GUIDANCE PHILOSOPHY

The basic philosophy of a department within a school system must conform to the basic philosophy of the system as a whole. Simply stated, the base of operation at Chenango Valley flows from the principle that the student body is composed of individuals - each individual possessed of a unique combination of abilities, background, emotions, goals and personal traits. Guidance policy, then, is determined in the light of its effect upon students as individuals.

The chief function of the counselor is to serve students - to recognize the individuality of problems - to help resolve these problems as they affect the counselee. The counselor recognizes the innate dignity and worth of every individual - regardless of relative academic potential and ability; the counselor acknowledges as his/her prime objective to provide the means by which students must meet their potential. The counselor considers problems vital to the individual student with the highest possible degree of understanding.

The recognition of differences among students begins with scheduling; each pupil is scheduled individually; differences in aptitudes and interests are major considerations. Also recognized is the tendency for human beings to change. For this reason, it must be assumed that pupils will naturally change - interests, achievement, even aptitudes are prone to alter during the process of human development. Policy must base itself on this principle.

The focal point of the Guidance Department is the interview - the one to one ratio relationship between counselor and counselee. It is in this situation that the individual is considered on his/her own merits - in the light of his unique needs. It would be difficult indeed impossible, to justify the existence of the Guidance Department without this counseling function.

Also of great importance is the recognition that the ultimate responsibility for the pupil rests with the parents; for this reason, every attempt is made to maintain complete and effective communication with the home. Decisions affecting programs and changes influencing a pupil's plans are referred to the parents before action is taken. The counselor's function is his relationship to parents and to students is identical - to provide essential information which will allow both parents and pupils to make well-considered decisions.

In summary, then, the basis upon which the Guidance Department operates is the consideration of the individual as an individual; it is its function to correlate and codify the major influences upon the student - and to act as liaison between teachers, students and parents and to provide the essential information to be used by pupils and parents to make meaningful and realistic vocational and educational decisions; the Guidance Program of the Chenango Valley School District was formulated on the foregoing philosophy.