# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1938_S105
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Elementary Education 105

in the resolution above has rightly chosen to call “the most im-
portant agency for the Christian education and training of our
children.”

Systematic Promotion of Christian Education.— At the Vis-
itors’ Conference in River Forest, Ill, September, 1936, the chair-
man and the secretary of schools worked in the seminars toward
more effective promotion of our educational endeavors through
direct and systematic participation of the Visitors. (Resolution of
the Cleveland Convention, Proceedings, p.101,1.) District boards
were invited to join the Visitors in this endeavor, and there have
been some initial results. Furthermore, through the cooperation of
several District boards of education and especially their secretaries
of schools or superintendents, plans were evolved for such sys-
tematic promotion of education. All the Visitors of Synod received
from our Board suggestions and survey outlines for this work.
Considerable assistance was given several Districts upon their
request to supply special school visitors (teacher assistants to the
circuit Visitors) with guiding principles and points for observation
in their supervisory duties. This work is still in its initial stages
and needs much attention, especially by Districts, to put it into
fuller operation.

Centennial Preparations. — At the Centennial Conference held
in St. Louis, September, 1937, the chairman and the secretary of
schools conducted the seminars on Christian education and are
serving as advisory members of the Call of the Cross Centennial
Committee. At the request of this committee, the secretary of
schools has also written outlines and other materials for teachers’
conferences.

In conjunction with the General Centennial Committee our
Board has planned several centennial publications, to wit: 1. The
Educational History from 1837 to 1847 (a research bulletin).
2. A Children’s Centennial Booklet, for schools and Sunday-schools.
3. Children’s Services.

Research Work in Education.—From timie to time special prob-
lems in education make it necessary to institute research work.
Special investigations and surveys have been made with regard to
the Saturday-school and religious instruction in the day~schools.
A number of historical studies by independent workers are now
available in printed form and other studies are in preparation.
The need of such studies in a body as large as ours is becoming
increasingly apparent. We believe that both in our elementary and
higher education there is need for continued research work, and
our Board therefore endorses the memorial of the Southern Illinois
Teachers’ Conference asking for the establishment of a research
department or the appropriation of a fund for research work.