sunday school attendance contest in our church. We are not ready for any more students. We need buildings and we need t-e-a-c-h-e-r-s.” “The greatest problem of our Sun day school is to find real leadership. We want to divide several classes, if we- could just find the teachers.” “We have people who want to teach. What we need is people who can teach. Some are willing but just not able.” “You’re better off than we. Our able people aren’t willing.” “The church must teach or die” has been the watchword of the Prot estant Sunday school since its incep tion. The systematic, progressive un folding of spiritual truth to the chil dren of Christian families and of their neighbors has resulted in the consist ent building of the church of Christ. Eighty-five percent of American church members have entered the church through the Sunday church school. Pupils have been brought to Christ, built up in Christ, sent out for Christ. What about it? Is the teaching arm of the church crippled by a teacher shortage? If so, what can we do about it? Almost 25 years ago, a movement was started among Bible institutes, Christian colleges and seminaries, which would promote the training of church teachers. A standard training course of at least 432 class hours in Bible, Doctrine, and Christian Educa tion was set up. The graduate of such a course receives a teacher’s diploma of the Evangelical Teacher Training Association.
The Bible institute of Los Angeles is proud that it was represented at the founding of ETTA, and that two decades of graduates from our Christian education course have car ried ETTA diplomas. We believe we are, under God, and with similar training schools, helping to mitigate the Sunday school teacher shortage. But this does not begin to provide for the needs of the many churches. The problem must be solved at the local church level. And there is a solution! The ETTA has prepared a pre liminary training course of 72 class hours to be conducted in the local church or community under the lead ership of a graduate of the standard course. The studies in this coursp are dis tributed as follows: HOURS Old Testament Law and History ......... 12 Old Testament Poetry and Prophecy........................ 12 New Testament . ..................... 12 Child Study ............................ 12 Pedagogy .................................. 12 Sunday School Administration 12 A certificate of credit is awarded at the completion of each 12-hour unit, and a teacher’s certificate at the com pletion of 72 hours. Sunday School Evangelism and Missions are post graduate courses and are recognized by the gold seal of the Association upon the teacher’s certificate. The ETTA program of systematic teacher training is not to be entered into lightly by a local church. It is a school, designed for a regular suc cession of courses, for home study of designated textbooks, and a regular testing program. While each subject can stand alone, the curriculum is
designed as a whole, and it is most valuable when carried through to completion. Many churches have held a teacher training class at the Sunday school hour during the fall, winter and spring quarters of two consecutive years. Some large churches include such a class in their regular Sunday school organization, and so year after year are adding to a pool of pros pective teachers. Such classes are open to anyone over high school age, but the larger part of the class is there by the special invitation of the teach er’s committee, which systematically reviews the church roll and recruits those with leadership potential. While Sunday morning is best for the training of prospective teachers, it does not meet the need for in- service training. For that reason, oth er churches have held very success ful ETTA preliminary training schools on a week-night. Often, the churches of a community have co operated in such a school. “ But,” you say, “ I live where there is no church or community teacher training class. I cannot come to Bi- ola. What help is there for me?” For the individual who is sincere in his desire to improve his teaching, the Biola Correspondence School of fers the complete ETTA prelimin ary course. Six manuals and tests are proved for individual enrollment, and for individual enrollment in classes. The cost for each unit is $1.50 (including the manual). Tuition for the total course of 6 units (72 hours and 21 examinations) is eight dol lars. What about your church? Does it need informed and consecrated teach ers? You can have them if you’ll train them.
40
THE KING'S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker