THIS POSITION PAPER EXAMINES THE NATURE AND PROBLEMS OF GUIDANCE IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ENDS WITH THE STATEMENT OF A RATIONALE. LEARNING IS VIEWED AS THE CORE OF EDUCATION. ACCORDINGLY, THE LEARNING PROCESS INVOLVES THE BEHAVIOR TO BE LEARNED, THE LEARNER HIMSELF, AND THE CONDITIONS OF LEARNING. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GUIDANCE CAN ENHANCE THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT SO EACH PUPIL LEARNS TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY. HUMAN LEARNING, EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES, INSTRUCTION, AND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE CHILD ARE DISCUSSED IN THEORETICAL TERMS, AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ELEMENTARY GUIDANCE SPECIALIST ARE EXAMINED. THE SCHOOL'S MAJOR CONCERN IS WITH NORMAL VARIANTS OF LEARNING AND THEIR BEHAVIORAL MANIFESTATIONS. THEREFORE, THE GUIDANCE SPECIALIST FUNCTIONS IN A PREVENTATIVE, RATHER THAN A REMEDIAL, MANNER. THE THREE MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GUIDANCE ARE CONSULTATION, COORDINATION, AND COUNSELING. (SK)