Changes

By 1832 there were more than 8000 Sunday schools in the United States.  

By 1832 there were more than 8000 Sunday schools in the United States.  

As the relatively novel concept of [[Theology|theological]] [[pluralism]] also began to take hold about this same time in 1832, one of the biggest Sunday school unions, ''The Union'', decided to establish non-denominational Sunday schools in the "New West", the area of the [[Louisiana Purchase]], as a [[missionary]] enterprise. Small communities would select a neutral place and Christians of many backgrounds would come together in what were called Union Schools. They decided to teach the Bible, because "the Bible unites", but catechisms divide. Because of this religious pluralism, Sunday school lessons focused on Bible stories rather than on doctrine, and on application rather than on interpretation. Publication of catechisms began to slow as a result. Sunday school students were often encouraged to memorize large portions of the Bible, earning prizes and incentives for doing so. This idea was dropped when it was realized that the students were more interested in the prizes than in God’s word!  

As the relatively novel concept of [[Theology|theological]] [[pluralism]] also began to take hold about this same time in 1832, one of the biggest Sunday school unions, ''The Union'', decided to establish non-denominational Sunday schools in the "New West", the area of the [[Louisiana Purchase]], as a [[missionary]] enterprise. Small communities would select a neutral place and Christians of many backgrounds would come together in what were called Union Schools. They decided to teach the Bible, because "the Bible unites", but catechisms divide. Because of this religious pluralism, Sunday school lessons focused on Bible stories rather than on doctrine, and on application rather than on interpretation. Publication of catechisms began to slow as a result. Sunday school students were often encouraged to memorize large portions of the Bible, earning prizes and incentives for doing so. This idea was dropped when it was realized that the students were more interested in the prizes than in God's word!  

Most of the lay leadership of ''The Union'' was [[Presbyterian]], and non-Presbyterians—[[Lutheranism|Lutherans]], Methodists, [[Religious Society of Friends|Quakers]], Baptists, [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopalians]]—worried that the movement might be a plot to bring the western youth into Presbyterianism under the guise of a non-denominational movement.  

Most of the lay leadership of ''The Union'' was [[Presbyterian]], and non-Presbyterians—[[Lutheranism|Lutherans]], Methodists, [[Religious Society of Friends|Quakers]], Baptists, [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopalians]]—worried that the movement might be a plot to bring the western youth into Presbyterianism under the guise of a non-denominational movement.  

Meanwhile, the [http://spartacus-educational.com/IR1844.htm 1844 Factory Act] lowered the 12 hour limit that a child could be worked to six and a half hours.

Meanwhile, the [http://spartacus-educational.com/IR1844.htm 1844 Factory Act] lowered the 12 hour limit that a child could be worked to six and a half hours.

European immigrants during the 1800s found little land available to them to farm on the east coast, so they quickly re-migrated to the west. Many were [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]s so some Catholic leaders saw the Sunday school movement as a Protestant plot to capture the Catholic youth of the west. Many private Catholic schools were founded during this period as an answer to the Protestant education that then dominated the nation’s public schools. In fact, the First Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1852 specifically urged every Catholic parish in the country to establish its own school for just that reason. In answer to this call, scores of schools were established throughout the country.

European immigrants during the 1800s found little land available to them to farm on the east coast, so they quickly re-migrated to the west. Many were [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]s so some Catholic leaders saw the Sunday school movement as a Protestant plot to capture the Catholic youth of the west. Many private Catholic schools were founded during this period as an answer to the Protestant education that then dominated the nation's public schools. In fact, the First Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1852 specifically urged every Catholic parish in the country to establish its own school for just that reason. In answer to this call, scores of schools were established throughout the country.

Sunday School organization began expanding to include all ages. Sunday School became a way for unbelievers to be introduced to, and then assimilated into, the life of the church.  

Sunday School organization began expanding to include all ages. Sunday School became a way for unbelievers to be introduced to, and then assimilated into, the life of the church.  

By the late 1800s, Sunday School was looked to as the main hope for church growth, a view that continued until the mid-twentieth century.

By the late 1800s, Sunday School was looked to as the main hope for church growth, a view that continued until the mid-twentieth century.

