Diversify the rangers

San Francisco has the same problem that state parks developed when they focused job qualifications for rangers on security rather than on education, park management and recreation (“Few women among ranks of S.F. rangers,” May 22). Security personnel have a much different attitude about their primary function than do employees educated in park and environmental management.

San Francisco rangers do not have guns so they are not a park police force. And while we do need security in many of our parks (and probably need more rangers to provide it), we should modify the qualifications to match those of other cities that also focus on park-positive and public-friendly functions. It is no wonder that women do not apply for our park ranger positions; change the qualifications and we will correct a gender imbalance quickly and our parks and the public will benefit.

Isabel Wade, San Francisco