# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1938_S114
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

114 Elementary Education

Preparation of Ministerial Candidates for Teaching

Acting upon the recommendation of the Educational Con-
ference, your Committee commends the theological seminaries for
extending their instruction in pedagogy, and we concur with the
Educational Conference in urgently petitioning them to make what-
ever additions of courses in education may be necessary to meet the
present-day requirements of the Church. These include full qual-
ification to teach and to supervise the teaching in Christian day-
schools and other educational institutions, with a possibility of ob-
taining without difficulty the professional standing demanded by
the respective States. To this end be it

Resolved, That our seminary faculties, in conjunction with the
new Board of Higher Education, be requested to make a com-
prehensive study of the requirements demanded for teacher certifi-
cation by the various States and make the necessary adaptations in
the pedagogical courses to meet the requirements as closely as may
be possible in harmony with the pursuit of the Lutheran aim; and
be it further

Resolved, That the attention of the pastors and the candidates
for the ministry be directed to summer courses in education now
being offered by our teachers’ colleges and that theological students
be encouraged to pursue an entire year of normal work at River
Forest or Seward during their term of absence from the theological
seminary.

Teacher-Candidate Situation

The teacher-candidate situation is not the same as that of the
ministerial candidates. We have had no oversupply of teachers.
Our teacher candidates are in regular teaching positions, and, in
addition, the demand for student teachers from both teachers’ col-
leges continues to be greater than the supply.

However, there are two undesirable situations that we wish to
bring to the attention of Synod: 1) The general candidate situation
has reduced the enrolment at our teachers’ colleges to a wholly
inadequate level for the ordinary demands of Synod. Therefore
your Committee encourages the congregations of Synod to send
more boys to the normal schools. 2) The temporary placement of
teacher candidates continues, with its attendant evils for both the
schools and the teachers, if not its ultimate effect on pastors and
our church-work generally. Your Committee recommends that
Synod go on record as discouraging the temporary placement of our
normal graduates.

Action of Synod: The report and recommendations of Com-
mittee 7 were adopted. :

P