--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Widtsoe, John A. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 26 number: 11 published: 1923-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'John A. Widtsoe, "The Church School System", *Improvement Era* 26, no. 11 (September 1923): 1010–1014.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera26011unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera26011unse start_page: 1010 end_page: 1014 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1923-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera26011unse publication_year: 1923 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1923, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Church School System The Church School System (Concluded) By Dr. John A. Widtsoe, Commissioner of Education College Work One of the most notable results of America's experiment in education for all has been that an increasing large number of our children finish the work of the elementary and high schools and enter college. The longer time thus given to education in schools is probably justified first by the wiser attempts to make school education really a preparation for practical life; secondly, by the great need for leadership in our land ; and thirdly, by the greater prosperity of the nation, which prosperity is itself a direct result of the advances in the arts and sciences fostered by education, which carries with it the possibility of a longer pe- ried of preparation. There has been also a lowering of the age at college en- trance. The high school graduate of to-day, is often younger than his father was upon entering high school. The high school graduate of today is often immature, still subject to the emotion- al stress of adolescence. Consequently he needs continued, care- ful supervision. In fact, many thinkers hold that the most critical period in a young person's life, in view of the lower age of high school graduation, is during the last high school years and the first college years. At that period there may be a some- what lessened emotional excitability, but there is also a more definite crystallization of life's ideals. Our state supported university and colleges are overcrowd- ed, especially in the first years in which classes are often so large as to forbid first class teaching. Devices are sought by which this pressure may be removed. Then also, the conviction is firmer than ever before that until adolescence is well over, young people should be kept as near home as is possible. MJodern education has not yet be- come a substitute for the home, as an agency in the preparation for life. Junior Colleges In view of this situation the Junior Colleges have come into existence. They are institutions with a fundamental course of study covering the first two years of a four-years' college course, thus providing a fair practical college education for those who can not complete a full college course, and a proper THE CHURCH SCHOOL SYSTEM 1011 preparation for those who desire to go on in any of the pro- fessions. The Junior College classes are small in order to foster good teaching. The Junior Colleges are so located that the students attending them are in relatively easy touch with their homes. The Church has entered the Junior College field for various reasons: It gives an opportunity to aid the State in a division of educational activity where aid is sorely needed; it permits more nearly a Church-wide educational service, since each Church junior college commands a considerable area; it offers more persons the opportunity of some college training, since such training is available nearer home ; it offers more indi- vidual attention to students; it enables parents to guard better their children during the critical first years of college life; it makes it possible to give religious teaching and direction during the years when coming leaders are most frequently crystallizing their convictions regarding the fundamental issues of life. In addition, the curriculum of each Church Junior College is so planned as to train teachers; and the resources of the institutions may be used as needed by the auxiliary associations. The Church Junior Colleges thus become training centers not only for general college students, but for prospective teachers, and, in co-operation with the auxiliaries, for leadership in certain Church activities. Six junior colleges have been established by the Church: (1) Gila College, Thatcher, Arizona; (2) Dixie College, St. George, Utah; (3) Snow College, Ephraim, Utah; (4) Weber College, Ogden Utah; (5) Brigham Young College, Logan Utah; (6) Ricks College, Rexburg, Idaho. The Latter-day Saints University at Salt Lake City, Utah, is also offering some junior college work. Carefully matured courses in theology, have been prepared for these junior colleges ; excellent faculties are being employed ; the buildings are modern and ample, and the equipment suited to the needs of college students. The credits obtained at these colleges are of standard character and may be used at the Brigham Young University or at any of the other standard in- stitutions of the country. It is believed that the system of Church junior colleges will promote greatly the general policies of Church education, and the Church membership is invited to patronize them. The Brigham Young University This is a standard collegiate institution, offering the four years of college work and also some graduate work. The re- quirements for entrance and for graduation are those of the 1012 IMPROVEMENT ERA standard and approved colleges and universities of the United States. The Brigham Young University emphasizes teacher-train- ing; in fact, the Church Teachers' College is a part of the insti- tution. The university also emphasizes training for the activities in which the Church is most deeply concerned. All students are given instruction in theology; and are expected to participate in the religious activities of the institution. All the activities radiate from the central idea of the institution that it is a place in which to train forceful and devoted Latter- day Saints. The faculty and the training schools of the Brigham Young University may be used to test out the educational devices needed in many of the activities of the Church. The Brigham Young University is the academic head of the Church Schools System. The trained body of scholarship, assembled at the Brigham Young University, finds many uses in the manifold activities of the Church. Teacher-Training Classes It has already been said that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a great teaching institution. In the quorums of the Priesthood, and in the auxiliary associations, class work is carried on constantly. The many thousands of volunteer teachers required in the work are drawn from the rank and file of the Church membership. Naturally, only