# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1047
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PARISH EDUCATION 849

Estimated Expansion in Immediate Future

The following table attempts to show the increasing need for
teachers. Based on five years of actual statistics, to show the recent
trend, the latter part of the table constitutes an extension of school
enrollments and teacher demand up to 1955, based on actual statis-
tics of child Baptisms. Child Baptisms are the nearest data we have
to indicate the birth rate in our Synod, and they form the most
reliable basis for prognosticating future enrollments and teachers

needed.
Child Baptisms School Enrollment Per-Cent Total

Years 8-Year Periods Kindergarten to 9th Gr. of Baptisms Instructors
1931—38 -...... 271,350 1944 — 76,277 28,1* 2,342
f = 1932—39 ___.. 274,906 1945 _.... 78,254 - 29.1 2,373
' 1933—40 ___.. 280,608 1946 ___..... 82,029 29.2 2,514
1934—41 289,249 1947 _... _ 87,859 30.3 2,806
1935—42 __.. 300,606 1948 92,487 30.7 2,964

Bop. Fis. Estimated Enrollment ‘Per Gent. Instructors
1936—43 ____... 315,650 1949 _ 97,220 30.8 3,106
1937—44 _._. 328,851 1950 _..... 101,615. 30.9 3,246
1938—45 _.... 341,072 1951 105,732 31 3,378
1939—46 ____. 358,851 1952 __...... ~ 111,244 31 3,554
1940—47 _...... 384,989 1953 _.. 119,347 31 3,813
1941—48 ____. 409,731 1954 ___...... 127,017 31 4,057
1942—49 ____. 429,862 (’49 est.) 1955... 183,257 31 4,257

* Note the ascending rate of percentage, This means that while
Baptisms show a large and constant increase, school enrollments increased
proportionately still more. In the estimated section, the enrollment. per-
centage was allowed to rise to 31 and was then arbitrarily kept at that
figure. Kindergartens, which are comparatively few, and 9th grades,
which are rare, were included in the enrollment figures (Col. 2) because
teachers must be furnished for them as well as the other grades.

The foregoing table indicates an expansion that is practically
certain and calls for a net gain of 1,293 teachers by 1955 (seven
years), or for a net gain of 185 teachers a year. But this number
was more than offset by the losses in 1949. Hence, there was no
net gain in 1949, but a further setback. What we need, according to
the foregoing table, is a NET GAIN of 185.per year, that is, 185 plus
the number lost during the year, or somewhat over 300 new
teachers.

Enlargement of Teachers’ Colleges Necessary

The foregoing estimate does not take into account other
important factors that will contribute to an expansion of the school
system, such as thousands of children gained annually who are
not included in the Baptism record, the goal of 50 per cent of our
children in schools, the present widespread movement in behalf
of schools among non-Lutherans as well as Lutherans, the increase
of Lutheran high schools and their need for teachers, overcrowded

public schools, and the like. The demand for teachers is, there-