What Are Effective Counseling Services for Stu Dents in the Senior High School?

Abstract

friendship tie with one of the staff members of the school so that he may feel free to go to a staff member if a personal problem confronts him. 5. The staff, member should assist actively in the total program of guidance services for the school. All staff members should believe in the guidance philosophy of service to students, carry on possible guidance activities in the classroom, and serve willingly on the guidance committees of the school.The opportunities for having a functional program of guidance and counseling services are, perhaps, more pronounced in the small high school than in the large. If there is 100 per cent participation in the program by staff and students, a good program is sure to result. Summary of the presentation made by ANDY TOLSONAndy Tolson is Principal of the Tucson High School in Tucson, Arizona. WE HAVE presumed to accept the fact that there are some effective counseling services as indicated in the title of our program of the hour. We are cognizant of the fact that all over the country provisions are being made for new or additional provisions for counseling and guidance programs in our schools. Many variations of systems are being incorporated. There is some question of strength in the group guidance vs. individual counseling. I will not venture an answer, but will review for you what I know is a sound procedure in counseling service.Tucson High School is a four-year school that has had an average gross enrollment for the past two years of 5,400. For three years prior, the average gross enrollment was 3,100 while we were still a senior high school.Our community is perhaps no different than most places, but here are some of the pecularities: fast growing, winter health and recreation resort, new white-collar industries, transient labor (cotton pickers, harvest followers), twenty-five per cent Spanish-American population, University of Arizona, railroad center, nearby mining developments, and cattle ranching. at INDIANA UNIV on March 17, 2015 bul.sagepub.com Downloaded from 145These all create problems. For example, 60 per cent of the graduates go to college; 20 to 25 per cent of the students come from Spanish speaking homes; transients cause as many as 400 to 500 dropouts each year; winter tourists come to stay only short periods of time, so these students must be given more attention than regular students; some students transport themselves from cattle ranches, farms, and mining settlements up to distances of 50 miles one way. To meet these many differences, our system of counseling and guidance was organized. The objectives of our city wide program are as follows:1. To personalize the educational process, giving individual attention to each child in accordance with his needs.2. To assist the individual in making wise choices in life's situations, in such a way as to insure continued growth in ability for self-direction.In order to meet these objectives we feel that a closer contact is necessary, so individual counseling is carried on in our school. Sixteen appointed counselor...