CES teachers to hone skills at symposiu

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    By JARED JENSE

    The Church Educational System is conducting its 20th annual CES Symposium today through Thursday.

    The objective of religious education in the Church Educational System is to assist the individual, the family and priesthood leaders in accomplishing the mission of the church.

    Administrators have said this objective can be reached by teaching students the gospel of Jesus Christ as found in the standard works and the words of the prophets — teaching students by precept and example so they will be encouraged, assisted and protected as they strive to live the gospel.

    Providing a spiritual and social climate where students can associate together and preparing young people for effective church service are other methods that will be focused on during the symposium.

    “This is a program to assist our seminary and institute teachers so they can be more effective and interesting teachers in the classroom,” said Ken Robbins, CES administrator for northern Utah.

    The commission given to teachers and leaders in the Church Educational System is to live the gospel, teach effectively and to administer appropriately.

    “The symposium is here to help prepare our teachers for the upcoming year with doctrinal content and teaching skills,” said Mark D. Ringger, supervisor of administrative support.

    All institute and seminary instructors throughout the United States have been invited to attend the symposium in hopes that each will become adequately equipped with the tools necessary for effective teaching.

    “We are expecting about 8,300 full-time and volunteer teachers,” Ringger said. “In 1990, we had 3,600 teachers attend. We are seeing more growth and interest.”

    “We want to bring as many CES personnel together as a large group and fellowship one another. It is our goal to stimulate enthusiasm for the upcoming school year.”

    “Jesus the Master Teacher” is the theme of this year’s symposium and will be the topic of interest for the opening general session today from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Marriott Center. The opening session will be broadcast to those teachers and instructors unable to attend the symposium.

    Stanley A. Peterson, CES administrator of religious education and schools, will be the keynote speaker and Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Council of the Twelve will also address the teachers. Elder Ballard will concentrate his remarks on the importance of sacrifice.

    “This symposium is a pre-service experience given to seminary and institute teachers in North America,” said Frank Santiago, BYU program support coordinator. “In addition to full-time teachers, there has been an increase in volunteer and part-time teachers.”

    Wednesday and Thursday are devoted to individual classroom instruction. Nearly 80 presenters will focus their presentations on gospel topics dealing with the New Testament, which is this year’s focus of study for seminary and institute.

    “Some of the finest teachers in the Church Educational System, including teachers from BYU, will be presenting at this symposium,” Santiago said.

    A couple of the presenters who were invited to teach include Robert L. Millet, dean of religious education, and Robert J. Matthews, president of the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple and emeritus professor of ancient scripture.

    “I reflect feelings of most people when I say that this symposium opens the beginning of a new year,” Ringger said. “It is an opportunity to see old friends and receive instruction.

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