A study of the educational program of the church school of the Japanese Christian Church and Institute of Los Angeles

175 Pages·07.382 MB·English

by  Fujiyoshi, D. H

A STUDY OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OF THE CHURCH SCHOOL
OF THE JAPANESE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND INSTITUTE
OF LOS ANGELES
A Thesis
Presented to
the Faculty of the School of Religion
The University of Southern California
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
✓
Master of Theology ^
by
Donald H. Fujiyoshi
February 1942
UMI Number: EP65121
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UMI EP65121
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This thesis, written by
........DnMLD.HA...rUJIIOSEI...........
under the direction of hX&. Faculty Committee,
and approved by all its members, has been
presented to and accepted by the Faculty of the
School of Religion in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF THEOLOGY
Date..F.Q.hv\mr.y...l.942.
Faculty Committee
Chair \
PREFACE
The Japanese churches in America are in a transitional
period. For a long time the churches placed the emphasis upon
the first generation, called f,Issei,n who came from Japan.
But with the increase and the maturity of their children,
called the second generation or "Nisei,” a greater religious
need arose. Due to the lack of knowledge of the English
language and a lack of proper religious education, the Issei
were not able to teach the Nisei. Consequently the religious
education of the children.has been greatly neglected; in
fact, the older people have been more interested in teaching
the Japanese language than in teaching religion. It is,
therefore, common to find weak, inefficient church schools
among the Japanese Protestant churches.
The Japanese churches place an undue emphasis upon
adult religious education and not enough upon religious educa­
tion in the church school. The fact that religious leaders
are lacking in all of the Japanese churches is not because the
Nisei lack leadership but because they are not given the
opportunity to be leaders.
Doctor Kagawa said,
If we should try to teach a child the religion experi­
enced by an adult in the prime of his life, the child
would never understand it. Give the child the religion
of a child. If unintelligible teachings and rites that
are difficult even for adults to understand are forced
upon children, they will turn away from religion.1
It is tragic to see so many children grow up misguided
after parents have made great sacrifices for them. Another
outstanding problem which the churches face is that after
finishing high school the Nisei drift away from the church.
If proper religious education were given in the church school
much grief could be avoided for parents, communities, and
churches. It was truly said that leaders are made and not
born. A church which is fortified with a strong church school
will have no fear of the future.
The fourfold religious educational program is worship,
study or instruction, service, and fellowship or recreation.
In this thesis, emphasis is placed upon worship, study, and
recreation, since they are the major elements of religious
education carried on within the church school. It must also
be noted that these elements overlap each other; for example,
worship may be present in study, recreation, and service. But
for the purpose of this study they are segregated so that each
may be clearly visualized.
1 Toyohiko Kagawa, Today, No. 3, Vol. 10, June 20, 1941.
TABLE OF CONTENTS,
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED ..... 1
1 '
The problem .................. 1
Statement of the problem............... .... 1
The problems of the Japanese church . . . . . 2
Bi-lingual problem ..................... 2
Neighborhood problem . . ............. 5
Americanization....................... 7
Christian leadership ..................... 8
Beneficiary ............... 10
The worth of this s t u d y ............... 11
Definitions and terms used................. 11
N i s e i ............. 11
Issei . ................................. 12
Church school ............................. 12
Religious education ....................... 12
Worship................................. 13
S t u d y ................................. .... 13
Recreation ........................... 13
The method of getting materials for this study . 14
The treatment of the material ........... 14
II. BRIEF HISTORY............................... 16
Japanese in the United States. . . . . . . . . 16
V
CHAPTER PAGE
Japanese in Los Angeles Gity......................21
Japanese Protestant churches in Los Angeles City . 23
Interchurch and interdenominational organisations. 23
Japanese Christian Church and Institute ........ 27
Historical background ....................... 27
The present administration............ . • • . 28
Organizations ............................... 33
III. WORSHIP........................................... 35
Religious education ........................... 35
General introduction ........................... 38
Graded worship......... 38
Beginners1 department......... 38
Introduction ............................... 38
Characteristics . . . . . . . . 40
H e e d s ................................... 41
Beginners’ worship ......................... 42
Atmosphere................................... 43
Offering ....................................43
Rhythm ......... 44
S t o r y ......... 44
One hour session................... 46
Observation 46
Analysis and suggestions............. 49
Conference ....................................50
vi
CHAPTER PAGE
Evaluation of the score s h e e t .............. 52
Primary department . ....................... 55
Introduction .................. 55
Characteristics......... 56
Needs ........... 57
Observation............................... 57
Conference . . ......................... 61
Evaluation of the score s h e e t ............. 62
Illustration ........, , ................. 65
Junior department . . . . . . . . . .......... 66
Characteristics, and needs . . . . . 66
Junior worship ..................... 68
Observation............... 71
Suggestions......... 72
Evaluat* iion of the score s h e e t .............. 72
Intermediate department..................... 75
Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
N e e d s ................................... . 76
Effective ways of getting to know Intermediates 76
Intermediate worship ..................... 77
Objectives of Intermediate worship.......... 77
Observation........... 78
Conference................................ 80
Evaluation of the score s h e e t ......... 80
v ii
CHAPTER PAGE
High school forum or the Senior department . . . S3
Introduction..................... S3
Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
N e e d s ................................. £5
Worship objectives............... S3
Observation ............................. S6
Suggestions............................... SS
Proposed worship program for a High School
worship service ......................... SS
Evaluation of the score s h e e t .............. 89
Conclusion ..................... 92
IV. STUDY ........... 94
Curriculum material......................... 94
The ungraded or the uniform lessons . . . . . 94
The loosely graded lessons ................ 95
The closely graded lessons . .............. 96
Beginners’ and Primary departments........... 96
Introduction............................... 96
Handwork . ............. 99
Preparation................. 100
Objectives of Beginners’ and Primary study . . 100
Form of lesson plan .................. 101
Illustrative lesson plan ................... 102
Observation............... 102
v iii
CHAPTER PAGE
Conference...................................103
Evaluation of the score sheet , . , ..........103
, Junior department 105
Introduction .............................. 105
Leadership .................... ...........107
Objectives .................. 108
Observation ........................ 109
Illustrations of class sessions ............. Ill
Evaluation of the score s h e e t ................112
Intermediate department........... 112
Introduction ............................... 112
Methods.....................................114
Objectives . . ...........................115
Observation ...........................116
Class observation .......... 118
Conference..................... 119
Evaluation of the score s h e e t ................121
High School forum ........... 121
Introduction ...............................121
Methods . .................................122
Objectives ....................... 123
Observation......... . . * .................124
Class lesson.................................124
/
Evaluation of the score s h e e t ................126