Bible Teaching

Editor’s note: Eleanor Frost graduated from Charlotte Mason’s House of Education in 1912. Her senior portfolio was evaluated by Rev. Thorley who wrote, “A very excellent book, with beautiful Drawings. The notes are full of interest.” Less than six months after her graduation, she was invited to speak at the 17th annual PNEU Conference in May, 1913. She was among a small group of graduates asked to present the “How We Teach” series at that event. Her topic was “how we teach” Bible, and her presentation was published as the article below. Her contribution was evidently well-received, as she was invited to speak again at the 1915 PNEU Conference.

It is clear from this paper that Frost learned her lessons well. As a student of Miss Mason at the House of Education, she picked up and internalized the living ideas presented by her teacher and mentor. The paragraphs below are throbbing with Mason’s thought, but with the added gift of including very practical guidelines. It is this combination of principle and practice that makes this paper so valuable for us today.

Note that Frost refers to Classes instead of Forms. However, by comparing the age ranges for Classes given in Mason’s School Education (Appendix II) to the age ranges for Forms given in the Programmes, we can map them as follows:

Class 1 = Form 1
Class 2 = Form 2
Class 3 = Forms III-IV
Class 4 = Forms V-VI

Enjoy this treasure, written by a firsthand student of the woman who based a philosophy of education on the words of Christ: “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

– Art

By Eleanor M. Frost
The Parents’ Review, 1913, pp. 514-522, 552-554

The Knowledge of God. These simple yet profound words of infinite possibility and meaning might stand perhaps with arresting effect at the head of any Bible lesson. They give at once, the essential reason for such a lesson; and who, seeing them, would let the manifold literary but lesser claims of the Bible outweigh its first and greatest, as a revelation of the Divine? To establish this claim, to bring through knowledge the hearts of the children in love and loyalty towards their Maker, is thus the first duty in Scripture teaching, and it is through the establishment of this personal relationship that they are led to what a saint of old so beautifully described as “the practise of the presence of God.”

Before considering the practical details in which the Parents’ Union School endeavours to fulfil this ideal, it is necessary to state, however, shortly, some of the principles and aims on which the method is based. It is a fact that children by their very nature seem to have a particular aptitude for the things of God; their humility and simplicity, their delicate perceptions, make it easier for them to believe all that is wonderful, for as yet they have not experienced the materializing process that comes from contact with the world. Christ Himself, said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me,” implying that, given the opportunity, they come; the word “suffer” is a plea to allow the children to come. Then, in St. Matthew, another reason for their particular fitness is given in the words, “their Angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in Heaven.” So direct and clear is the teaching in these and similar quotations that they need no comment, but explain at once the two fundamental principles, namely, Christ’s command and the children’s fitness. This latter seems to lie especially in their humility, for they are normally so unconscious of the ego, that to fix their eyes on what is outside themselves is both easy and natural, and here it is that they strike the very keynote of religion. It is objective, it is to seek the knowledge of God for Himself and for the joy of that Relationship, and as He is at the very heart and centre of each soul, a full and perfect life is the result.

As we realize that the knowledge of God comes from ideas of God, it is necessary to ask “What ideas shall be given to the children?” First, perhaps, because easiest for their comprehension, is the idea of the Fatherhood of God, for through the tenderness of earthly parenthood they are able to realize something of His—the Father of the whole world. Next their loyalty is aroused by the thought of Christ the King to whom they may be true subjects; again, Christ the Hero, who having in His power all things, yet chose rather to endure hardships; and lastly, Christ the Saviour, to whom they will turn their thoughts outward after ill-doing, rather than inwards upon themselves. There is another thought to be given in this connection, namely, “the indwelling of the Holy Ghost” and from this springs the realization to the child that God is about his path and also of himself—that his body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Too often God is presented as an Exactor and Punisher before His more obviously tender qualities have been made known, and thus the child learns to fear rather than to love, to avoid rather than approach. The Bible is the great storehouse of these ideas and it is there that the necessary and first hand knowledge is found, clothed in language that children readily understand and appreciate. This latter fact will be seen in the answers to some examination questions which will be read at the end, and which show also that they not only have the power of appropriating the words but also of imagining the scenes. Thus it is clear that to feed them on isolated texts is to starve them spiritually, and further, a knowledge of the context enables them in later years to form true judgments. The suitable parts of the Bible Stories, in the Bible words, are necessary for them and because some passages are undesirable, it is not allowable to deprive them of the Book entirely, for apart from its higher claims as a revelation of the Divine, it is a great literature, including biography, history, poetry, philosophy and ethics. Although the child nourished on these secondary ideas alone, must develop in character, yet the first claim of the establishment of the personal connection with the living God must be the aim ever uppermost in such teaching. It is this connection which has been called, “the hidden life and reality of religion,” and, I think, it is Coleridge who says also that “the Christian Faith is the perfection of intelligence.” But it is essential that the pupils work for themselves; they must be led to ponder, to meditate, and to reason, for it is true of the spiritual world as of the material, that, what is hardly earned is dearly prized—therefore with their minds must they labour.

