A School Guidance Program

By SAMUEL B. BATARA
INTRODUCTION
This paper has not been researched out of books or from any other library resources. It rather simply summarizes spur-of-the moment
random thoughts of the writer on how a College/School Guidance rogram should be. !inor "ariations may be effected to make it fit a
secondary le"el setting.
The pro#ection this paper contains has not merely been dreams waiting to be li"ed out. It is a product of hasty recollections through
the writer$s e%periences& first& as a student for si% years in a residential college& and then subse'uently working abroad as a full-time
Chaplain and (ecturer in a residential Teachers College for si% years& then as part-time Chaplain/Social )orker simultaneously in a number
of educational& medical& and rehabilitation institutions for three years& and finally as an Integral *uman +e"elopment Trainer for three years.
The program detailed here embodies the firm belief of the writer that any educational program should always be student-orientated&
always aiming at the total and continuing de"elopment of both trainees and trainers. , sound and workable Guidance rogram ser"es as
the steering catalyst to ensure that education achie"es that ultimate goal. -ecause Guidance primarily deals with people and relationships&
it should ne"er be an e%clusi"e enterprise but a calling and mission of duty charged to e"ery educator and any other personnel ser"ing with
the school& always bearing in mind one$s own cooperati"e participatory accountability.
The General Objectives o a School!College Guidance Program can& therefore& be e%pressed& e"en repetiti"ely for emphasis& as
follows.
/. To initiate& e%periment on& implement& e"aluate and impro"e acti"ities& ser"ices& and facilities that pro"ide a fertile training ground
conduci"e to optimum learning and human de"elopment.
0. To enable trainees and trainers to grow together& assist& support and nurture each other in their mutual search for knowledge& common
pursuit for a better future& and li"ing 1not #ust dreaming2 meaningful li"es.
3. To coordinate& integrate and facilitate student ser"ices that enhance a li"ely& acti"e& responsible& disciplined and producti"e student
affairs4 and&
5. To rally& en#oin and in"ol"e the different College personnel to ser"e together sacrificially in the spirit of lo"e& care& concern& sharing&
understanding and shalom for the benefit& first and foremost& of the students.
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/. 9ecruitment
,pplication
rocessing
To gi"e prospecti"e students a pre"iew and
make them aware ahead of time& of the
opportunities& pri"ileges& duties&
responsibilities& and discipline they encounter
if they choose to #oin the school community
To gi"e prospecti"e students ample time to
study and decide whether or not college life is
for them& and to commit themsel"es to
respond more sincerely to school
e%pectations
=anuary to
!arch
9ecruitment
Committee4 ;aculty4
9egistrar$s <ffice4
Guidance <ffice4
Student ,ffairs
<ffice4 *ost schools
and their staff and
facilities
- series of promotional "isits to feeder schools& doing
a. talk on the affairs presently en#oyed by students& as well as
opportunities& e%pectations& responsibilities and discipline
e%pected of members of their future school4
b. distribution of promotional materials& and e"en showing
audio "isual programs honestly illustrating different areas of
college life4
c. open forum& 'uestion-answer type& on oral and "isual
presentation abo"e& and on the general set-up of the school4
d. further e%clusi"e meetings with students showing e%tra
interests and contemplating enrolment4
e. distribution and e%planation of application forms
0. Testing Ser"ice
18ntrance 8%am2
in addition to
78,T/7S,T
Career Guidance
To e%amine student$s abilities and inclination&
and to gi"e them direction towards a career
more fitting to each one.
!arch to
!ay
Guidance <ffice4
;aculty4 9egistrar$s
<ffice4 *ost
Schools& their staff
and facilities
- ooling together student applicants at a central place where
inter"iews and necessary testing 1supplementary to
78,T/7S,T2 such as psychological& general academic&
aptitude& personality tests& etc. at the le"el of the
college/school standards may be done4
- 8"aluation of tests and inter"iews4
- 7otification of applicants4 in"iting those accepted to a set
orientation program.
3. 8nrolment
<rientation
To introduce students to the college/school
community and its life& to ac'uaint them with
a"ailable personnel and ser"ices& and to
create and implant in them a sense of
belonging4
To pa"e a smoother way for students$ entry
into college/high school life& and to make
them feel at home all along right from the
start.
