(Lawrence, Kansas
April 6, 1940)

 

 

THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND LIFE NEEDS

V. K. Brown

eee emer

 

When Dean Schwegler invited me to come here today, and Chairman O'Brien sent
me the theme of the meeting, I wen first pleased _ the ocimpliment, then appalled
by the responsibility. If fifty were to be in attendance, some twenty-five col-
lective hours of yon eliitietenoe time would be involved, time you couldn't afford
to weaiie That caused me adaileinps ; I am not a professional educator, even
though my work seeks to influence life. And it is presumptious to speak too con-
fidently of 1590 ‘atin: Who knows all the needs of life? Who can say which are
most important among those needs which he te sure he does identify?

My only reassurance was this. For over thirty years I have seen intimately,
life forces in action, on great American city. My department of the Chicago
Park District is, I think, the best equipped recreation department in existence.
We offer a wide variety of services to a participant attendance of over fifty
million per year, not to mention uncounted casual strollers in our more than 130
parks. We operate in close to one hundred buildings, some of which or a half
million dollars. ie invite people to consider those structures as centers for
their community, social, and recreational life. Broadly speaking, the people of
our city come to these parks to escape the monotony of workea~-day existence.
Their coming testifies to their wishes. Apparently, they desire thrill and adven-
ture, They wish to introduce ‘challenge into life's humdrum. They seek novel
experiences. They want kindred spirited companionship. They crave social status.
and recognition. They pursue sustained and sustaining interests, to lend life
meaning and enthusiasm. They desire the sense of mastery, the joy of richer and

more fruitful living, the staisfactions of creative accomplishment . They want

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