Preparation Programs In Elementary School Guidance—a Status Study

Abstract

The study attempts to determine the nature and scope of preparation programs for elementary school guidance workers: (a) the content and scope of the preparation programs; (b) the personal and professional characteristics of the counselor educators in these programs; (c) the personal and professional characteristics of the counselor enrollees in these programs. A preliminary questionnaire was mailed to 575 institutions which offered a master's and/or doctor's degree. Of these 575, 45 offered at least a master's degree in elementary school guidance. An institutional data blank, counselor educator and counselor enrollee data blanks were mailed to the chief counselor educator in each of the 45 institutions. 36 institutions participated fully in the study. Conclusions are that: (a) Although many institutions were offering preparation in the field of elementary school guidance, relatively few were offering preparation at this level that was significantly different from the preparation in guidance at the secondary school level. (b) The developmental aspects of guidance were stressed in the preparation at this level. (c) Emphasis was placed on the child development, child study and appraisal, and elementary education areas for preparation in elementary school guidance. (d) Preparation programs in elementary school guidance, at the time of the study, were relatively few.