LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1932, Page 80

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86 Proceedings of Thirty-Fifth Regular Convention,

In order to give a meaningful picture of the work of our Board
during the past triennium, we offer the following reports on the ac.
tivities of our two subcommittees.

I. THE COMMITTEE ON SCHOOLS.

A system of Christian elementary schools increases or decreases,
exists or fails to exist, according to the measure of Christian under-
standing of, and devotion to, the cause, provided no compelling out-
side interference frustrates the work. In the past our Synod, by the
grace of God, enjoyed a large measure of such understanding ang
devotion, coupled with a strong determination and a unanimity of
purpose. As a result parochial schools abounded.

Synod has at present a very considerable school system. It has,
moreover, boards of education in all Districts, superintendents in
a number of them, and a general board with an executive secretary
especially for the schools. These have, with the help of God, aided
considerably in maintaining and increasing a very general and
renewed interest in the schools. Our Synod favors, fosters, and
financially and morally backs the further development of the
parochial-school system. There is at this time no compelling outside
interference that would hold up growth and expansion.

And yet there has not been that progress in outward expansion
in the last few years that one should expect. The school system
has even slightly declined since 1926. This came after a strong up-
ward trend during the years 1920 to 1926. It cannot be ascribed to
a lack of teachers nor very materially to the industrial depression,
since the latter was unknown in 1926. Other causes must be looked
for. We ask, Is it not principally due to a smaller measure of that
spiritual understanding, devotion, and determination which gave us
the schools in the past despite hardships? How otherwise shall we
explain that almost two-thirds of our organized congregations either
have no schools or are slow in establishing them? We realize that
there are instances in which it is not possible for the time being to
open a school, but we know and you know that in virtually hundreds
of congregations, both large and small, it is possible. May we ask
you, dear brethren, to give this your most earnest thought and atten-
tion both at this convention and in your home community and Dis-
trict? God forbid that our dear Synod should gradually lose its school
system and like other church denominations, as Dr. Walther warned,
bring about its own deterioration by letting the State look after the
training of the children! This has happened to other church-bodies
and to Lutheran synods, and it may happen to us if we are indifferent
enough to permit it. The devil has never taken anything away from
the Church unless he was permitted to do so. May God give us

vision, courage, willingness, and strength to face and improve the
situation! It is still time, but it is also high time!

~ cmservineemnamtnninetnarnaties - ©

Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1932. 87

A. Present Status of the School System.

1928 19380 Difference
Number of Schools ........ 1,370 1,339 -31
Enrolment ............... 81,457 79,956 ~1,501
Regular Man Teachers .... 1,309 1,393 84
Woman Teachers ......... 494 482 -12
Pastors Teaching ......... 368 326 42
Students Teaching ........ 100 134 34

B. Growth and Decline During the Last Ten Years.
From 1920 to 1926 -— Six Years From 1926 to 1930 — Four Years

Schools: Increase of .......... 80 Decrease of ............ 51
Pupils: Increase of ........... 7,019 Decrease of ............ 1,126
Teachers: Increase of ......... 217 Increase of ............ 123
Woman Teachers: Increase of .. 234 Decrease of ............ 31
Pastors Teaching: Decrease of .. 107 Decrease of ............ 56
Students Teaching: Decrease of 48 Increase of ............ 49

C. Growth or Decline of District School Systems.
(Last Five Years, 1925—1930.)
Where Schools Decreased.
(-— Loss; * Gain; x No Change.)

District Schools Pupils District Schools Pupils
Atlantic ........ -2 —205 North Dakota and
Brazil .......... ** (-15 -240) Montana ..... ~2 ~ 29
Central ......... -2 216 Northern Illinois. - 3 —667
Central Illinois .. -7 241 Northern Nebraska -2 *152
Eastern ........ -8 ~271 North Wisconsin . ~10 — 47
English ......... -1l»> «x Oklahoma ...... -4 * 10
Towa .........5. -2 *182 Oregon and Wash. -6 ~197
Michigan ....... -9 —394 South Dakota ... -1 -175
Minnesota ...... -12 -109 Southern Illinois. -~2 -— 77

**Branched off Argentina. In reality remained the same.

Where Number of Schools Remained the Same.

District Schools Pupils District Schools Pupils
Man. and Sask. .. x — 41 Southern ....... x — 36
Ontario ......... x - 99 Western ........ x *275

Where Number of Schools Increased.

District Schools Pupils District Schools Pupils
Alberta ......... *2 - 2 Kansas ......... *3 *219
Argentine ....... * 1 * 34 Southern Nebraska * 5 *125
Calif. and Nevada *2 "162 South Wisconsin . *] *353
Colorado ........ *1 *148 Texas .......... * 8 *540

This table explains the foregoing one. Please do not get the
impression that the school systems showing a loss are definitely on
the down-grade. Among these Districts there are some that belong
to our largest, best, and most hopeful school Districts, such as
Northern Illinois, Central, Michigan, and Southern Illinois, with
a number of others very hopeful. Nor should any one think that the
Districts of the last two sections are all progressing satisfactorily ;
for among them are some of our smallest and least progressing school
Districts.