# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1941_S85
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Seminaries and Colleges. — Individual Institutions 83

their own affairs in order to attend regular and special meetings
in behalf of the institution. They have striven to keep the college
‘buildings and professors’ residences in good repair, to use the funds
provided by Synod in the most economical manner, and to super-
‘vise the work of the institution as well as they were able.

The faculty, formerly consisting of five professors and an
assistant instructor, but now numbering only four professors, has
ever been mindful of its high calling. Its members have taught
their classes and supervised the activities of the students to the
best of their knowledge and ability. On several occasions their
work was handsomely complimented by high-school inspectors
sent by the provincial Department of Education. All of them
are trying to increase their efficiency through university courses
and private reading. Sickness found its way into the home of
Professor Riedel. First his wife was taken seriously ill and later
the professor himself. Both had to undergo operations, but thanks
to the help of the Lord are considerably better now.

The students, generally speaking, have shown a fine, Christian
spirit and have studied diligently. Their health during the past
three years has been exceptionally good, so that the hospital-rooms
seldom had to be used. Their number, however, has not grown
as your Board of Control had hoped. The enrolment in 1938—39
was 38 students, in 1939—40 30, and in 1940—41 28.

That the enrolment has not increased is, we believe, due to
the following factors:

1) The adverse economic situation. Western Canada is pre-
dominantly agricultural. The market for farm products has been
poor for many years and has become poorer through the war.
Hence many parents could not afford to send their sons to college;

2) The fear of overproduction. Hitherto that fear has been
groundless as far as Western Canada is concerned. All Edmonton
graduates have received calls, most of them permanent calls. Yet
we are certain that the fear of overproduction has kept a number
of prospective students from enrolling;

3) The fact that we have dropped one class in the high-school
department, viz., Grade IX. This change, which was made after
long consideration, after consultation with Synod’s Committee on
Higher Education, and with the approval of the Board of Directors,
naturally decreased our enrolment. It is hoped, however, that in
place of the Grade IX students we shall in future get boys who
have done some of their high-school work at home. ,

Grade IX was discontinued, partly because of a change in
the school system of Alberta——a change which the other western
provinces are also contemplating — and partly in order to enable