Collection › LCMS Convention Proceedings (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1938 · 37th Convention, St. Louis › Page 56
LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1938, Page 56

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

56 . Action Regarding Individual Institutions

the two Iowa Districts to remodel the Old Building No.1 into a
gymnasium. The required amount has not yet been reached.

Requests. —It has been the constant aim of the Board, in con-
junction with the faculty, not only to keep academic standards on
a high level, but wherever possible to anticipate future needs and
to make provision for them. In line with this practise your Board
in 1932 petitioned Synod to add a fourth class to the three-year
preparatory course. The reasons underlying the request of six
years ago not only still obtain, but the passing years have brought
added problems which all the more insistently demand this addi-
tional year. The progressive improvement in the curriculum has
naturally increased the teaching load, so much so that the Cur-
riculum Committee (created by Synod to supervise such matters)
has been demanding a reduction. Yet the fact that practically all
the students now applying for admission lack the necessary back-
ground in German, are deficient in religious instruction and in
Latin, will require more class periods.

By the introduction of a fourth academy class it would be pos-
sible to transfer a number of courses from the Seminary to the
Fourth Academy and thus lighten the burden of the present Sem-
inary load. Moreover, it would be possible to arrange a systematic
course in German, religious instruction, Latin, and other branches,
which would not only divide the work so as to ease the class load
but also promise more satisfactory results.

The need of this additional year is so acutely felt that, if Synod
cannot see its way clear to fill the still existing vacancy in the
faculty at this time, we would be ready to operate with the present
teaching force by combining classes in order to fit the outlined
course into the general program.

Two.— As demanded by Synod, the Board has tried, to the
best of its ability, to keep all buildings in good condition and well
equipped and ‘to provide such things as may be needed from time
to time. In line with this latter point the Board has repeatedly
petitioned Synod for an Administration Building. As long as twelve
years ago Synod voted an Administration Building for Springfield;
but again and again circumstances have arisen which interfered
with the erection of the building.

Confident that Synod will appreciate the patience and cheerful
willingness with which Board and faculty have struggled along
under the handicap and added burden of this lack of proper facili-
ties, and with the assurance that it will again consent to give us
what it several times in the past ‘twelve years was willing to grant, ©
we come before your Hon. Body with a request for $225,000 for the
erection and furnishing of an Administration Building 9

If in 1926 Synod recognized the néed of an’ Administration