In 1898, Mrs. Walker Aylette Hawes established her “Everyday Bible School” to minister to the immigrant children who spent their summer days running the streets of New York City’s East Side. She rented a beer parlor that was not used during the day (it was the only space available), and for six weeks, she gathered the neighborhood children together for worship music, Bible stories, Scripture memorization, games, crafts, drawing and cooking.

In 1898, Mrs. Walker Aylette Hawes established her “Everyday Bible School” to minister to the immigrant children who spent their summer days running the streets of New York City's East Side. She rented a beer parlor that was not used during the day (it was the only space available), and for six weeks, she gathered the neighborhood children together for worship music, Bible stories, Scripture memorization, games, crafts, drawing and cooking.

== Socialist Sunday Schools ==

== Socialist Sunday Schools ==

Beginning in the 1920s the CCD program (Continuing Catholic Development) was developed for those children whose parents could not afford to enroll them in the Catholic educational system (parochial schools and high schools). The CYC (Catholic Youth Council) grew out of this program beginning 1941.

Beginning in the 1920s the CCD program (Continuing Catholic Development) was developed for those children whose parents could not afford to enroll them in the Catholic educational system (parochial schools and high schools). The CYC (Catholic Youth Council) grew out of this program beginning 1941.

In 1941, the children's program at the North Side Gospel Center in Chicago laid the foundation for the principles of the AWANA program (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed - [http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/2_timothy/2-15.htm 2 Timothy 2:15]). Lance Latham, North Side's senior pastor, collaborated with the church's youth director, Art Rorheim, to develop weekly clubs that would appeal to churched and non­churched kids. As a pioneer in children’s ministry, Art created new and innovative ways to reach kids with the gospel and lead them to know, love and serve Jesus Christ. Other churches learned about the success of the program and inquired about its availability. In 1950, Latham and Rorheim founded Awana as a ''parachurch'' organization. By 1960, 900 churches had started Awana programs.  

In 1941, the children's program at the North Side Gospel Center in Chicago laid the foundation for the principles of the AWANA program (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed - [http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/2_timothy/2-15.htm 2 Timothy 2:15]). Lance Latham, North Side's senior pastor, collaborated with the church's youth director, Art Rorheim, to develop weekly clubs that would appeal to churched and non­churched kids. As a pioneer in children's ministry, Art created new and innovative ways to reach kids with the gospel and lead them to know, love and serve Jesus Christ. Other churches learned about the success of the program and inquired about its availability. In 1950, Latham and Rorheim founded Awana as a ''parachurch'' organization. By 1960, 900 churches had started Awana programs.  

In the early 1960s problems began to develop as newer Sunday school curriculums failed to emphasize personal [[conversion]] of life style and [[Corporal and spiritual works of mercy|works of mercy]], and neglected [[Christian apologetics]] in favor of a more entertaining style of witness with a "feel-good" approach which contained nothing about personal sacrifice and commitment in the face of doctrinal confusion, [[indifference]], [[secular]]ism, [[pop culture]], the [[new age movement]] and worldly opposition. The realities of [[sin]], the [[Last Judgment|last judgment]] and [[hell]] were ignored. Christian educators began to be at a loss to explain why young people began to leave their churches, and why so many of them entered colleges and universities unprepared to meet [[liberal]] and [[atheist]] challenges to belief in Jesus Christ as the only Savior of the world and the Bible as the inspired word of God.

In the early 1960s problems began to develop as newer Sunday school curriculums failed to emphasize personal [[conversion]] of life style and [[Corporal and spiritual works of mercy|works of mercy]], and neglected [[Christian apologetics]] in favor of a more entertaining style of witness with a "feel-good" approach which contained nothing about personal sacrifice and commitment in the face of doctrinal confusion, [[indifference]], [[secular]]ism, [[pop culture]], the [[new age movement]] and worldly opposition. The realities of [[sin]], the [[Last Judgment|last judgment]] and [[hell]] were ignored. Christian educators began to be at a loss to explain why young people began to leave their churches, and why so many of them entered colleges and universities unprepared to meet [[liberal]] and [[atheist]] challenges to belief in Jesus Christ as the only Savior of the world and the Bible as the inspired word of God.