nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

82 SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
was begun a year ago replacing the type of leaflet or tract used previously.
Although the expense is somewhat greater the results have shown that a stronger
appeal is made for our Christian schools. Substantial donations from Baptists
and from others have resulted because of the influence of these educational
publications. Statistical tables as a final part of this report is unmistakable
evidence. Students, too, including hundreds of returning veterans, are coming
to our Baptist colleges because these publications have fallen into their hands.
It is the hope of the Education Commission to expand this type of service
which in due time will yield yet larger returns.
EDUCATIONAL SURVEY AND STATISTICS
Educational surveys are made periodically and statistical tables based upon
these are available for college presidents, business managers, and boards of
trustees. These statistical tables in summary are prepared for publication in
the Convention Annual. Surveys are used as a method of institutional measurement.
Standards are maintained more easily because executives from year to
year review these surveys. Weak places in the organization, in finance, in enrollment,
in equipment, in library, or in course of study are revealed. These
are being strengthened when discovered. This service needs to be extended
and it can and will be by the Commission as funds are made available.
INTERRELATIONSHIPS
Interrelationships include the co-operative activities of the Education Commission
with other similar groups and with Baptist associations and conventions.
Visiting associations, making reports on Christian Education, serving
on the state and district program committees, and carrying the message of the
Christian school to missionary societies are among the activities performed by
the Commission through this committee. A distinct service is rendered by
attendance when possible upon a Christian Education conference of other
denominations. Among these are the Methodist and Presbyterian near Ridgecrest.
State associations in several states hold conferences in which the Commission
members take an active part.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CONFERENCES
The annual Christian Education Conference, at Ridgecrest, is being resumed
this year. Three other Christian Education conferences, each in a separate
region of the Convention territory, have been planned to meet a need that has
been felt for several years. The plan has been adopted by the Education
Commission and will be put into effect if funds are made available. It is
planned to have a centrally located school seive as host to 19 others in the
region who will send representatives. These will be president, dean, a faculty
member or more, one trustee or more from each school, and local pastors.
The program will be so designed as to advance the interests of Christian Education
just as the Home Mission Board, the Foreign Mission Board, and B.T.U.
promote their particular interests in annual conferences at Ridgecrest and in
appropriately chosen areas of the Southern Baptist Convention territory.
One central purpose guides all the activities of the Education Commission:
to attract and educate Christian leaders in properly planned and adequately
supported and successfully administered Christian schools for a world that
needs more than ever before true Christian leadership if civilization is to endure.
No SALARIED SECRETARY
An expense fund of $4,800 has been allocated annually for the work of the
Education Commission. This amount has permitted the Commission to function
in a limited manner, but this amount has long been recognized as inadequate
for the big task that lies ahead. There is no salaried officer. All funds
are used to defray the expenses of the Commission, and a request is being- made
for the allocation to be increased in order that the plan of the Education Commission
may be enlarged and extended so that its services may be in keeping
with the needs, opportunities, and responsibilities of our 60 Baptist schools
and colleges. Enrollment because of the war dropped from 31,000 to 21,000,
approximately. The enrollment during the present year has exceeded 35,000!
This is the largest enrollment Baptist schools and colleges have ever had. Some
of our schools are over crowded; others are too small to be efficient either
educationally or financially. Consolidations and coordinations have been made
in emergency situations. Departments have been added in some schools, dropped