
~8-1.A.5. Newsletter, February 1968 
WHAT IS THE AUTHORITY FOR THE DIVISION OF CONSERVATION KDUCATION? 
The Division of Conservation Education, established by the State Legislature in 
1957, is an integral part of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 
It has an Advisory Board consisting of the Director of Agriculture, the Director of 
Conservation, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and two members appointed 
by the Governor. One of the appointed members is a representative of the colleges 
and universities and one member is from a Soil Conservation District within the 
State. Appointed members are Dr. Howard Roepke, Professor of Geography, University 
of Illinois, and Dorsey Kirk, Oblong, Illinois, 
The Division is charged with the responsibility "To establish schools and classes 
for the purpose of teaching the methods of conservation of wildlife, forests, 
timberlands, minerals, scenic and recreational areas, soil and water." It 
furthermore has the power to establish courses to be taught in the Conservation 
Education program, with the advice of the Advisory Board. 
In 1967 the Seventy-fifth General Assembly mde the teaching of conservation of 
natural resources "in every public school" mandatory, by passing the following 
Act: 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
represented in the General Assembly: 
Section 1, Section 27-13-l1. is added to "The School 
Code", approved March 18, 1961, as amended, the added 
as follows: 
Sec. 27-13.1 In every public school there shall be 
instruction, study and discussion of current problems 
and needs in the conservation of natural resources, 
including but not limited to air pollution, water 
pollution, the effects of excessive use of pesticides, 
preservation of wilderness areas, forest management, 
protection of wildlife, and humane care of domestic 
animals, 
Section 2, Section 27-13 of said Act is repealed, 
It is generally agreed that grades K-14 are included, and that the study of 
conservation of natural resources should be integrated in the existing subjects 
of the present curriculum, 
Natural resource study, both indoor and outdoor, is a "natural" for creating 
stimulation for learning and for developing proper attitudes, 
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF CONSERVATION? 
Conservation is the wise use and management of natural resources, If our economic 
and social structure is to be maintained it is important that our people be 
informed on this topic before it is too late. It has been said that civilizations 
rise and fall on the basis of the abundance or lack of abundance of natural resources. 
(Cont'd on page 9) 