There is also the great question of essential and accidental truth which must not disturb the children and need not be a difficulty when it is remembered that allegory is often the readiest vehicle of explanation. For instance, the accidental truth is that Jonah was swallowed into the darkness of the whale’s body, a realistic and forcible description of the essential truth, namely, the darkness and sorrow that follows disobedience and sin. To little ones the stories are read unquestioningly, but to older pupils who begin to reason it is well to explain sometimes, “perhaps such and such a tale is an allegory.”

Again, how explain miracles? To teach Christ’s life and avoid them is an impossibility and also the very fundamental truths of the Incarnation, Atonement and Resurrection, are all miraculous; nevertheless, it is often said that “miracles are against natural law,” but may it not be that now we are only in touch with the circle nearest us, and of the great circles outside, the complete “Natural Law,” we are in utter ignorance, except for the glimpses we get through His works of exceeding might.

“We are fooled by the eye, the ear.
These organs muffle us from that real world that lies about us.”

These introductory words give but a short account of the points which should be remembered in teaching the Bible; to enlarge on them would be but to curtail the description of the manner in which Bible lessons are taken in the different classes.

Now, the direct aim in every class, of every Scripture lesson, is to give “new thoughts of God,” that at last the children may have a complete knowledge of His character and of the fact that He is an ever real Presence. To establish this end the teacher must give the pupils illuminating and helpful ideas and present them in such a way as to make them grasped as something precious and welcomed with eager joy. In this connection it is necessary to remember that the work must be progressive and that new ground must be broken each term, else there will be no progress in that Intimacy which is Life. Also from class to class there must be greater amplification, greater research, and this with the necessary books is shown in the following lessons.

Last term in Classes Ia. and Ib., the Old Testament work included the friendship of David and Jonathan, and the first years of the former as King of Israel; it was founded on a certain number of “lessons” in Prophets and Kings of the “Bible for the Young,” with the corresponding Bible passages. A word must be said on the use of this book by Canon Paterson Smyth; generally, during her preparation the teacher must make its subject matter her own that it may come with all the greater force and spontaneity during the lesson.

Let us take two scenes from this Old Testament friendship, not forgetting to emphasize the underlying idea of God. The preceding lesson would have been on the story of David and Goliath, therefore, the teacher begins by connecting that incident with to-day’s subject, and arousing their interest by a question perhaps on “Friend”; this word has a certain amount of everyday interest for all people, and used in connection with a Bible lesson it would attract the children’s attention at once. Then draw from them its meaning, viz., one who is attached to, or helps another; next picture Saul’s tent; the excitement of the Israelites; their joy; their animated talk; etc.; then read I. Samuel, chapter 17, verses 57, 58, and chapter 18, verses 1 to 4. Next, get the children to narrate the whole incident as nearly as possible in the Bible words; then talk it over with them; how Jonathan denied himself for his friend; how they loved one another; for we read, that “the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David”; but this short discussion must be absolutely objective, there must be no pointing of morals, for the children will “take” the lesson for themselves. Next read chapter 20, verses 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, part of 30, 31, and all 32 and 33, but this time, after the narration lead the children to picture the scene for themselves, and also encourage them to find evidence of the friendship, viz., Jonathan’s defence of David. At this point draw from them what this story shows us about God—how, looking lovingly down on His child David, He did not leave him desolate, but even in those outlaw days gave him a true friend to be both a comfort and support. From this they grasp the idea of God the Father watching over and caring for His children.