!ay to =une ,ll faculty
,ll au%iliary staff
Guest speakers
School connected
personnel
- , program of orientation acti"ities duly prepared by an
orientation committee& including
a. guided tour of plant& facilities& such as the library& chapel&
gymnasium& clinics& offices& canteens& etc.
b. e%cursions to outlying places and institutions related to the
uni"ersity and its communal life& and e"en places where to
buy educational supplies4
c. talk by different staff& student leaders& and guests on
specific areas of life and ser"ices offered in the school&
followed by open forums4
d. presentation and discussion of rules& regulations& and
practices adopted by the school4
e. enrolment assistance& to make entry easier& an otherwise
grueling portion of student life4
f. !edical and physical check of enrollees4 for reference to
physical to physical e%ertions in sports& etc.
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5. Consultation
Information
;orum
To keep the community updated and well-
informed& to consult each other on any minor
and ma#or issues facing the college and
students4
To solicit the side and "oice of students on
school decisions& to make each one feel
accountable and important part of the school
community
,ll year
round&
timetabled
and when
chances
come& e.g.
assemblies
Student leaders4
Student ,ffairs
<ffice4
,dministration and
all concerned
personnel and
ser"ices
- Getting the studentry informed of latest de"elopments and
needs& schoolwise and e"en worldwide4
- 9un forums& group/class discussions on issues/ problems
arising4 students$ concerns then be forwarded to people or
offices concerned4
- <rganize consultati"e meetings between and among faculty&
staff& students& administration at a one on one& class&
department& and student body le"el4
- 6pdate ade'uate information materials& bulletins& post
boards& posters& etc.4
- Suggestion bo%es and their up-to-date in"entories4
- Community / home "isitations to where students li"e4
- Consultati"e meetings between students and school
personnel.
>. Counseling
Spiritual
!edical
To enable students and school personnel to
help themsel"es 1face& not fight2 difficulties
encountered& to ad#ust to unpredictable
pressures& to maintain and safeguard sound
mind& body and spirit in order to pursue
undisrupted but producti"e schooling4 and to
promote supporti"e relationships.
,ll year
round& an
open door
ser"ice
Guidance <ffice
and Counselors4
Chaplains and
nearby pastors4
Church offices4
!edical and
rehabilitation
officers and
centers
- Counseling office manned by full-time counselors& open
anytime for counseling sessions4
- Chaplains may be scheduled for counseling ser"ices and
spiritual directions4
- astors ministers of churches to which students belong are
scheduled counseling contacts with students wishing to
consult them4
- 9eferrals to medical authorities& psychological& or psychiatric
ser"ices4 or rehabilitation centers4
?. ,d"isory
+eanery
;amily *ours
To assign ad"isors gi"en certain student
groupings or sections to o"ersee where
closer contacts and group consultations can
happen in order to create the spirit of a close
knit family.
Students
ha"e access
to ad"isors
anytime4
;amily
meetings
may be led
once or
twice a
month
;aculty4
+epartments4
,dministration4
Student leaders4
Student ,ffairs
<ffice
- eriodic time allotted to contacts between department / class
ad"isors and ad"isees assigned& to discuss and resol"e
academic& domestic and e"en personal concerns& to share
communal or specific directional guidance4
- +eans and heads/chiefs of different departments& facilities&
offices& clinics and other ser"ices meet with such group of
students to talk about related specific concerns4
- ;amily& interest clubs& departmental club forums
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@. Student Ser"ices
(eadership
+e"elopment
To encourage students to e%ercise a more
e"en and efficient ser"ice for the good of all&
to channel students$ $aspirations and needs
for proper dealing4 to gi"e enough room for
the practice of leadership& and to promote
students$ responsibility in running their own
affairs
,ll year
round
Student leaders4
Student ,ffairs
<ffice
- Student leaders man their own office that maintain open
contacts and consultation with the Student ,ffairs <ffice& or
the former be made part of the latter4
- Complaints desk recei"e complaints and concerns of
students to be channeled to proper authorities& offices& or
facilities that cater to spiritual& recreational& health
educational needs of students4
- 8%ercise of an efficient and really ser"ing student
go"ernment4
- (eadership training institutes4
A. Social
<utreach
To encourage students to de"elop socially
and more responsibly as they realize their
duty and reach out in concern to each other
and to their people and community
,ll year
round
Student leaders4
Student ,ffairs
<ffice4
+epartments
- <rganize socialization programs where both faculty/staff and
students socialize& recreate& and ac'uaint each other& e.g.
ballroom dancing& fellowship hour& college/school /
department/class dinners& e%cursions& picnics& etc.
