Every Teacher is a Guidance Counselor

By Samuel B. Batara, 1995

Myths regarding school Guidance and Counseling abound. Many

parents and teachers think that anything to do with discipline
problems among students, no matter how simple, belongs to the
Guidance Office. The common expression among classroom teachers
is “It is the work of the Guidance Counselor.” “I’ll bring you to the
Guidance Office” has become a handy threat. The Guidance Office is a
scary mention and a very unpopular place to students.

Every educator must realize his responsibility as a Guidance Counselor

by right, commission and function. Guidance is an integral part of
being a teacher, a guardian and custodian charged with the overseer
of a classroom full of educable minds. He is put there to manage the
educational development of individuals exhibiting unique personalities
and potentials different from one another. He has to minister to
learners’ needs and resolve clients’ troubles and difficulties right there
and then if he only faces up to his total calling. Guidance is good
teaching and efficient classroom management. If he cannot guide his
students, surely he cannot teach them.

Guidance and Counseling is simply empowering a person to decide

how he can best accomplish his purposes, what he needs to do, or
where he should go. It does not solve problems for the individual but
facilitates the way for him to solve them himself. Guidance is enabling
a person to help himself.

There are just a few basic principles a teacher has to instill in his
heart and mind while he guides and counsels:

a. Guidance gives assistance to the student in making wise

choices, plans, interpretations and adjustments as he faces the
many life’s crises.
 b. Guidance is client-centered being concerned with the optimum
development of the whole student and the fullest realization of
his potentials for individual and social ends.

c. Guidance recognizes the worth and dignity of the client and his
right to personal assistance in times of need. It must respect the
right of every student to seek help and any of the guidance
services offered.

d. Guidance focuses in helping the student realize and actualize his

best self rather than in solving isolated problems, be they those
of the individual or the school.

e. Guidance assumes a responsibility to help persons become free

deciding individuals but responsible to society.

f. Guidance enhances significant and meaningful changes in the

behavior and in the life of the student through a series of
meetings wherein the guidance counselor shows genuine
interest and concern.

g. Guidance is voluntary in character and depends on client

cooperation, not compulsion. There is no place for coercion or
intimidation.

h. Guidance studies and treats the student in his cultural setting by

the use of every scientific technique available. Student
understanding must precede student assistance.

i. Guidance services are for everyone, irrespective of status; it is

not only for those with serious problems as it is commonly
thought of.

Go on, Teacher, it is your work to guide and counsel. Every teacher

is indeed a Guidance Counselor.