My impression of the changing roles and responsibilities of the school guidance counselor over history

School guidance counselors roles and responsibilities have changed over the years from one of spiritual guidance with the Catholic Priests to a vocational swing that lasted into World War One. During that time teachers doubled as counselors. Next their roles and responsibilities changed to standardized testing and trying to identify leaders primarily for the military. This lasted past World War Two when the new "non-directive" theory of counseling took place. This type of counseling was client based with the client feeling more in control. Counseling then took on the academic role with fear of the United States falling behind in math and science education. This also leaned the roles and responsibilities towards a kinder gentler side. This sensitivity training lent it's hand to counseling special needs students, handicapped students and students with various disabilities. Counselors then found themselves to be "gatekeepers" to IEP's and SST's. In the mid 1990's to present day counselors are seen with high standards and an intricate part of the educational process for all students.