A Survey Of Counselling Services In British Columbia Secondary Schools PDF Download

Purpose of the Study The purpose of this thesis is to survey the current practices in guidance services in the public secondary schools of British Columbia and on the basis of the survey findings, together with a review of the literature of guidance, to present recommendations for a feasible program of guidance services. More specifically, the objectives are: 1. To determine the practices that are currently being utilized in guidance services in the public secondary schools of British Columbia. 2. To examine and compare the guidance services presently being offered in the secondary schools, according to enrollment, with an established standard. 3. To offer recommendations which will afford a feasible program and pattern of development for guidance services in the public secondary schools of British Columbia. Procedures The study involved the public secondary schools in British Columbia containing grades eight through twelve. During the 1966- 67 school year there were sixty-three secondary schools in British Columbia. Each secondary school principal was mailed a questionnaire, developed by the writer, and designed to survey the following areas: I Organization and Administration II Individual Inventory Service III Information Service IV Counseling Service V Placement Service VI Follow-up and Evaluation Service Each of the sixty-three principals responded for a one hundred percent return of the survey instrument. In order to determine the differences in the current practices in guidance services between secondary schools in British Columbia, the data are presented in tabular form and the number of schools in each category responding to an item is expressed in percentage. The categories, defined by enrollment, include small (under 400 students), medium-size (between 400 and 800 students), and large (over 800 students) secondary schools. The questionnaire analysis noted those practices in which a majority of the secondary schools claim to follow and where a relationship was evident between school size and the frequency of the practice. Conclusions The following conclusions were drawn from the data analyzed in this investigation: 1. The variation in guidance services between schools is considerable and is largely the result of a disregard for the necessary administrative aspects. 2. The differences in guidance programs as indicated by school size are due to the availability of fewer guidance trained personnel in the smaller schools. 3. The Department of Education's role in promoting more comprehensive guidance services in the secondary schools of the Province could be enhanced by providing more assistance and direction to schools and school districts. Recommendations On the basis of the findings and conclusions of this study, it is recommended: 1. That the administrative aspects of the guidance services in each secondary school be assigned to one faculty member with training in guidance and counseling. 2. That each secondary school appoint a guidance committee which could then establish goals and objectives for the guidance services and provide definitions of roles for the guidance personnel. 3. That provision be made for regular in- service training of teaching faculty regarding their role in the school's over-all guidance services program. 4. That incentives be offered in order to attract qualified guidance personnel to schools and school districts which are presently unable to attract such personnel. 5. That the British Columbia Department of Education urge all counselors in all secondary schools to possess the minimum academic requirements for counselors as defined by the Department. 6. That the Department of Education assume a leadership role in providing directives and assistance to all schools in the development of their guidance services.