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The 1950-51 Annual Report on the 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
and women 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.
A four-year coordinated curriculum in recreation training for both men and
women, outlined by the Curriculum Committee of the School of Physical
Education, was approved and put into operation. Heretofore, only men have
been eligible for the B.S. degree in recreation. All coursed except the
sports courses in the recreation curriculum are conducted on a coeducational
basis.
Certain courses, totalling twenty-six hours, previously designated as
physical education, are now designated as recreation courses. These coursed
are especially designed to give specific emphasis to the needs of recreation
students. The change in designation also gives a more accurate picture
of the recreation student's actual course work in the field.
Certain special courses in the Fine and Applied Arts, including courses in arts
and crafts, dramatics and music, have been further adapted especially
for recreation students by the respective schools and departments offering
them. Special programs in the development of the recreational music course,
to be offered for the first time during the fall semester, 1951-52, was
made during this year. Some progress has been made toward establishing
a course in nature study, especially designed for recreation students.
A recreation minor, consisting of 18 hours credit in selected courses, has
been proposed. It has been found to be requested particularly by students
majoring in physical education, social welfare work, and sociology.
Recreation Field work (Rec. 278-279) has been expanded considerably during this year.
Special field work projects were arranged in the various religious foundations
on the campus for the first time. Also, one student took field training
in Cunningham Home, Urbana, for the first time. These agencies were utilized
in addition to those previously used in recreation field training, namely,
the Urbana Park District, Champaign Recreation Department, the Illini
Union and a few selected semi-public recreation agencies in Champaign-Urbana.
During 1950-51, fourteen students completed field work courses in recreation.
Sixteen undergraduate recreation students are now taking part in summer
non-credit training work in selected Illinois community recreation departments
throughout the state.
Enrollment
During 1950-51, thirty students were enrolled as majors in the curriculum
in recreation; this represents an increase of nine students over last
year. Eighteen students took work toward the minor in recreation, four
students completing a minor this year. Two students received the B.S.
degree in recreation during the year 1949-50. During 1950-51, seven students
received the B.S. degree in recreation. Nine freshmen began and completed
the first year of the work in the recreation curriculum during 1950-51.
It is estimated that twelve students will complete their work in the four
year recreation curriculum during the year 1951-52.
Field Service
The department of Physical Education for Men sponsored the Illinois Recreation
Association Annual Meeting at Allerton Park in October, 1950. A. V. Sapora
served on the Board of Control of the Association, has been editor of
the Association's monthly news bulletin, and chairman of its Educational
and Research Committee. The above staff member also represented the University
at the Midwest Recreation Association Conference in Toledo, Ohio, April
11-14. Several Illinois communities were advised, upon request, concerning
their local community recreation problems. Those towns included Lincoln,
Oglesby, and Batavia, which conducted successful referendum for instituting
tax-supported public recreation programs this year; consultation service
was also rendered at Clayton, Aurora, St. Charles, Monticello, Waukegan,
Peoria and several other communities. It is expected that the full-time
staff member being added to the School of Physical Education staff in
1951-52 for recreation duties will help immeasurably in supplying the
much needed consultant service to deal with recreation problems in communities
throughout the state.
Music Institute
A special recreation music institute, sponsored by the School of Music and
the School of Physical Education, was held May 11-12, 1951. This institute,
attended by thirty recreation music specialists and students from various
parts of the state and from the Illinois campus, was unique. It set the
pattern for the recreation music course to be offered for recreation majors
in the School of Music the first and second semesters during the year
1951-52. The University of Illinois is one of the first schools in the
country to initiate this type of special music course for recreation trainees.
Plans for 1951-52
There is every indication there will be an increase in the number of recreation
students in the recreation curriculum for men and women. With an outstanding
staff member being added to the recreation staff in the School of Physical
Education, considerably greater attention can be given to (a) field consultant
work in recreation, which is needed badly; (b) further development of
recreation courses on the undergraduate level; (c) development of a graduate
curriculum in recreation; (d) consideration and further study of the development
of the various types of recreation programs in park districts and communities
throughout the state; and (e) the re-examination of the entire structure
and implication of state enabling legislation for recreation in Illinois.
The following pages include a sample of the original curriculum as it evolved
1948-50 and two samples of later curricula (1957-58 and 1966-67) that
followed as the number of students increased and the extent of the curriculum
developed.
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