a small proportion are professionally trained for teaching. The teacher-training classes have been organized to help secure the best possible teaching, by making easily available, to this great corps of volunteer teachers, the principles and practices of good teaching. The course of study for the teacher-training classes covers three years; and is rotated in three year periods. There should be a teacher-training class in every ward of the Church. Whatever is worth teaching at all, should be taught well. Organization The Church School System is in charge of the General Church Board of Education, the president of which is President Heber J. Grant. The committee entrusted with the execution of the wishes of the Board is known as the Commission of Education. Each Church junior college has a Board of Trus- tees composed of Presidents of the stakes served by the school, and such other persons as may be appointed by the presidency of the Church. Each stake has a Stake Board of Education con- sisting of the Stake Presidency, and such other persons as they may appoint. The Stake Board of Education is responsible for the Religion Classes, Teacher Training Classes, and the seminary, if there be one, in the stake. The Ward Board of THE CHURCH SCHOOL SYSTEM 1013 Education, consisting of the ward bishopric, is responsible for the ward work in Religion and Teacher-Training classes. Need of Present Practices and Organization Such are the divisions and the organizations of the School System of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There may be those, who, recognizing the tremendous importance of spiritual education, would urge that the stake academies and other Church Schools should be continued as in the past, and that others should be added, until provision is made for the education of all Latter-day Saint children in Church Schools. The first great objection to such policy appeared in the state- ment by Prest. Heber J. Grant at the last April Conference, that $771,490 had been expended, during 1922, from the voluntary contributions of the people, for the maintenance and operation of Church schools. When entrance and laboratory fees, the cost of books and other necessary expenses of the school child are added, the total amount paid in 1922 by the members of this Church for Church School education was about one million dollars. This very large educational expenditure, a large pro- portion of the total revenue of the Church, was made by a numerically small people, which already is under a high rate of taxation for public education. Important as education is, even spiritual education, there are other important needs of the people of the Church. To increase the expenditures for educa- tion would simply mean the curtailment of other important Church activities. Instead, in justice to the many needs of the Church, the present cost of Church School education should be reduced. The duplicating of the state school system, even were it desirable, is impossible for financial reasons. If expansion of the Church School System along the line of complete courses of study is possible, the present organ- ization, or one like it, becomes a necessity. Favored classes are not known in this Church. The Church-supported high schools became local high schools, as the state-supported high schools increased. True, members at a distance had the right to send their children to the Church schools, but it is a well established educational principle that geography determines largely, as it should, the attendance at high schools and measureably at other educational institutions. To train only one-tenth of our young people in complete Church high schools, when several times that many might be given religious training under the seminary or some similar de\ise, in association with their studies in the state high schools, would not be in harmony with the Gospel spirit, which seeks to serve all. Our full duty is done only when the helping hand is available to all, especially in spiritual matters. The recent changes in the Church School Sys- 1014 IMPROVEMENT ERA tern may be explained by the earnest desire to employ the means of the Church for the benefit of the largest possible number. Moreover, it may be suggested, in passing, that it is very doubtful if, even were money available, it would be wise for any group of the Americans to separate themselves entirely from their fellow citizens in a complete private school system; when by a less un-American device, such as the one above described, fairly satisfactory instruction in any system of religion might be given our children. The present organization gives promise of reaching, with considerable economy, nearly all of our people, attending schools, who desire instruction according to the convictions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any changes in the future will be those that changing conditions may demand. It may be said also that while this Church has done pio- neer work in the field of religious education, other churches, the country over, are maintaining elaborate devices for the promotion of religious training of those of their members who attend school or college. As already stated, the equivalent of the Religion Classes is now spread over the whole of the United States, and officially recognized by many of the more important boards of education. Likewise, means of supplanting high school work with religious instruction, are being devised for large groups of students, and are receiving the support of state and private agencies. Methods by which the Bible may be taught the youth of America are sought by the vast majority of thinkers irrespective of creed or party. None of these organ- izations has more carefully planned its work so as to give no of- fense to its neighbors than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. A later article will summarize the present status of religious education in America. Effects of Church School Education The Church schools have been of very great help in bring- ing spiritual peace and understanding to tens of thousands of young people. A very large proportion of the Church leaders are products of the Church Schools and testify to the value of religious education. Statistics are now being secured for later publication showing the value of religious education to the young people of our day. Blessed is the youth or maiden whose spiritual development has kept pace with his intellectual and physical progress and whose mind has been opened to compre- hend the things of God. The money, time, and effort spent by the Church for the maintenance of schools has been a profit- able investment in that it has brought to thousands of Latter- day Saints a better and fuller understanding of the purposes of God with respect to mankind, and the joy that comes to all who give themselves to the requirements of the plan of salvation.