DEFINING THE ROLE OF A COUNSELOR IS A TASK WHICH IS COMPLICATED BY THE CHANGING WORLD, THE CHANGING SOCIAL STRUCTURE, AND THE INFLUENCES OF GOVERNMENT. THE ROLE IS FURTHER COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THAT COUNSELING HAS ORIGINATED FROM A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES, BORROWING FROM THE JOB OF THE TEACHER, THE ADMINISTRATOR, THE SOCIAL WORKER, AND THE PSYCHOLOGIST. CERTIFICATION IS NEEDED AND NATIONAL STANDARDS SHOULD BE SET UP. ALSO, THERE IS A NEED FOR GREATER COHESION BETWEEN VARIOUS COUNSELOR TRAINING PROGRAMS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF VARYING SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY NEEDS. THE KINDS OF ROLES THE COUNSELOR SHOULD PERFORM ARE TO ACT AS A MEMBER OF THE EDUCATIONAL TEAM, TO PROVIDE HELPING RELATIONSHIPS FOR STUDENTS, TO SERVE AS A PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT TO THE STAFF, PARENTS, TEACHERS, CHILDREN, AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP AND MANAGE A GUIDANCE PROGRAM, AND TO SERVE AS A RESOURCE PERSON MAKING CONTACTS WITH HOSPITALS, USING COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND FINDING PSYCHOLOGISTS. IN THE FUTURE, DIFFERING LEVELS OF COUNSELOR ACTIVITY WILL EXIST AND THE TERM COUNSELOR MAY BE CHANGED TO MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT THE NATURE OF COUNSELING ACTIVITIES. THIS IS ONE OF THE REPORTS FROM THE ZION CONFERENCE AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DEMONSTRATION CENTERS INCLUDED IN "ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GUIDANCE IN ILLINOIS." (PS)