# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1941_S147
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Elementary Education - 145

faith and life. An instruction book, or manual, for parents is
very desirable and should be written in the near future; but it
is also important that we publish a Christian family magazine.
A periodical of this kind would not supplant any of our present
publications but would be devoted primarily to the task of
improving the home. The Abendschule might be considered its
prototype. Such a family magazine would provide wholesome
fiction and news analysis as well as articles on Christian education,
child-training, the work of the Church, and items of special interest
to children and young people. A Christian family magazine would
constitute one of the best methods of bringing the Word of- God
to bear upon parents and children in practical every-day experience.

Our Educational Needs

i. In view of the foregoing report one of our foremost needs
is a restudy of Christian education. Your Board therefore urges
that all of us, especially those in responsible positions, give thought
to this matter, study the philosophy of Lutheran education, and
earnestly endeavor to bring our practice into conformity with
our principles.

2. In view of the fact that inadequate provisions are made for
a large majority of our children; that thousands apparently receive
little or no formal instruction; that the average attendance at
Sunday-school is only about 50 per cent.; that the Sunday-school
children in large numbers fail to attend divine services; that the
home as a factor in Christian training is frequently not functioning
properly, your Board urges that our synodical officials, synodical
institutions, conferences, and boards give immediate attention to
the spiritual needs of the thousands of children who are receiving
religious instruction only on a part-time basis or are receiving no
formal instruction at all outside the confirmation class.

3. Our greatest need is to concentrate on the expansion of
our school system. We believe that the suggested restudy of the
educational theory of the Lutheran Church will and must result in
the establishment of many more schools and in the maintenance and
expansion of those which exist. Where individual congregations
cannot maintain a school alone, central schools may offer the
solution, In view of the Church’s needs at any time, but especially
in times such as ours, the building and expansion of our parochial-
school system should be one of the major objectives of Synod; for,
as Dr. Walther stated, the fostering care of our parochial schools is,
and will remain, the chief means of our existence and growth,
next to the public ministry; humanly speaking, the future of our
Church depends upon it.

4, In congregations where circumstances do not permit the
opening of a school, diligent use should be made, for the time

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