# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S162
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

162 SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES

F. The generation of the foregoing effects as broadly and as
completely as possible in every ministerial student, but with a
liberal recognition of individual differences in the abilities, apti-
tudes, and inclinations of students, and a recognition of the conse-
quent desirability of providing a controlled freedom in the in-
tensive pursuit of certain ends for which the individual presents
a special fitness.

Wl. Practical Implications

Although the objectives here proposed for Synod’s ministerial
training schools in large measure enumerate objectives which, in
a sense, have long been recognized and accepted, the present
statement of objectives does involve some differentiating elements
which require clear identification.

1. It represents an effort to state the objectives of Synod’s
schools with as much precision and with as much completeness as
possible. The compelling need for a definite and complete statement
of objectives is indicated by many observations, but especially now
by a synodical resolution requiring definite recommendations on
a proposal to introduce into the admission standards of the St. Louis
Seminary the requirement of a bachelor’s degree from a four-year
synodical pre-ministerial training school. In no small degree, the
acknowledgment of a need for a formal statement of objectives
has been influenced by the conviction that education (in the
school sense) cannot support its implied claim to exemption from
the stern necessity of observing a fundamental principle, to the uni-
versal soundness of which all human experience testifies, namely:
except by divine intervention or rare chance, no corporate under-
taking can function adequately unless its efforts are consciously
directed toward definitely known, clearly stated, and thoroughly
accepted objectives, and unless all of its means and methods are
organized and controlled with these objectives in view.

2. The present statement places special emphasis upon these
objectives which describe the development of the student’s per-
sonality in directions other than merely intellectual and lays great
stress upon definite spiritual achievements.

3. In the preparation of the present statement a studied effort
has been made to avoid an error which, it must be acknowledged,
is exceedingly common in educational circles: the often disastrous
error of confusing ends and means. Certainly, it cannot be ques-
tioned that the curriculum of a school provides only a very remotely
indicative statement of objectives.

The acceptance of any major portion of the proposed objectives
clearly invites careful thought about means and methods which
may be employed for their achievement. The objectives here