“Boys who go right have invariably had a world of time spent on them in this way.  Boys go wrong because the father would not take the time from the market.  In after years the same parent will take vastly more time to try, in tears of sorrow, to straighten out that boy.”

=The Teacher and the School=

The Teacher must keep in mind that it is his business to work in cooperation with all of the forces that are trying to help the boy to live rightly in his community.  The work of the public school must continue to go on without a break if the ideals of our American citizenship are to be maintained, and it is the business of the Teacher to give his support, encouragement and cooperation for the carrying out of the idea for which the school stands.  The public school seeks to give the boy the necessary education toward his earning a livelihood, and the business of the Sunday school Teacher is to give him the right impulses for his moral and religious life—­to inspire him to seek the best in everything.  The Sunday school Teacher is in partnership with the public school teacher in the education of the boy.

Several well-defined and exceedingly clear principles of action underlie the successful handling of groups of boys: 

First, there must be a clear plan well thought out, progressive in its stages with an aim for each stage.  In other words, no man need try to work with a group of boys unless he knows what he wants to do, not only in outline but in detail.  He must have these details in mind and so well worked out in his thought, knowing exactly what comes next and just what is to be added to that which he has already accomplished, as to be master of the situation at all times and to be the recognized leader.  Not only this, but the boys must feel that he really knows what he is driving at in everything that he attempts.

Secondly, before the leader of a group of boys tries to do anything with the group, if he is to be successful, it is necessary for him to make a frankly outlined statement of his plan.  That is to say, he should tell the boys what the game is and how it is to be played, getting their approval, and agreement to get in on the deal.  He can explain this to all of the boys at one time or singly to each boy.  There is no question but that he will succeed best if he will go over the matter first with each individual boy personally, finding out his individual impressions and opinions, and also having discussion before the group.  This being done the boys know the plan, the leader knows what he is working toward, and the leader and the boys are partners in the work.  Too often groups of boys are brought together and the aim is so hazy in the leader’s mind that all the boys can possibly see in the scheme is a “good time.”