Adelaide is the headquarters of the Correspondence Sunday School and the 1964 Conference therefore presented an ideal opportunity for the School not only to display to local and interstate brethren and sisters the operations of the School, but also for the staff to meet for the first time some of the scholars whom they teach by correspondence.
The session, the first to be held at a Conference, consisted of a short formal meeting followed by informal discussion during inspection of a work display, the center-piece of which was a large relief map of Australia depicting in composite form the wide distribution of correspondence lessons.
However, prior to the display, Brother P. B. Hurn, Superintendent of the School, spoke on its past and current activities. These remarks aroused keen interest because even many local brethren and sisters were not conversant with the formation and operation of Correspondence work. An information sheet briefly covering some of the relevant details was distributed at the meeting and its contents are included here for the benefit of readers.
The Correspondence Branch Sunday School was established almost twenty-five years ago to assist those living in comparative isolation in teaching the basic principles of the Scriptures to their children, and to extend to them, in some measure, the privileges of Sunday School participation.
Approximately twenty scholars were enrolled at the inception of the School and this has grown almost continuously so that we currently have almost 400 scholars. This includes a few children whose parents are not Christadelphians and also a few small schools, with up to ten or twelve scholars of varying ages, where the teacher or teachers find the Correspondence lessons of particular assistance. Our scholars may be found in most parts of Australia, particularly in outlying areas, and there are quite a number in NewZealand, India and the United States of America. Lessons are also sent to the Philippines.
The lessons are adapted to suit correspondence requirements from the notes provided by the Australian Christadelphian
Sunday School Union and scholars are encouraged to sit for the Annual Union Examination in September of each year.
Parents are urged to set aside a regular time each week to give the lessons to their children and the co-operation of parents, or supervisors, increating the best possible Sunday School atmosphere is most important.
Homework is required from all scholars and it should be done each week and sent to Adelaide for marking, as this is the only way for the teachers in Adelaide to appreciate the effectiveness of their work and it impresses the lesson more strongly upon the scholar. The homework is corrected and returned with helpful comments.
There are some twenty brethren and sisters on the staff of the school, including two former scholars, and the twelve teachers are each allotted one division or age group. Their work includes preparation of the lessons, marking of home work and providing encouragement for their scholars. The other members of the staff are engaged in typing, duplicating, collating and posting of all lessons and correcting homework as well as the necessary recording and administrative functions.”
Twenty-five scholars who were present had a moment of excitement when they were called to the platform and presented with a bookmark memento by the Superintendent.
This happy innovation and the light refreshments that followed was conducive to an atmosphere of fraternization and informality during the inspection of the display.
Naturally, the visual presentation of the School’s activities could only be fully appreciated by those who saw it, but briefly the display covered:
- The processes by which Lesson Notes are produced, in sequential order from the first stages of compilation of lesson matter to the finished printed article. A Gestetner copying machine was demonstrated and other exhibits included equipment for the photographic preparation of stencils, and the addressograph machine.
- Pictures and written descriptions of how Sunday School is conducted in various homes that receive correspondence lessons. Entries in a competition which was held in conjunction with the conference figured in this display.
- Scholars’ homework and project books were displayed and the latter captured great interest because of the quality of the creative work that was done by young hands and minds being educated in God’s Truth.
- As mentioned before, the centre of the display was a relief map of Australia, measuring about 4ft. x 5ft. and complete with model farms and many other objects in miniature. The map highlighted some of the outlying places to which lessons are sent and amongst other things conveyed at a glance the disposition of scholars throughout the States.
During the Conference week the display was left intact and a considerable number of brethren and sisters took the opportunity to see it. It was apparent that the session aroused much interest which in turn provided a stimulus to the Staff and scholars of the School. Amongst the Staff there was evident that spirit of enthusiasm and dedication so characteristic of all those who teach the young.
The blessings of God upon the work were experienced to the full during the Conference and the words of Romans 10. 14-15, which were read at the Session found ready acceptance in the hearts of all those who were privileged to attend:
“…and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!”
Lord, What wilt thou have me to do?