This article is directed to the large majority of the professionals in the parks and recreation field, and those who read this magazine but have long since left college life behind.

Their efficiency and devotion can easily be seen with one glance at the ever increasing ranks now enrolled in the colleges and universities across the nation.

Because of these increased numbers, the difficulties of keeping up with the growth rate at the university level, and the constant daily problems in the field, only a few professionals have diverted their attention to solving current problems on campus. In the past, the emphasis has been on recruitment. But recruiting students into the field of parks and recreation is one thing and retaining them is quite another.

As this writer sees it, there are six major problems facing the student in parks and recreation today. Each of you should take time out to consider them.

1. There is a dire shortage of good up-to-date textbooks available to the students. Since a student's initial exposure to the field of parks and recreation, in fact, his entire foundation of academic knowledge is based on classroom experiences, the professionals should make every effort to produce meaningful texts relating to recreation today. In short, the continuance of up-grading study materials is a demand which must be met, not in 1980 or 1985, but just as soon as possible.

2. Although financial aid is said to be readily available in a number of various forms, in many cases it is slow in coming, difficult in obtaining and insufficient in amounts.

3. While directors and superintendents stress importance of experience when hiring, the efforts to initiate a well organized program of summer employment for students across the state has been weak thus far.

4. Up until now it has taken a mighty amount of blood, sweat and tears to acquire an internship after graduation. Additional opportunities for internships are needed, and needed fast, if we are to produce quality professionals in keeping with the current growth rate of students.

5. Almost running a parallel to the vacancy of up-to-date texts, is the immediate need for general recreation professionals to specialize, return to the campus, and enlarge the undergraduate and graduate curriculums with their area of specialization.

6. Last, and perhaps the most important problem yet discussed, is the feeling of distance between those engaged in the study of recreation and those who are already employed in it. This gap continues to keep effective communications at a minimum while each plods on "doing his thing". The student needs and wants to learn of the professional's experiences. Furthermore, he stands ready to engage himself in an attempt to solve the current problems in the field. The students need to close the distance through frank and honest communication on one hand, and a sincere effort to include each other in our daily lives on the other.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 25 March/April, 1971