will realize the need of the next step in the evolution of the institution—lessons graded in subjects as well as in methods for the several departments.

(6) Basis of Promotion. The question is often asked, "Should promotions be made on the basis of age, or as the result of examinations?" The examination system may be regarded as desirable in the Sunday school, but there are as yet few schools where thorough examinations can be rigidly insisted on as a part of the school system, and promotions invariably made to depend upon standing. A school which meets only once a week, for a session of less than an hour and a half, and with but one lesson period of forty minutes or even less, cannot maintain the same strictness in its standards as the public school. Moreover, new scholars are continually entering the schools, and, while most of them begin at the foot of the ladder in the Primary Department, yet others enter at various ages and in various grades. Any system of promotion based merely upon acquirement attested by examination is sure to become in many instances a meaningless form when applied to the Sunday school. Yet acquirements and examinations need not be ignored in the graded Sunday school. There may be certain ages at which the pupils shall by right pass from a lower grade to a higher. But it may also be arranged that pupils who are exceptionally bright, well-informed, and studious can be promoted a year in advance of their classmates by passing examination. Let the examination be given in writing to all the pupils, and let all be urged to take it; with the promise that those who pass will be promoted, even though they be less than the required age. But let it also be understood that failure to pass the examination will not keep the student for more than one year from promotion. In other words, the examination may well be made the door through which earnest students may pass on, and so keep abreast of their equals in training and ability.

IV

The question is often asked, "How may an ungraded Sunday school be placed on a graded basis?" The work may seem simple, and easy of accomplishment, but when it is undertaken difficulties arise which must be intelligently and tactfully met.

1. The Difficulties. If all our Sunday-school teachers were trained educators, accustomed to the methods of the public school, they would see at once the advantages of the graded system, and heartily enter into it. But most of our teachers are untrained, and their range of vision often fails to reach beyond their own class and their immediate environment. The relation between teachers and scholars is personal rather than official; and on both sides the personal equation often complicates the problem. In every school there are a few teachers who are so strongly influenced by their feeling for their pupils that they fail to recognize the needs of the school. There are also scholars, especially in the sentimental early adolescent age, who are unwilling to leave their teachers when promotion is offered to them. But unless the change of teachers is maintained the graded system will utterly fail to benefit the school; it will be graded in name only, and not in fact. This part of the program must be carried through, even though it may cost the school the loss of a teacher or two teachers and their scholars.

2. The Remedy for this difficulty is only to be found in carefully considered action by presenting the necessity and value of the plan so clearly that the teachers as a whole will fully understand it, appreciate its importance, and heartily accept it. The grading should not be attempted upon the mere fiat of the superintendent, nor on the vote of a bare majority of the workers. The teachers must recognize the self-sacrifice which it requires, and must make that self-sacrifice generously, giving up their scholars for the general good. The possible objections of the scholars are more easily overcome, for they are accustomed in the public schools to promotions with change of teachers, and readily accommodate themselves to the same system in the Sunday school. Thoughtfulness and kindness, with time, will soon remove the hindrances from the path of the graded school.

3. The Method of Grading. The school may be graded in either of two ways, the gradual or the simultaneous method.

(1) In the gradual method the superintendent, with the concurrence of the teachers, may announce that after a certain date all promotions will be made in accordance with the graded system, leaving the classes as they are until the time for promotion arrives. Then promote from Primary to Junior, from Junior to Intermediate, and from Intermediate to Senior, according to the principles of the graded school; and in four or five years, if the system be maintained, the result will be a school fully graded in all its departments.

(2) In the simultaneous method of grading, the plan must be carefully matured, and general coöperation of all assured. The following plan has been tested in more than one school, and found to work successfully:

(a) Let a careful committee be chosen to arrange the details of grading. The committee should consist of teachers acquainted with the scholars as far as may be practicable, and should, of course, include the superintendent. They should also take an abundance of time for their work.

(b) Obtain the ages of all the scholars between eight and eighteen years of age, and, approximatively, the ages up to thirty. Let this list be made quietly by each teacher for his or her own class. It may be desirable not to inform the pupils for what purpose the enrollment is made. Instances have been known where scholars have understated their ages, hoping thereby to remain with favorite teachers.

(c) Let the committee go over the lists and assign the scholars to classes according to age and acquirement. In some degree social relations should be considered, so that each class may be as far as practicable a social unit. In the Intermediate Department boys and girls should be in separate classes, and not more than six or eight pupils should be placed in one class. No announcement of the assignment of scholars to classes should be made until the day fixed for the reorganization of the school. It will be a good plan to prepare a map or chart of the schoolroom, with the place proposed for each class indicated upon it.

(d) On the day appointed, after the opening exercises, first let the seats or rooms set apart for the Senior Department be vacated; and then let the roll be called according to the new list. "Class No. 1, Senior Department. Mr. A——, with the following scholars." As their names are called let them take their places, until the list of classes and scholars in this department is filled. Next vacate the seats assigned to the Intermediate Department, and let these teachers and pupils take their places; then the Junior Department, according to the same plan. The Primary Department can be graded by its superintendent or teacher without aid from the committee.

Let it be understood that every scholar must take the place assigned to him at the time when his name is called; and that only for an important reason can an assignment, when once made, be changed. In a large school there will be found a few cases where the committee has made a mistake, even with the greatest care; and these mistakes should be rectified, but not until the pupils have taken their new places temporarily in the scheme of the school.

4. Advantages of Thorough Grading. Many benefits will follow from the proper organization of the school; and their value will be increasingly apparent as the