# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S458
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

dracon on NR na

' erated rate of growth, its normal quota would be three candidates p,

other areas of the country.

~ student of his rightful share of training for tomorrow’s competitive’

_ costs of the program.

expected. The constituency on the whole is not wealthy. They ca

458 ' Report of Board for Higher Education

more’ than its quota, other areas must be held in check, and this: wil
be difficult to do. .

By 1952, assuming that the District will maintain its present accel:

year. If the District’s rate of growth doubles, its normal quota’ it
1952 would be four candidates per year, Corisequently, even und

the most optimistic forecast of the future of the District, the instit
tion will still have a student enrollment’ so small as to make itsvg
maintenance an unwarranted luxury in view of Synod’s obligations :

General Education

appear not to warrant the maintenance of a theological preparato
school, would it not be expedient to foster general education which
might share the costs of operating a school and thus reduce the per:
capita cost for the theological student? Our response must be
negative.

Other sections of this report have indicated the undesirability ‘of
synodical financing for general education. Furthermore, it must b
realized that general education is a very costly undertaking. Modern
youth demands, and is entitled to, a diversified program of studies. in,
high school far beyond the present curricular offerings of our:
Concordias (primarily language). Shoestring offerings preparing.
only for. college: entrance: in a narrow field deprive the general:

living ahd may be a great educational disservice.

To introduce even a modest expansion of Portland’s curriculum wi
be expensive, and the first costs are not the last or even the averag

These costs must be borne either by a supporting organization o
by the student in. the form of high fees. Revenues sufficient to mee
these costs from either of these two sources in this area cannot b

ill afford to contribute thousands of dollars for staffs and equipment
through an organization, nor will the school attract students if it’
assesses high fees. The parents are not wealthy, and the public high
school is free. '

Service to the District Me

Does the District.need the institution? Is it a rallying point for :
church work? Does: it serve missionary purposes? Does it hav
promotional value with the public? Those questions must ‘b
answered before the future of the school’ can be determined.

The Problem of Distances
'.The great distance to the nearest. sister institution in Oakland
Calif., has been advanced asa reason for retaining Portland. Th
argument loses much of its effectiveness in the light of actual condi:
tions regarding the school’s graduates. In the past ten years, 140