FORESTRY QUARTERLY 



Vol. X] September, 1912. [No. 3. 



STANDARDIZATION OF INSTRUCTION IN FORESTRY. 



Report of the Committee of the Conference of Forest 



Schools.* 



The first and most essential condition which determines the 

 progress of any enterprise is the efficiency and the skill of the 

 personnel behind it. This truth applies with particular force to 

 the progress of forestry in this country. Its development and 

 its service to the nation as a whole rests upon the knowledge and 

 training which the American foresters are able to bring to their 

 work. The leaders of forestry in this country have realized for 

 a long time the important part which forest schools must play in 

 the development of forestry. Within the last decade, the number 

 of forest schools in the United States has increased with remark- 

 able rapidity. To-day there are 24 institutions which give courses 

 leading to a degree in forestry, and about 40 others which include 

 forestry in their curriculum. Over 500 young men are preparing 

 themselves in these schools for forestry as a profession. Within 

 the last few years, it has been felt more and more that with the 

 large number of forest schools, there is a danger of lowering 

 standards and that it is desirable to attempt a standardization of 

 forestry education. The first step towards such standardization 

 was brought about in December, 1909, on the initiative of Gifford 

 Pinchot, who called a conference of forest schools to consider 

 the aim, scope, grade, and length of curriculum. At this con- 

 ference a committee was appointed to draw up a plan for the 

 standardization of the requirements for technical training in 



g^. forestry. There were appointed on this committee Henry S. 



V— ■ 



^ This report has been formulated by Mr. Graves, revised by Mr. Fernow 

 and read by Mr. Fisher. Owing to their absence in Europe, the final report 

 ^^ has not had the formal approval of Professors Tourney and Roth, and for 

 Cn? other reasons, of Mr. Pinchot. 



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