DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY
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SUNDAY SESSIONS MASS WEEK MEETINGS
| (Occasional when there is a motive)
Opening Service
Class Hour
Department Affairs
Closing Services

[a] Supervisory [b] Older Boy [c] Adult

Prepared by John L. Alexander, Superintendent Secondary Division
International Sunday School Association

POINTS OF CAUTION!

The promoters of a Boys' Department in the Sunday school should not be
too hasty in pushing the organization. There are certain facts to be
kept in mind in effecting a workable, durable department.

1. The Boys' Department is merely one of the departments of the school,
and nothing must be done that will cripple or weaken the remainder of
the school. Where possible it is best to promote separate departments
for teen age boys and girls at the same time. This will reduce
opposition and achieve efficiency.

2. There is no use in trying to organize a Boys' Department, where there
is no adequate meeting place. The value of a Boys' Department lies
almost entirely in the unity produced by the worship of the opening and
closing services and the discussion of departmental common affairs.

3. The Department cannot take the place of the Organized Class. Where it
does, it is temporary, hurrah-in-character, inefficient and harmful.
The Sunday school is educational in purpose. The Boys' Department must
be likewise.

4. Nothing should be advocated or promoted in the Boys' Department that
is not in accord with the Sunday school and Denominational policy. The
Boys' Department is part of the Church.

_Class Organization_

The classes of the teen years should all be organized before any scheme
for department organization is put in use. The Organized Class is based
on the so-called "gang instinct," and is the unit of all organization.

_Departmental Progressive Steps_

The steps in organizing a Teen Age Boys' or Secondary Division
Department should be:

1. Appointment of Teen Age Superintendent.

2. Every class organized according to Denominational and International
Standard.

3. Two-session-a-week classes--Sunday and week-day.

4. Trained teachers.

5. Departmental organization.

=Departmental Equipment=

_Separate Rooms_

There should be separate a