# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1932_S71
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

By. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1932. 71

ding over many years. Experience should on no account be set
side in the interest of mere theory.
Ti. In support of the proposal providing one senior college of

two upper collegiate years instead of expanding the course at
four jnstitutions, as proposed by the Survey Committee, we urge the
following : —

A. Simplicity. — This plan involves fewer changes than any other
therto proposed and dovetails best with our historical develop-

Jan hi
P Tt also has the endorsement of the Professors’ Conference

ment.

of 1925.
B. Complete Development. — Students will profit from contact

with more than one director and more than one group of instructors.

C. Harmony. —It will prevent any section of Synod and any
institution from feeling that they have been discriminated against.
If the plan of the Survey Committee is adopted, it is a foregone
conclusion that every institution will endeavor to secure for itself
the full course of eight years.

D. Studious Atmosphere. — Separating the two upper-college
years should produce a more studious atmosphere. In such an in-
stitution there will be no downward pull exerted by freshmen and
sophomores, & condition generally deplored by university authorities.

E. Flexibility. —If accreditation should prove vitally necessary
in future years and hinge on our having a four-year college, it would
be a relatively simple matter to close the senior college at St. Louis
and expand the existing junior colleges. On the other hand, if the
proposed expansion of our junior colleges has been carried out and
proves unsatisfactory for any reason (financial, etc.), to reduce these
schools back to their former status of junior colleges and then estab-
lish a central senior college will be fraught with so many complica-
tions as to make a change practically impossible.

F. Conserving Graduates. — If the experience of other Lutheran
bodies should be repeated in our midst, a senior college of four years,
not in intimate touch with the Seminary, where the goal is con-
stantly before the eyes of the students, may easily result in a large
number of graduates’ refusing to continue their studies at the Sem-
inary in favor of entering some profession other than the ministry.

G. Economy. — It will manifestly cost less to operate one senior
college than to operate four because the classes will generally be as
large as can profitably be assigned to one teacher. If four institu-
tions are maintained, some are bound to have small classes, while
others may be compelled to conduct parallel classes. Furthermore,
only one library and one laboratory must be provided. This plan
obviates also the need of erecting any new buildings, the old Seminary
being adequate for the present.