History of the guidance movement

History Of Guidance Movement: 1900 to Date

Prior to the final decades of the nineteenth century, there was very limited literature to which job seekers could make reference with regard to career guidance which was, at the time, referred to as vocational guidance (Ford & Alao, 2011). Knowledge of prospective work opportunities mainly resulted from close contact with the community, friends, family, church, and the education system (Ford & Alao, 2011).

Frank Parson, the founder of vocational guidance, in 1907, provided the stepping stone for career counseling with the formation of the Vocational Guidance Movement, which gave rise to the Vocational Bureau of Boston in 1908 (Ford & Alao, 2011). Parson used self-study and vocational counseling to make people more compatible with their interests, aptitudes, skills, and occupational demands, thereby leading them to the right careers (Ford & Alao, 2011). The bureau sponsored a number of national conferences; the third of which was the most significant, giving rise to the National Association of Guidance.

The mid-twentieth century was characterized by massive workforce changes, and changes to the career guidance industry. By the end of World War II, the workforce comprised of a significant percentage of veterans and women, and the levels of technology called for higher levels of education and technical skills (Ford & Alao, 2011). The government began attaching more significance to vocational guidance and education, with the passage of facilitative legislation such as the National Defense Act, the 1963 Vocational Educational and Higher Education Facilities Acts, the Economic Opportunity Act, the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, the Career Education Incentive Act 95-207, to mention but a few (Campbell,1971). Today, carrier counseling is an ongoing process, focusing more on an individual's work-life balance, rather than age (Ford & Alao, 2011).

Date/Year

Events

Significance

1908

Formation of the vocational bureau of Boston

Dealt with the occupational adjustments difficulties that faced adults and youth. The facility, being the only one of its kind, attracted more and more people and provided the stepping stone for the shift from individual counseling to group instruction (Ford & Alao, 2011).

1917

The Smith-Hughes Act, the Vocational Educational Act

Separated vocational from academic education and mandated the creation of a vocational education federal board that would oversee the smooth working of vocational programs in all states (Patterson, n.d.).

1927

The development of the Strong Vocational Interest Blank for boys

By "providing an index of the similarity between a person's interest and those of successful men (or women) in a wide range of occupations," the SVIB helped vocational counselors to substantially lead people to the right occupations (Campbell, 1971).

1958

National Defense Education Act

Strengthened instruction in science, testing services, experimentation and vocational training for courses crucial to national security, to increase student enrolment in such areas (Campbell, 1971).

1963

Vocational Educational Acts

Reinforced federal support for vocational programs, demonstrations, research and training (Campbell, 1971).

1963

Higher Education Facilities Act

Authorized loans and grants to facilities of higher education (Campbell, 1971).

1963

Manpower Development and Training Act