Research and Education
in the National Parks

National Park Service Research and Education in the National Parks

PART II
HISTORY OF EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENT

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE EDUCATIONAL
ADVISORY BOARD JOINS IN PROGRAM

The committee's recommendations were favorably received and on March 29, 1929, the Secretary of the Interior invited several eminent scientists and educators to serve as members of a National Park Service Educational Advisory Board. The group included those already serving on the educational committee, with the exception of Dr. Harold C. Bryant, and in addition Drs. Clark Wissler, Wallace W. Atwood, and Isaiah Bowman. At the same time the committee on study of educational problems in national parks was enlarged by the appointments of Dr. Atwood and Dr. Wissler.

FIGURE 39.—Devils Tower National Monument, Wyo. A striking view of the huge columns of lava which rise 600 feet into the air to form one of the well-known landmarks of early exploring days. This great monolith records an interesting scientific story.

During the summers of 1929 and 1930 members of the educational committee and advisory board conducted field investigations in the parks and monuments. As an indication of the work accomplished attention is called to the fact that one member of the committee visited 13 of the 22 national parks and 11 of the 36 national monuments. Another member visited 11 of the parks and 3 of the monuments. The chairman visited 9 of the parks and other members a lesser number. Individual reports of these studies have been prepared and put into permanent form by means of gathered proof sheets. These have proved of great assistance to the Park Service in the development of the educational program.

A final report of the committee was submitted to the Secretary of the Interior on November 27, 1929, detailing points discussed at the committee meetings and pointing out responsibilities and opportunities for education and research in the fields of history, earth sciences, and life sciences. The following topics were reviewed:

1. The term "education" with possibility of redefining educational functions with special reference to use and enjoyment of national parks.

2. Limitation of educational functions in accordance with the principle that the Federal Government should handle only such educational matters as may not be cared for adequately by other means.

3. Division of functions into recreational, intellectual, and spiritual. Recognition of recreational use as a naturally correlated function, and expressed both in physical exorcise and in mental or spiritual relaxation.

4. Special responsibilities and opportunities for education and research in the field of history.

5. Peculiar responsibilities for education and research in the field of earth sciences.

FIGURE 40.—A nature-guide party in the Temple of Sinawava, Zion National Park. The park naturalist is explaining the origin of the giant red-walled canyon and pointing out certain interesting features of the vegetation peculiar to the region.

6. Special opportunities for education and research in the field of life sciences.

7. Exceptional opportunities for education and research in the field of appreciation of nature.

8. Consideration of recommendations which may strengthen the development of education through research in the specific aspects of education mentioned above.

9. Consideration of specific problems of individual national parks with reference to recommendations which may be made for betterment of conditions or initiation of new work.

In addition to the individual and committee reports mentioned above there are certain specific recommendations made by the advisory board.

The following relating to personnel and organization of the proposed educational unit are especially significant:

1. * * * that the position of educational director of the National Park Service should he filled by a man of the best scientific and educational qualifications.

2. * * * that headquarters of the educational division should be a part of the central organization of the National Park Service in Washington.

3. * * * that two assistants be appointed and that the two assistants together with the head should represent the subjects of geology, biology, anthropology, and history.

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Last Modified: Sat, Feb 16 2002 10:00:00 pm PDT
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