Putting the Counselor In the Classroom

"As a guidance counselor-certified in both elementary and secondary schools-I commend you on dealing with the `whole child,'" Wendy Hanslovan wrote us recently from St. Marys, a public high school in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, where she teaches a mandatory Career Choices class for freshmen. "Your multidimensional approach, I am sure, is the reason for the universal appeal of this curriculum."

Hanslovan and her colleagues in the counseling department are the exclusive instructors for the St. Marys High School class, which includes four or five sections each semester. Although some teachers from other departments would like to teach the material, the counselors are determined to remain in the classroom, believing fervently that this is vital information for their students and a quality guidance opportunity.

"Students are typically unassertive about choosing a career direction," says Hanslovan, noting that in the past, counselors often couldn't take the time to help each young person plan wisely for the future. And she knows how important the process is. "I knew I was going to college, but beyond that I had no clue. My counselor was no help and that is precisely why, eventually, I ended up in this career. I think it's important to our country, our society, and it's important to individuals, as well."

At St. Marys, the primary focus is on helping students choose an appropriate course from among six different career clusters and eventually find a satisfying career. Career Choices is extremely helpful in this process, Hanslovan says, because it helps young people clarify their thoughts about who they are and what they want before they begin making career decisions. "The students are relating to it," she states. "I cannot say enough good things about [Career Choices]."