Teacher-Training and Social Work

EDITORS' TABLE 745

ciation have found difficulty in interesting the young men be- tween 16 and 20, at which ages they incline to scatter from the systems, groups and gangs that have attracted them heretofore; and the result is that we lose a large portion of them from the Mutuals. This is likewise the case in the Sunday School and other organizations. Up to this age they have been amenable io counsel and discipline and the direction of parents and teacher?. They have been satisfied with what has been told them as being right, just, and fair, and have been willing to take for granted the counsel and advice given them. But at this time they begin to throw off these restraints and to think and act for themselves, and it becomes more difficult to interest them. In order to do so, the attitude, methods, and teachings of the instructor and parent must change to conform with the changed attitude of the youth. Heretofore, group instruction was attractive. Nov/ the contact must be more personal and not as dogmatic. The young man must have a definite course pointed out to him, and not be commanded too much. He must be permitted to lead out and reason things out for himself; to act and think for himself. At the same time, he must have that sympathetic direction that will enable him to steer clear of pit-falls and overcome apparent obstacles to faith in God and his great Latter-day work. If, during his early years, when discipline, command, and in some cases even force, have been used to hold him in the right way, he has been made to "toe the mark" and render service, it will not be as difficult for him now to think and act right, as where his early training has been of a loose char- acter, in which he has had too much his own way, with lax disci- pline in what is right, just, fair, and square. Children who are trained to have what they want, what they like, what they desire in pre-adolescent age, are very likely to go wrong in their judg- ments, desires, and wants when they come to the critical time of life when it is natural for them to cast off restraint and get away from groups and family relations. These are subjects that should attract the attention of our teaching force, and efforts must be made to so change our in- structions as to do the most good to our membership, both in the boy age and in the age of the young man. The adolescent age is the most important in the life of a person, and if the youth can then be directed aright, his course in life, in the path of righteousness, is practicallv assured. It is up to the Y. M. M. I. A. officers to get the best results, and to support, by attendance and study, not only this move- ment for a stake teacher in the Provo training class, but the teacher-training classes in the wards, in order that we may im- prove our efficiencv in leadership. We hone, therefore, thnt every Mutual organization will see that its officers and teachers

746 IMPROVEMENT ERA

shall attend the teacher-training classes, both in the stake and the ward in which they reside, and that they take care properly to carry out the instructions as given in the teacher-training course. A.

Teacher-Training and Social Work

Under date of May 8, 1920, the First Presidency of the Church issued the following instructions to stake presidencies: — Dear Brethren: The Correlation Committee, the Social Advisory Com- mittee, and the Board of Education have submitted plans for increasing the efficiency of certain types of leadership throughout the Church. These nlans contemplate the calling of three persons to attend training courses to be given at the Brigham Young University Summer School, May 31 to July 2, 1920. The Correlation Committee is concerned with the selection and train- ing of at least one person from your stake to take the course in Teacher Training. The Social Advisory Committee is concerned in the call and training of at least two persons from your stake, one to take the course in Social and Recreational Leadership; the other, a woman, to take the course in Charity and Relief Work. "We feel the urgent necessity for this kind of training and request that you proceed to make your selection of these persons in accordance with the more detailed instructions which you will receive from the Cor- relation Committee, the Social Advisory Committee and the Commission of Education, respectively. Your brethren in the eospel, Heber J. Grant, Anthon H. Lund, Charles W. Penrose, First Presidency.

Co-operative Auxiliary Conventions

Under date of May 6, 1920, the First Presidency of the Chmch issued the following instructions to stake presidencies, which are of special inter- est to bishops of wards, and officers of auxiliary organizations: — Dear Brethren: At a recent meeting of the First Presidency and Coun- cil of the Twelve, it was decided to hold the annual conferences of the auxiliary associations of the Church as group conventions. In a number of the stakes, in 1920, these conventions are to be held in connection with the anarterlv conferences, commencing about August 1 and con- tinuing until October 31. A program of meetings will be arianged to include general sessions where subiects of equal interest to all may be presented; separate meet- ings of stake boards: and departmental meetings where definite and prac- tical help will be given to ward workers. One difficulty in carrying out this proposed plan is the fact that in some of the stakes it has seemed in manv cases necessary to assign to one person several offices. This causes a duplication of work out of which will inevitably arise conflicts in appointments and meetings. It is sin- cerely hoped that this groui convention will tend to Winer about a re- adjustment in this matter: the puroose and genius of the Church organ- ization being to give activity to all members of the Church, and not to

EDITORS' TABLE 747

u Is \t: :i ^jid i^ul members performi " s ,wo ° r ,h ™ *»« Therefore between now and the date set for the convention, it might be necessary for bishops to make a thorough canvass of their wards in order to bring into active service young men and young women whose talents and ability are now lying dormant. Trusting that the advantages of this plan over that of holding six separate conventions will be readily apparent to you, that the minor dif- ficulties connected with it may be overcome in vour stake, and assuring you of the hearty co-operation of the General Boards in all efforts to make auxiliary work a potent factor for good in the lives of the people we remain, '

Sincerely your brethren, Heber J. Grant, Anthon H. Lund, Charles W. Penrose, First Presidency. Further instructions and program will be given in the convention circular of the Y. M. M. I. A. to our officers, and a scheme for the general sessions will also be issued by the combined auxiliary organ- izations. In the meantime, officers are asked to read the general outline of program for the fall group conventions in the May Era, pp. 663-4.

Slogan 1920-21 We stand for the non-use and non-sale of tobacco.

Messages from the Missions

— [Notice. Owing to the trebbling of the cost of small cuts, the Era regrets that only page cuts of missionaries can hereafter be used, in limited number, and the portraits for these must be large enough for reduction to fit the Era page. The Mexican missionaries given in this number is a sample. Editors.] The Gospel Extensively Heard Elder D. L. Paxman, writing from Danville, Va. April 16, says: "The elders laboring in Danville of the Virginia conference are R. S. Gilley, local elder, Riedsville, N. C; J. Earl Lewis, Mammoth, Utah; D. L. Pax- man, Raymond, Alberta, Canada; Oriel H. Blackburn, Ogden, Utah; and Dewey Sanford, Delta, Utah. The gospel is being heard extensively in this part of the vineyard and we feel that we have accomplished much good during the past winter. The Era is a great help! to us, and is a con- stant encouragement to the Saints and investigators." San Diego Branch A very successful branch conference was held here in San Diego on Sunday, February 29th. President Joseph W. McMurrin, conference President A. S. Campbell and Elders Cornwall, Frebairn and others were in attendance from Los Angeles. There was a good attendance of Saints and investigators at all three sessions of the conference, which was very encouraging to the mission- aries laboring here. and much good is being accom- The branch is in a thriving condition plished by the missionaries. We wish to express our appreciation for the Improvement Era which is regularly received and read each month, and which is accomplishing