Research has suggested that the identity of the school counsellor
is inevitably determined by what they do or are perceived to do,
rather than by what they would like to do or ought to do.
Thus the perception held by students, counsellors and teachers are
of paramount importance in attempting to define the role and function
of the counsellors.
This study attempts, by a descriptive approach to determine what
their perceptions are, and in addition to determine what effect,
if any, the administration of a school can have on the perception
held by the counsellor of that school.
A questionnaire was distributed to a randomly selected sample
(N-223) of students from a secondary school within the ACT, whose
total population was 750. The results were shown in their-raw
score form, percentage form and in years and sex.
The same method was used to ascertain the perceptions held by
stuff and administration of this school, and results were shown
in raw score and percentage form. Similarly counsellors' perception
of their role and function were obtained, although counsellors
themselves were able to comment upon the design of the questionnaire
before the final format was given to them.
The results tend to show that counsellors within the ACT system
were similar to those in the USA, in that their identity was
determined by what they were perceived to do.
The second part of the study used a causal - comparative approach
to determine the effect of school administration on counsellors.
The results of this showed that this body can potentially exert an
extremely powerful influence upon the role and function of
counsellors.
The implications of the study for the ACT system are great. If
the counsellors are to be used to their maximum, greater support
must be given to them, and teachers at all levels should undergo
some training to aid them in understanding and thus utilizing the
counsellors to their fullest potential.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219196 |
| Date | January 1979 |
| Creators | McGlynn, Margaret Jean, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Teacher Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Margaret Jean McGlynn |
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