# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S254
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

298 PARISH EDUCATION

2. To select helpful tests in other areas.

3. If possible to study special outcomes of Lutheran education
in the secular studies. In other words, the committee does hot
propose to duplicate the fine mental and achievements tests that
have been developed for use in the public schools,

From a number of suggested projects the committee has chosen
three for its initial efforts in this field. They are:

1. A test of Biblical information.

2. Achievement tests on the Catechism.

3. A group test of Christian personality.

Work on these tests was initiated at a workshop on tests and
measurements held at Concordia Teachers College, River Fo
August 1—5, 1949. For each test a separate committee was ap-
pointed, and the entire group gave counsel on the reports of the
various projects. Since that time the several committees have been
active in developing still further the findings of the workshop
session. The committee hopes to make these tests available within
the near future. The production of valid and reliable tests is not
an easy matter nor a task which can be accomplished in a short
space of time. For that reason the committee is proceeding slowly
and making good use of the available talent in our circles, that is,
persons with special background in the field of tests and measure-
ments.

A special grant of $5,000 from the Committee on Allocating
C.T.O. Funds for Scholarly Research provides funds necessary
for the completion of these projects and for beginning work on ad-
ditional projects.

State Aid to Non-public Schools

The 1947 synodical convention re-affirmed the position taken
on State aid to non-public schools at the 1944 session and resolved
that the Board for Parish Education and other interested parties
be encouraged to study the problem. The Board for Parish Edu-
cation has continued its study of this problem and the related
problem of Federal aid to education,

Further study has persuaded us that distinction between the
social service program of the State and the granting of tax moneys
by the State to subsidize the instructional program is a valid one.
The use of government funds for the teaching program of church
schools is support of religious instruction and is thus contrary to
the First Amendment of the Constitution. Under the child-benefit
theory, the State’s welfare program as it confers benefits on chil-

- dren through bus transportation, health service, and the like, is

aid to the child and not to the school. It is our conviction that we

PARISH EDUCATION 299

should officially oppose the granting of State or Federal funds for
the support of church schools. At the same time, we are persuaded
that the children attending church schools are also entitled to the
social services that the State is making available for children of
school age.

On the subject of Federal aid to education the Position of the
Board for Parish Education may be briefly summarized thus.

1. In many States, children and youth are laboring under an
educational handicap. Since some States find it difficult or impos-
sible to provide adequate facilities, the Federal Government has a
legitimate interest in equalizing educational opportunity.

2. While conceding the need for Federal aid, it is important
to recognize possible dangers if such aid is granted. Some of these
dangers are: . ,

a. It would tend to remove one or more areas from local
responsibility and thus is part of the ominous trend toward cen-
tralization.

b. It has possibilities of being the first step toward eventual
control of education by the Federal Government.

c. The permanent nature of the Proposed legislation envisions
a basic change in educational policy that will continue indefinitely.

consideration to these points, the Board for Parish Education has
urged reconsideration and modification of the bills,

Co-ordinating Council

To help unify, simplify, and intensify church work at a time
when Synod is 8rowing rapidly and life is becoming more complex,

Council which meets annually “to prepare, suggest, and recommend
plans for a balanced parish program based on good co-ordination
and effective integration.” This group, on which al] major boards
and organizations of Synod are represented, reviews the total work
of the Church, suggests an annual theme, recommends monthly