Currently the general school population receives minimal counseling based on problem solving instead of proactive or preventative efforts of behalf of the children.
At the elementary level, the general population of students do not see any type of counselor. The closest thing to educational counseling comes from a student's teacher, only if a parent keeps their appointment for the Parent-Teacher Conferences.
When a student is in Middle School, a student might see a counselor if they want to change a class or are referred to a counselor because of a problem.
Student's see their counselor in High School by appointment, generally initiated by the student or the parent.
- I would like to see more trained guidance counselors hired and the time for these counselors to counsel students and families. Starting in the elementary years it would be a vaulable exercise for families to learn about the "Big Picture" of education and how you must look years ahead for your child. You cannot wait until High School to make decisions about a child's future, you must direct children sooner.
- Currently our counselors have the time to put out fires. A problem already exists and remediation is often the type of counseling a students and family receives. While problem solving is important, so is academic counseling by the only people trained to give that type of advice.
- School counselors have received training in areas much more diverse than problem solving. They can help our children chart a path that will help them get to where they want to be.
- If a child in 5th grade casually states that they want to be a doctor, dentist, computer specialist, plumber, whatever, the student at that time should be given information as to how to achieve their goal.
- Academic and Guidance counselors CAN be part of an extended Parent-Teacher conference, or, they can conference with the child directly.
- In the Middle School years students must have the opportunity of meeting with their counselors on a regular basis to go over their records, discuss interests in their future and plan courses of study. Students need to be made aware of their abilities, bolster their self-esteem and be reminded that they can become whatever they want to become - no matter their background, socio-economic status or standing in their current class.
- High School students need regular guidance counseling at least twice an academic school year. How are they doing in their current classes? Are they taking the right subjects? Are they trying to complete A-F requirements? Do they know how to access tutoring, if needed. Are they aware of the critical grades that are looked at by the various colleges? Do they know where the Guidance Information Center is and what it's there for? Are they looking at catalogues from different colleges? Do they know what they requirements are for out-of-state colleges are from California requirements?
Does the students know how to access information on their own? Are they signing up for the PSAT, SAT, ACT or AP exams? Do they understand why they should take these exams, no matter which type of school they think they will apply to? If financial issues are a concern, these issues should be known well before the 12th grade when financial loan and scholarship papers are due so that they can get as much help as needed to reach their goals.
- All of these statements are based on the many students who fall through the cracks for a variety of reasons. Many students go through school, never getting "in trouble," minding their own business, and do not think they need any counseling. Their parents may not know that counseling is available because they've never gotten a notice to make an appointment, or, haven't read the course schedule with their child.
Most of the above statements are referencing the need for more academically qualified counselors. The need for guidance counselors are as great. The number of students who participate in group therapy though our Youth Health Center is growing and growing. The students, on their own request help becasue they know they have a problem they cannot solve without the help of a trained professional.
They are also the many children who do not know they have problems and their parents are unaware as well of these problems. While we do have CARE teams who might be called in to identify problems based on a teacher's observation, we miss too many others.
If a child request some type of help, it should be given, or, find another method to address their situation.
If a teacher notices unusual behaviours, there too the child's needs must be addressed.
Additionally, if an adult, who is not a teacher, but someone with a lot of contact with certain children notices some unusal behaviours, they too should be provided a way of letting the school know to watch for or address problem through qualified quidance counseling that is, or should be offered as needed.
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