The New Testament for last term included the teaching of the founding of Christ’s Kingdom and of the last journey to Jerusalem, from lessons in Canon Paterson Smyth’s “St. Matthew.” Take for instance, the lesson on “The man with the withered arm.” The teacher has two courses open to her, either to make the subject matter her own and so talk about it with the children after the corresponding Bible passage has been read and narrated, or, to read it to them directly from the book. The former is preferable in this case, because the teaching of how “the effort to obey brings the power,” is difficult and must be drawn from the children; but in cases when the teaching is very pointed and simple, it is well to read “The Bible for the Young” without comment, for all moral teaching apparently levelled directly at the children is a mistake, and this danger is avoided by an impersonal reading. In the foregoing lesson the idea exemplified by obedience to law is that of “Christ the King,” and this also must be drawn from the children. There is one more point in this lesson, the “Pictorial New Testament” is of great use, for even if Ib. children cannot read a little here and there they most thoroughly enjoy and appreciate the pictures.

In Class II., the work is the same as in Class I., but necessarily amplified as the pupils are older.  For instance, in the Old Testament they would sometimes write a short report instead of narrating, would follow the story of David’s wanderings with the map, perhaps making one and filling in the new places of refuge. The Bible passage is always read to them, and liberal use must also be made of the references; for instance, in reading that David could “Go no more home to his Father’s House,” read from an earlier chapter, and not tell only, as in Class I., about “His Father’s Sheep at Bethlehem.” This not only completes the picture, but familiarizes the children with the idea of the interest and fuller knowledge that comes from different points of view. In St. Matthew also, the procedure is the same as in Class I., with the exception that the children can read the Gospel Story themselves, and also do written reports. In this Class “Saints and Heroes” was set for additional reading.

By the times the pupils have reached Class III., they should be able to bring a good deal of intellectual power to bear on their Bible Study, and therefore, they must be encouraged to exercise it. For the Old Testament “Prophets and Kings” was again used, but with one or two additional handbooks such as “The Work of the Prophets,” etc. The work included the stories of King Josiah and his three sons as told in the “Kings” and “Chronicles,” with all the related passages of the Prophet Jeremiah. Gradually, from the passages, referring to the Kings the Prophet takes life, and, helped by their Handbook with its illustrations, the pupils add to their knowledge the story of another type of Christ. Such a lesson would be arranged as follows: Let us take the story of Jehoiakim to-day, and by a brief recapitulation let the pupils connect it with the last lesson. Then let them read the passages referring to his reign in “Kings” and “Chronicles,” afterwards discussing them in the light of modern research and criticism, as shown in Canon Paterson Smyth’s book; tell each pupil to look up relative passages in the books of “Jeremiah” and “Lamentations”; read part of the chapter on “Jeremiah” in “The Works of the Prophets,” and lastly, sum up with one or two headings on the blackboard, and let the pupils write a report. Although, history and biography are prominent in such a lesson, yet the aim of “a new thought of God,” must be kept uppermost, and in this story it is found in the idea of a just God who hates sin and punishes it. By the time the children are in Class III., they have already received their first ideas about Christ, and so are ready to understand the love underlying this later and fuller development. In the New Testament, the work included part of Christ’s earthly life, and the manner of such a lesson would be as follows: The teacher prepares beforehand from St. John’s Gospel and either masters and remembers the explanations—the better plan—or else makes a few notes. As before, the lesson is connected with the previous one, and then the pupils read from the “Gospel History,” which is the Revised Version, arranged in chronological order. Discussion follows and explanation, the pupils being led to do as much as possible of this themselves. Next, to help them to picture the scenes, to feel and to think, the teacher reads the corresponding poem from Volume II. of The Saviour of the World. Lastly, the pupils write a report. Part of “Acts of the Apostles” was also taught last term with the help of the book of that name by E. M. Knox. Here again, there was great scope for much individual effort by the pupils, and also for the use of pictures and maps. This study was connected with the contemporary Roman, French, and English History, set for the term’s work.

