# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S265
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PARISH EDUCATION 287

cated in full-time Lutheran schools. Nevertheless, this institu-
tion is exerting a strong, beneficial influence on our Synod. It is
providing us with well-indoctrinated lay leaders and is helping
to fill our synodical institutions with future pastors and teachers.

School Statistics for the Past Triennium

—_——— * 1,199) 72,559

1944 _____. 1,180; 76,277) 1,393 132) 2,342
1945 1,224| 78,234) 1,403 152] 2,491
(a) Includes women students (b) Includes lay teachers in Brazil

* Figures for Argentina are not included, since its “schools” were not regular
schools and were not listed in 1944 and 1945. On the basis of 1941 figures, the
number of schools in Brazil was estimated to be 91, 87, and 89 for these three
years. Brazil reported all other school statistics, but omitted total number of
schools in these three years. It has about 26 schools less than the total number
of its instructors.

We have at present, as in earlier periods in the history of
our Synod, a great teacher shortage and, on account of it, an
undesirable imbalance of the teaching personnel. There are at
present not nearly enough regular male teachers. The ratio is
now 56.4 to 43.6 of regular male teachers to all other instructors.
Of the latter, the majority are only temporarily employed. We
are not ungrateful for such emergency help, but we must work
toward a greater stability of our teaching force, both men and
women.

Since 1940 there has been a remarkable increase in schools.
It appears that the Lord is making more and more members of our
Synod appreciative of this precious institution. This increased
appreciation of the parochial school is due chiefly to the realiza-
tion by many in our Synod that parochial schools are in a position
to offer a far more effective program of religious education than
part-time agencies. The prospects are that the present low aver-
age of 27.8 per cent will rise, but this will require:

1. A deep consecration on the part of pastors to open and
teach schools in numerous small congregations which are not im-
mediately able to employ a teacher or, because of the teacher
shortage, unable to get a teacher;

2. Continuance of, and respect for, the one-room school, even
in cities;

3. The establishment of more central schools;

4. An adequate number of teachers, particularly men;