# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1914_S128
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

128 Proceedings of the 29th General or

[SCAN: right margin shows show-through/edge-bleed from the facing page (fragments, including "…ndlich",
"Kommi…", "ſonder…", "Synod…", "erhobe…", "Verla…") — not text of this page, not transcribed.]

Revision of the English Readers.

An esteemed teachers' conference had petitioned for the publication
of a new series of English readers. The committee to which the
petition was submitted for judgment reported as follows:

In our judgment, there are indeed certain shortcomings in the
English readers, such as unevenness of expression, Germanisms, and
the like, which should be removed by a revision. We cannot, however,
agree with the criticism cited on every point, and consider the
criticism as a whole to be decidedly too harsh. As for what is said
in point 8 about the binding and quality of the paper, we do not
agree with the petitioners on this at all, but rather believe there
is nothing to object to in this regard. We would therefore like to
recommend to the Reverend Synod that the real shortcomings in the
readers named be removed when a new edition is issued, and that the
Commission for English Readers be entrusted with this work.

The committee report was adopted.

Commission for Schoolbooks.

An esteemed teachers' conference had submitted the following
motions:

1. that each of the commissions for schoolbooks (namely the
Commission for German Grammar and Reading Books, the Commission for
English Books, and the Commission for Realia [factual/nature-study
subjects]) henceforth consist of one professor from our higher
educational institutions and two teachers actively serving in the
school office;

2. that in the election, care be taken that the members of each of
the commissions named live close enough to one another to be able to
confer together easily from time to time;

3. that each of the commissions in question be instructed to
initiate, on its own initiative, the publication of new schoolbooks
as they become necessary, as well as improvements to those already
in existence.

Rationale.

On point 1. Since these are schoolbooks, it should go without saying
that teachers be represented on these commissions, since it is they,
after all, who have to use these books, and it is they, as
schoolmen, who are in the first instance to be trusted to judge the
usefulness of a schoolbook as well as any shortcomings in the
existing books.

On point 2. Since it is not only desirable but necessary that the
members of each commission assemble from time to time to discuss
their work in person, they should be so elected that meeting
together is easy for them and possible without great expense.
Because they live as far apart as is now the case, even the most
urgent work is often greatly delayed.