LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1917, Page 32

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32 Proceedings of 30th General Convention,

which I command thee . . . thou shalt teach diligently unto thy’
children”; “From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures,”
~— certainly presume a more intensive instruction in Christian doc-
trine than can be given in the Sunday-school. Therefore the Dis-
trict Commissions should seek to prevent the Sunday-schools from
working injury to the parish schools. Sunday-schools should be -re-
garded rather as missionary institutes and as recruiting stations for
the regular day-school.

Every congregation should provide for a good school, a suitable
building, all necessary teaching equipment, and capable instructors
in sufficient number. District Commissions and Mission Boards
should put forth efforts to have new. schools established, or classes
added to existing schools. Our fathers knew no other, no better way.,
for founding and building up Christian congregations. Therefore
they simply began with Christian day-schools wherever they settled;
and the results fully justify their procedure. Let not their example -
put us to shame! Nor is it a favorable indication that so many of ”
our pastors must still teach school. Our congregations should be
taught that they owe it to their schools as well as to their pastors
to engage teachers who have been especially trained for this work.
Very large classes are detrimental to the children, who thus do not
get the individual attention, and to the teachers, who are thus put
under too great a strain.

In building new schools respect should be had to the modern
requirements of space, air, light, and heat. An excellent set of
building plans, compiled by Dr. Dresslar, may be had for the nominal
sum of 50 cents, Address, National Bureau of Education, Washing-
ton, D. C. Congregations should also cheerfully furnish all teaching
equipment (books, maps, ete.). Such expenditures bring good returns. .

A serious evil is the poor salary paid to many teachers. This
has compelled not a few to give up their calling. It furthermore
harms the school in that the teacher is virtually compelled for the
sake of his income to devote time and strength to-outside work:
And thus is lost the leisure and the love for personal preparation,
advanced study, and for making visits. That should not be. There-
fore the Commission recommends that congregations increase teachers’
salaries wherever possible. With teachers securing more adequate -
salaries, we shall also find it easier to get boys for our Teachers’
Colleges. Salaries of teachers should not be dependent on the in- .
come from tuition. Your Commission notes with pleasure the grow-
ing number of congregations that have done away with the payment
of tuition, and that now pay all school expenses from the church -
treasury, thus causing all members of the congregation to contribute .,
to the maintenance of the school. This change is heartily recom-
mended for general acceptance. ,