# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S293 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) PARISH SERVICES AND YOUTH 293 _attention is currently being given to a variety of funding re- sources, including federal aid _the School Department has participated in the formulation and work of a coalition of education groups known as Citizens Relief for Education by Income Tax (CREdIT), which at- tempts to help in the shaping and passage of federal legisla- tion for financial aid to parents of nonpublic school children _one section of “Performing Our Patterns” materials is de- signed to aid in intensifying commitment. Issue IV: Developing Outside Relationships The Issue People in public and nonpublic education should not think of Lutheran elementary and secondary schools as opponents but as partners in education. Educators, government officials, and the general public should understand Lutheran schools, their purposes and available programs, as unique educational options. To eliminate misunderstandings and distrust and to develop ac- curate and positive concepts of Lutheran schools we must: —communicate to others the purposes and practices of our schools —capitalize on the expertise of those in other school systems while sharing with them the dedication, insights, and talents of Lutheran educators —cooperate with chief school officers, administrators, and teachers of local public and nonpublic schools and participate in joint Conferences and education associations _ inform educational and congressional personnel at the federal, state, and local levels about Lutheran schools. How the Board Has Confronted the Issue _direct relationships and involvement on committees and in meetings continue with the United States Office of Education —information on Lutheran schools was shared with President Nixon’s Commission on School Finance and his Panel for Nonpublic Schools —national level discussions were held with public school super- intendents and national church leaders on the challenges and needs of nonpublic schools —the School Department was instrumental in the formulation of a coalition of nearly all major nonpublic school systems known as The Council for American Private Education (CAPE). CAPE made it possible to share ideas and materials, to represent nonpublic education to the government in an organized manner. CAPE made it possible to testify in behalf of Lutheran schools to the Senate Subcommittee on Education and to the House Committee on Ways and Means, as well as have consultations with individual Congressmen, education officials, and White House aides. How the Local Parish Can Confront the Issues Lutheran congregations with schools are faced with a crisis of opportunity. At no time has there been a more critical need and opportunity to minister to the needs of mankind, to bring reconciliation to the church, and to bring the peace of God to all. At no time have we had the facilities, materials, communi- cation resources, and personnel for carrying out our educational mission that we have now. Suggestions on how local congregations can confront the four issues are in part implicit in the issues themselves, and in part they were indicated specifically earlier in this report. Some of the issues can be dealt with by the professional staff, but many require lay consideration and board of education action. In summary: — Congregations and boards should recognize their teachers as ministers of the Gospel, thus sharing in the responsibility of strengthening morale: —Congregations and boards should encourage professional growth and make possible the utilization of growth opportuni- ties, thus sharing in the responsibility for performing quality: —Congregations and boards should rekindle in themselves and others the desire to support Christian education sacri- ficially, thus sharing in the responsibility of intensifying com- mitment: —Congregations and boards should urge the broadening of contacts and associations with public and nonpublic edu- eators, thus sharing in developing outside relationships. How the Synod Can Confront the Issues The four issues highlighted in this report are not new. Synod’s congregations and its Board of Parish Education have confronted them in varying degrees and varying ways in the past. Today they stand out as issues demanding immediate and sustained attention to meet present-day challenges. In addition to the suggestions of this report, which are in- tended to serve as guidelines for congregations and the Synod’s Board of Parish Education for the future, many overtures could be submitted to the New Orleans Convention to deal with the various facets of each issue that call for united attention and action. However, in the interest of brevity. the number of overtures is being held to a minimum. Four overtures were deemed im- perative, each emphasizing one important aspect of an issue. These overtures appear elsewhere in the CONVENTION WORK- BOOK. In brief, the overtures expand on these four needs: 1) The strengthening of morale by giving consideration to the status of the female teacher that she might be included on the roster of Synod’s teachers, and receive consideration for pro- fessional opportunities, status, and remuneration equal to those of her male counterpart. 2) The performing of quality through continued utilization of faculty in-service activities, continued provision for in-service and leadership materials, with special attention given to the needs and opportunities of early childhood education. 3) The intensifying of commitment through the communica- tion of purpose, with special consideration toward funding of Lutheran schools through a variety of sources including pro- vision for tuition grants to the poor. 4) The developing of outside relationships by encouraging school personnel to participate actively, where appropriate, in the activities and meetings of local public and nonpublic school personnel and other local and state level groups, including government, that have educational concerns and jurisdiction. VII. THE BOARD OF PARISH EDUCATION IS COMMITTED TO BUILD ON WHAT IS GOOD IN OUR PAST WHILE EXPLORING NEW POTENTIALS IN THE FUTURE A. Introduction The Board of Parish Education and its staff are committed to retaining what is good from our past. There is a deep com- mitment to a strong program of Christian education not only by the Board but also by the congregations of the Synod. The early fathers of the Synod provided strong programs of Christian edu- cation not only at the elementary level. They had plans for secondary schools (Walther College in St. Louis), vocational schools, and hopes for a university as the curriculum design for the Perry County log cabin college shows. Congregations today are equally concerned and therefore plan to expand their programs from nursery to adulthood, in- cluding new agencies and settings. The Board’s research division is on the alert for data on parish activities and programs that not only touch the achieve- ments of the past but also challenge the possibilities of an even stronger program of Christian education in the future. Recent research such as the Study of Generations suggests that Scripture knowledge is a positive factor. In its materials the Board encourages continued and deepened Bible study by even greater numbers, especially adults. B. Research Projects Completed During Past Biennium 1. Comparison of teachers who attended the Church School Teachers Convention in Washington and those who field tested the Mission:Life curriculum in 1970-71 Teachers in the field test program as well as those attending the Washington convention were less authoritarian and more open to change than those in Dr. Earl Gaulke’s study of church school teachers in 1968. Since the differences seldom reached the level of statistical significance it may be that they actually reflect a change in society rather than a difference in people. The finding should reassure potential users of Mission: Life that the material can easily be handled by the kind of teachers who attend church school teachers conventions.