Lastly, in Class IV., the teacher’s work is not so much to teach as to direct; the pupils must search and strive for themselves; her office is to stimulate their thought, quicken their conscience and show them the way of personal study, that when the actual supervision of school days is over they may know how to continue Bible Study for themselves. Generally, they should read by themselves, but sometimes she will read with them. A lesson in this Class would be broadly on the following lines: a term’s work in the Old Testament would be on the “Book of Daniel,” to be studied with the help of J. R. Dummelow’s One Volume Commentary. The pupils would read a certain passage from the Bible, would be stimulated to try and explain it for themselves, then with the Commentary they would work through it again sentence by sentence, looking up the references, summing up the points, comparing the different Biblical accounts of the same incidents, and lastly, writing a report. It is thus that they get a real grasp of their subject, and it is in this study of God’s dealing with men of old that they are gradually coming to a more complete knowledge of Himself. The New Testament work was the chronological study of part of Christ’s earthly Ministry, and this was taken from The Gospel History, with the corresponding notes from each Gospel in the “Commentary.” For instance, suppose the lesson to be on the healing of Peter’s Wife’s Mother; the pupils would read the story in The Gospel History, then compare the accounts of this miracle in St. Matthew, St. Mark, and St. Luke, using the Notes in The One Volume Commentary, next they would read the corresponding poem in Volume II. of The Saviour of the World. Studying the Gospel stories thus, the pupils get the four points of view about Our Lord and also the illustrative poems which help them to think and feel. Part of the “Acts of the Apostles” was also studied in much the same way, viz. the reading of the Bible passages, the individual effort to understand fully, stimulated where necessary by the teacher, and then the study of the notes. There were also different books set for Sunday reading, The Saviour of the World, Stanley’s Sinai and Palestine, and Eastern Church.

In each Class there are examinations at the end of term, not so much to test facts, as to show how much the pupils have studied and thought about the subject. For instance, in Class I., the children would be asked to, “Tell about one Sunday in Christ’s earthily Life,” while in Class IV., it might be “Show fully how Christ manifested His Authority in His early teaching (a) at a distance, (b) in rebuke, (c) in command, (d) over Nature, (e) over sickness, (f) over the souls and bodies of men.”

It cannot be urged too strongly that under every Bible lesson there must be the thought of the knowledge of God, whether it is actually face to face with Christ as in the Gospel story, or whether it is Christ as revealed by the Prophets; in either case He must come before the pupils as a real presence, the actual and living God. The teaching of the Catechism to serve God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, must be remembered, and the pupils led to feel with their heart, to labour with their mind to aspire with their soul and to bring these to fruition in serving God with all their strength; religion of one part only, if such an anomaly is possible, is a danger, for the whole nature is necessary to produce the Christian character.

Finally, let us remember that it is a step by step progress without haste, yet without rest, in much Bible study, in wide reading and above all in quiet time for meditation, for, “The nurse of full grown Souls is solitude.” Thus, the children, fitted as we have seen, may not so much be brought back, as allowed to stay and grow in that Kingdom where there is grace and life abounding, and where looking to the King they may cry with the Psalmist of old that God is their exceeding joy.

A Few Specimen Answers Illustrating This Paper

Class III. (Age 13 ½.)

What do you know about “the blood of Zacharias”? Describe the call of Isaiah. Write any six prophecies of his that you remember. What kings did he influence and what great reformation did he help to bring about.

(1) Zacharias was the son of Jehoida the high priest. Jehoida was the high priest in the reign of Joash, and Zecharias was probably brought up, as a boy, with Joash, in the temple. Joash reigned very well during Jehoida’s lifetime; he destroyed all the groves, altars and idols; but when Jehoida died he forgot all his good ways and turned to evil. Jehoida had helped him too much, while he lived, so that when he died Joash had not learnt to be independent. Therefore Zecharias came to rebuke the king and to reprove him for going back to wrong. At this Joash grew angry, and told Zecharias that he had no right to rebuke the king. But Zecharias still went on, and at last the king, in great anger killed him: Zecharias told the king, when dying that his blood should not rest on his own head, but on the head of Joash.

(2) Isaiah had a wonderful call from God. He saw the Lord sitting on a high throne in great magnificence. Above were the seraphims who were praising Him. Then Isaiah uttered these words, “Woe is me for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphims flew to me having a live coal in his hand, and he laid it on my mouth and said, “Lo, this hath touched thy lips and thy iniquity is taken away and thy sin purged.” Then I heard the Lord crying, “Who shall I send,” and “Who will go for us.” Then I said, “Here am I, send me.” And the Lord told me to go to the people and say to them, “See ye indeed and understand not, and hear ye indeed and perceive not.” “Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert and be healed.” Then I asked the Lord how long this would be for, and he answered me, “until the cites be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man.” But he promised that in it there should be a tenth, which should return and be eaten. Thus Isaiah received his call from God to go and preach and prophesy to the people.

