Status of Guidance and Counseling in the Elementary School

Abstract

This study investigated some aspects of elementary school guidance and counseling in the 50 states and the 4 American territories. Specifically, such matters as the number of counselors employed, their professional background, certification, and state standards were examined. Results of this study were as follows: 3,837 counselors are now working in elementary schools in 48 states; the majority of these counselors are former elementary school teachers. Over 70 per cent are supported in part by federal funds. To date, 14 states have developed certification requirements for elementary counselors that are discernibly different from secondary certification. For the most part, state standards for elementary school guidance lack specificity; in some cases such standards are non‐existent

Counselors in the elementary school: 1970–71

“…and federal monies were widely used. For example, 78 percent of all elementary school counselors employed during the 1966-67 school year were supported in part by federal funds (Van Hoose & Vafakas, 1968).…”

Status of guidance in the elementary school: 1968–69

“…A 1967 STUDY on the status of guidance and counseling in elementary schools revealed that there were 3,837 counselors working in elementary schools in 48 states (Van Hoose 8c Vafakas, 1968). This report was based on data from the 1966-67 school year, collected from a questionnaire sent out by state departments of education.…”

Elementary School Employment Service

“…It should be stressed that students were having the experience of competing for jobs, of having real-life experience in the procedure of "getting a job." As Van Hoose and Leonard [7] have stated:…”