# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S523
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

acquainted with the curriculum report itself.

‘topics are better treated in the theological seminary. The functio ‘of

'

522 : Report of Board for Higher Education

VI. CURRICULA '

A. Pretheological Curriculum

Ll. Evaluation by Subject Fields on the Basis of the Synodically =
Adopted Curriculum of 1937 Recommendations ce

The synodical convention of 1935 (Cleveland) directed a revision
of the high school and junior college curriculum at the preparatory.
colleges. A committee of the Board for Higher Education and the
respective institutions, after prolonged study, issued the so-called:
curriculum of 1937, and this was adopted by Synod in 1938.

This 1937 curriculum provided Synod with an unusually effective
program of work, leading directly into the theological studies at the
Seminary. Many professional educators have examined it and have,
without exception, expressed their admiration of it. It is no exag-
geration to claim that no Protestant church body in this country has
so effective a plan for the training of its future clergy on the high
school and junior college level. 4

Since its adoption by Synod, all of the institutions, without excep-
tion, have made numerous modifications of their curriculum. A few
schools have so adjusted their curriculum that they meet the synodical
requirements rather fully. Others have made but minor adjustme
In some areas the adoption of essential changes has been made in
name only. Comparatively little thought was given to the essentials
shift in aims, methods, and course content. It was quite apparent on
the visits to the schools that these phases of the 1937 curriculum
were rather remote in the minds of the teachers; a few were u

A study of the institutions reveals specific deviations from the
curriculum, some of which strike at the very core of the ideal which:

the committee had in mind. The following specific cases might be
enumerated. a

Religion

The aims of the curriculum as they pertain to religion are not:

fully met. Some misunderstanding seems to exist concerning the terni

“historical Christianity.” ' Some institutions dwell extensively on thé:

beginnings of the Missouri Synod. One institution devotes a semester.

in college to the study of the U.A.C., lodges, and religious denomina;
tions. Work in liturgics and ‘hymnology is offered by others.. S

the preparatory colleges is to lay the foundation and not to |

upon such professional study. In view of the complaint that studen’
entering ‘the Seminary in St. Louis are largely unacquainted’ wit
proof passages and their location, it is imperative that more s
be placed on fundamentals. ,