CONSULTATION: A BROAD, FLEXIBLE ROLE FOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS
21
enhance the system, and they will also seek new ways to increase their contribution
to
it.
The more they hear the more they will want to know, and thus communi-
cative links among teachers will be expanded. As teachers feel free to share their
teaching strategies with each other, they will know how to ask for help when they
need
it
and from whom. In this way they can develop those interdependent
re-
lationships that produce and sustain growth for themselves, each other, and the
system as
a
whole.
Finally, the unique contribution made by each member of the staff to the
group effort should be underscored, Each teacher
is
unique and has his own style,
which he should be encouraged to develop as much as possible. He should not be
made to feel that he needs to do things in the same way
as
another teacher, What
is important is that he develop and understand his style as completely as possible.
In this way he will know what he can do, with what kinds of students he can work,
and where he will experience difficulty. Then the major communications he makes
to the staff will be the result of the uniqueness of his style of operation.
Research
&
Development Center for Teacher Education
University
of
Texas
Austin, Tex.
78712
THE CASE CONFERENCE AS
A
CONSULTATION STRATEGY
SIDNEY A.
WINICKI’
Jeflersa
County
Public
Shk,
Lakewood,
Col.
A
major emphasis
of
Caplanian mental health consultation
is
the development
of
resources already present in an organization (Caplan,
1970).
The model leads
to the formulation
of
interventions that develop and refine the indigenous yet
latent strengths of teachers. The Caplanian consultant differs from the traditional
“expert” who conveys knowledge, but makes no provisions for sustained develop-
ment of the consultee. Consultation-based strategies seek to involve the school
personnel in an active manner. This approach strives to increase the probability
that an initial intervention will become an on-going program that will have sig-
nificant effects.
The ultimate goal of consultation is to increase the competencies of the con-
sultee by freeing of his latent abilities and resources. This goal requires a different
kind of psychologist-client relationship. The consultation model involves a col-
laboration between a psychologist with his expertise in behavior and the teacher
with his expertise in education. The two work together to cope with problems of
mutual concern.
Most schools utilize only a small part of the resources present in their staffs.
These resources are comprised
of
the variety
of
experiences found in a group of
‘Formerly a
graduate
student in the School Psychology Program, the University
of
Texas at
Austin.