The question is often raised as to whether the assignment should be general or specific.  Perhaps the best answer involves both kinds.  There ought ordinarily to be a general assignment that affects all of the members of a class.  The class is made up of all the individuals in the group—­its discussing ought therefore to be so made up.  But in addition to this general assignment, specific topics given to particular members add an enrichment to the recitation of very great value.  The services of the specialist are always of inestimable value.  That class is best wherein each member in turn becomes a specialist in looking up and bringing in vital observations on life.

As to the best time for making assignments, it is rather hard to give a ruling that best fits all cases.  Preferably the assignment should grow out of the discussion of the lesson in hand, and therefore logically comes at the end of the recitation rather than at the beginning.  There are teachers, however, who, fearing interruption at the end of the hour, map out their work so carefully that they can make the assignment at the outset, merely calling attention to it at the close of the hour.  All other things being equal, if the teacher will make himself hold sacred the time necessary at the end of the hour for this all important matter of assignment, it is likely that best results will follow having the assignment of the next lesson grow naturally out of the work of today.  The important thing, however, is that at some point in the recitation, the teacher shall take plenty of time to make a carefully planned and challenging announcement of the work ahead.

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QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS—­CHAPTER XX

1.  Why is it essential to good teaching that regular reviews be conducted?

2.  Why are reviews more necessary in our religious work than in regular school work?

3.  What are the chief purposes of a review?

4.  By taking a current lesson of one of the auxiliary organizations, illustrate the work done in a good review.

5.  Why it is of vital importance that a teacher give special preparation to a review?

6.  Show how good class preparation is conditional upon the proper kind of assignment.

7.  What are the characteristics of a good assignment?

8.  What is the best time for making the assignment?

9.  Show how to make a good assignment of a current lesson from one of the organizations.

HELPFUL REFERENCES

Betts, The Recitation; Betts, How to Teach Religion; Colvin, The Learning Process; Colgrove, The Teacher and the School; Strayer and Norsworthy, How to Teach.

CHAPTER XXI

THE QUESTION AS A FACTOR IN EDUCATION