CHAPTER XX 

 THE TRAINING OF PARK EXECUTIVES 



In the Chapter on "General Executive Organization of a Park Depart- 

 ment" some factors in the training of a modern park executive were briefly 

 discussed (pages 536-538). Obviously the character of the functional 

 services provided by modern park departments will determine to a marked 

 degree the content of the knowledge required of park executives. The 

 knowledge requirements will, in turn, largely determine the courses of 

 training that an individual intending to make a profession of park executive 

 work should pursue. Before attempting to present tentatively a course in 

 training it is important to examine what park executives and others who 

 have given serious thought to this subject for the past several years have 

 suggested. 



REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE TRAINING OF PARK EXECUTIVES, 

 AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PARK EXECUTIVES 



The first report of this committee was made to the American Institute 

 of Park Executives on August 23, 1923. Omitting the introductory para- 

 graph the report reads as follows: "The committee has sought and obtained 

 the views of a considerable number of representative men of different 

 training engaged in park work, and now begs to submit a general outline 

 course it deems advisable should be established for the adequate training 

 of young men who propose to make the development and care of the park 

 systems of the North American continent their life work. 



In the first place it is well to consider whence and by what routes 

 have come the men now controlling, as executives, the park systems of 

 this continent. The majority have entered into this work from its two 

 major branches, horticulture and engineering, having obtained their train- 

 ing in such either on this continent or in Europe, or partly in each, and 

 their individual development in the work has been concurrent with the 

 development of the park systems of America; in other words, they have 

 developed with the systems. Little cause for quarrel will be found with 

 the statement that many excellent executives have been developed by this 

 means -- the park systems themselves are proof of this but with the 

 multifarious and varied duties undertaken by the governing bodies of 

 present-day park systems in catering to the public demands, it is deemed 

 desirable that a regular and recognized course of instruction should be laid 



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