(3) Isaiah influenced Hezekiah a great deal, and gave him good advice, when the Assyrians came against Judah. Isaiah also played a great part in the great reformation which took place whilst he was living. It was then that so many old Bibles and manuscripts were discovered, after having lain for a very long time unknown and uncared for. These were copied by the men of Hezekiah, so that the people of Judah might read them. It is interesting to see that in the heading for the Proverbs of Solomon it says, “which the men of Hezekiah copied out.”

(3) Give a short account of Micah. Quote any of his sayings.

Micah is sometimes called “the courageous. Micah’s message was chiefly to the people who were living in ease and luxury, and not caring for the poor. Micah speaks in his book of country scenes and grapes, vines, houses of ivory, grand palaces, etc. One of his most known sayings is, “But what doth the Lord require of thee but to do right, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly before thy God.” His book contains many reproofs but also it has some beautiful promises.

Class II. (Age 10 ¾.)

(1) Question.—Tell exactly what part the angels took in the history of our Lord’s infancy.

Answer.—Angels came to the sheperds to tell them that Jesus was born. Angels told the wise men not to go near Herod, but go back another way. An Angel came to Joseph and told him to take Jesus into Egipt because Herod wanted to kill him.

(2) Question.—Describe the teaching of John the Baptist. Tell anything he said to the crowd. How did he live?

Answer.—John the Baptist preached “Repent ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord make his path straight. I baptise you with water but he that comes after, whos shoes I am not worthy to bear He will baptise the with the Holy Gost.” He lived in the wilderness, and fed on locusts and wild honey, and he dressed in camel’s hair and a leather girdle.

(3) Question.—Do you know any of the laws of the Kingdom of Heaven? What is meant by the beam and the mote?

Answer.—Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they that Morn for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persercuted for righteusness sake.

Class Ib. (Age 8 ½.) [Dictated.]

(2) Why did God reject Saul from being King.

Because of his disobedience. One day Saul and his men were on the battlefield, waiting for Samuel to offer sacrifices and bless the army. And as Samuel tarried, Saul offered the sacrifice himself. And as he finished he saw Samuel coming up with a fierce, angry and solemn face. And Saul’s answer was that the people were getting frightned. Another time Saul made a vow to kill every one that ate anything so as to ensure victory. It showed that that Saul was getting superstitious.

His next disobedience was to put up for himself a monument at Carmel. It was after the battle of the Amalekites. Saul and his men knew very well that they should not touch anything that belonged to the Amalekites. But Saul took deliberately the best of the sheep and oxen for himself. But on his way home, he met Samuel and said to him nervously “I have obeyed the commandment of the Lord.” And Samuel asked: What meaneth this lowing of oxen and bleating of sheep? Samuel told him: “Behold to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Class Ia. [Dictated.]

(1) “God save the King.” Tell all about this first Coronation.

Saul was going along with his servant to find the asses. He met a lot of milk-maids going to draw water and Saul asked where the prophet was. And the milk-maids said: “Make haste! for the prophet came here this morning at nine o’clock.” He went on very fast and he met Samuel. Samuel said: “You’ve got to eat with me to-day.” And Saul did eat with Samuel. He went down into the parlour and the cook brought him a leg. He ate the leg and went out into the street and Samuel poured a horn of oil on Saul’s forehead and said: “Now you’re King.” Samuel told him, first he would meet a few men, then some people coming down with pipes and musical instruments. Saul went and he did meet these people.

All the people and Saul were going to be blindfolded and they were going to put their hands in a bowl to draw. The people drew lots and the tribe of Benjamin was drawn, then the tribe of Saul and all the people said: “God save the King.”

Editor’s Note: For advice on how to implement these ideas in a contemporary context, please follow this link. This article was originally entitled “Bible Teaching In The Parents’ Union School.” The formatting of the above article was optimized for online viewing. To access a version which is formatted more similarly to the original, and which includes the original page numbers, please click here.