- Inter-school/inter-institutional affairs where students and
personnel of different schools meet and socialize4
- Student / ersonnel e%changes4
- 9ally both staff and students into community ser"ices and
social action
B. Student 8"aluation
Incenti"e
9ecognition
To issue incenti"es& reinforcements and due
recognition to students in their efforts to
create and support a disciplined community4
to de"elop maturity and accountability4
,ccumulatio
n of positi"e
and
negati"e
reports all
year round4
8"aluation
meetings at
end of
semester
;aculty&
student leaders to
police4
departments&
Guidance <ffice/
9egistrar$s <ffice
to implement4 eer
counselors to be
chosen from
sections
- Teachers& ad"isors& chaplains/pastors directly o"erseeing
students& talk about the strength and weaknesses&
beha"ioral bearings& and academic standing of indi"idual
students& fill up e"aluation forms for record and reference
purposes4
- Teachers& other school staff& and peer counselors issue
positi"e or negati"e reports whene"er a particular student
beha"es or misbeha"es according to school rules and
regulations4
- )arning/probationary system takes care of e%tra negati"e
reports& while citation/recognition awarded to reinforce e%tra
positi"e reports
/C. 9emedial
,ssistance
!ake-up
To pro"ide students with e%tra special time
and incenti"es to de"elop skills& talents&
towards a more acti"e and producti"e
academic and community output
,ll year
round
;aculty4
8%tension <fficers
- 8%tra ad"isory meetings with group of student& ser"ing to
guide students make-up for re'uirements undone4 do
electi"e programs on areas where students lack or show
interests4 e%planation/practicum in areas / matters
considerably difficult to students
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//. racticum
Interaction
;eedback
To research on and continually de"elop more
appropriate offerings and ser"ices to students
as tested in the fields of actual ser"ice
,ll year
round
;aculty4
,dministration4
8%tension <fficers
,nd centers4
,lumni4
<ther institutions
- Students doing guided practicum and getting participating
staff in different fields and institutions gi"e feedback on how
educational offerings be impro"ed4
- 8%tension staff& personnel with whom practicum students
work are encouraged to e"aluate appropriateness of
training4
- Solicit alumni feedback towards impro"ing program and
ser"ices basing on their own e%periences and knowledge
tested in the field4
- Inter-institutional "isits and e%changes
/0. Career Guidance
8mployment
osting/;ielding
,ssistance
To assure students and graduates of the
school$s interest and support in their chosen
career4 not #ust concerned of the means but
more of the results.
Graduation
year
Guidance <ffice4
,lumni4
ublic Ser"ice4
ri"ate sector4
Student ,ffairs
<ffice
- 8ncouraging colleges& industries& prospecti"e employers
nationwide and worldwide to communicate the kind of
personnel and 'ualifications needed
- ooling together of information on employment trends and
positions a"ailable to prospecti"e graduates
- In"iting successful alumni to speak to students on their
careers
- Getting +epartment of labor to speak on Special rogram of
8mployment for Students
- Connecting to the Internet browsing through =obnet and
9ecruitment networks
- ,ssisting students to apply for positions e"e before they
graduate& issuing college confirmation of academic / e%tra-
curricular records and personal 'ualities4
/3. ;ollow-up
9emote control
To reach out to graduates and former faculty
members in order to learn more appropriately
from them and to impro"e offerings and
ser"ices according to feedback gi"en
,ll year
round4
,t e"ery
opportunity
Guidance <ffice
9egistrar$s <ffice
Student ,ffairs
<ffice
- 6pdating record of an alumni directory4
- Contacts with graduates through continuous informati"e
communication between alma mater and alumni4
- Graduates may also ask the school for help& guidance& and
assistance on what they feel or e%perience as lacking& and
"ice "ersa.
In addition to the services mentioned above the followin are im!ortant res!onsibilities of the "#idance $e!artment of a hih school%
a. &o#nselin for the com!lete develo!ment of st#dents b. 'rovidin ro#! #idance classes
c. &ond#ctin all testin !rorams d. Informin st#dents abo#t scholarshi!s and financial aids
e. Maintainin and !rocessin !ermanent records of st#dents and rad#ates f. Assistin with s#mmer school or (ob arranements
. &oordinatin ed#cational and vocational reso#rce center
h. Arranin and attendin conferences with st#dents) !arents) teachers and o#tside reso#rce !eo!le if necessary) reardin st#dent !roress
i. E*!lainin c#rric#l#m) r#les) re#lations and e*!ectations for incomin freshmen) new st#dents and !arents
(. Assistin in !ost-hih school ed#cation selection #sin available career search tools.