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The 1949-50 Comment on Recreation Curriculum
Prepared by Professor Allen V. Sapora
Curriculum
The professional training curriculum in recreation leadership in the School
of Physical Education, inaugurated in 1948, is designed to qualify men
for positions of leadership in the field of public and private recreation.
The degree of Bachelor of Science in Recreation is conferred on students
who successfully complete the four-year curriculum.
Students in the recreation curriculum are required to take special courses including
art, dramatics, social welfare, biology, music, dancing, etc. Significant
progress has been made during the year 1949-50 in arranging for specialized
courses in the schools and departments of the University in music, speech,
recreational crafts, and recreational nature lore which more adequately
fit the needs of students majoring in the field of recreation.
The curriculum committee of the School of Physical Education has made
progress in outlining a proposed four-year coordinated curriculum in recreation
including training for women as well as for men. Several courses in the
proposed curriculum for men and women are coeducational. The courses in
recreation now conducted on a coeducational basis have been found to be
very effective for teaching recreation theory and skills.
A recreation minor, consisting of 18 hours credit in selected courses, has
been proposed to meet the needs of students seeking a minor in this area
of work.
Recreation Field Work (PEM 222-223) has been expanded to include student
practice work with the Municipal Department of Recreation, Champaign,
the Urbana Park District, the Boy Scouts of America, Champaign High School
department of dramatics, and the Illini Union. In 1948-49, one student
completed field training; in 1949-50, twelve students completed the courses
offered in recreation field work. Arrangements have been completed for
twelve students majoring in recreation to take part in a non-credit apprentice
training program in playground and recreation departments throughout the
state during the summer of 1950.
Enrollment
In 1948-49, twelve students were taking the work in the recreation curriculum.
The first B.S. degree in Recreation was conferred in February 1950. The
present number taking the work in the recreation curriculum includes twenty-one
students in the major course and fourteen in the minor course. Also, a
considerable number of students from other schools and colleges on the
campus have registered in the various courses offered in recreation. One
student received his B.S. degree in recreation in June 1950; approximately
six students will complete the work in the recreation curriculum during
the year 1950-51.
Field Service
Constant contact with recreation personnel and persons concerned with public recreation
has been maintained and increased during 1949-50. The Illinois Recreation
Association held its annual conference at Allerton Park in October 1949
and the majority of recreation directors in the state were familiarized
with the University training program in recreation. A. V. Sapora has served
on the Board of Control, Illinois Recreation Association, and has encouraged
needed research to be undertaken. As a member of the Planning Committee,
Midwest Recreation Executives Conference in April 1950. Mr. Sapora represented
the University and the training program was outlined to the delegates.
Communities throughout the state were advised, upon request, concerning
their local community recreation problems. Those towns included Fairfield,
West Frankfort, Paxton, St. Charles, East St. Louis, Watseka, Joliet,
Danville, and several other communities. State consultant service in recreation
for local communities is needed urgently. The recreation staff, however,
has been able to offer only a minimum amount of this needed service with
the limited time and budget available at the present time. A. V. Sapora,
Editor of the Illinois Recreation Association Bulletin, a monthly publication,
has been able to offer only a minimum amount of this much needed service
with the limited time and budget available at the present time. A. V.
Sapora, Editor of the Illinois Recreation Association Bulletin, a monthly
publication, has been able to gather pertinent information regarding conditions
throughout the state and aid the Illinois Recreation Association in conducting
research projects in the field.
Plans for 1950-51
There is every indication that there will be a considerable increase in the
number of men and women students who will enroll in the training curriculum
in recreation. Additional recreation staff personnel will be obtained
by the School of Physical Education for 1950-51 to (a) meet an increasing
need for a local consultant service in communities throughout the state
in regard to public recreation and park development and (b) provide additional
staff personnel to conduct recreation training on the undergraduate level
and consider the possibilities for the development of a graduate training
curriculum in recreation.
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