Changed Impressions

After reading the history and current requirements to be a school counselor I have formed a new appreciation for them! My impression has changed in several ways as I was not aware of the level of education required or of all the duties required of them.  I was a school nurse for quite some time and any issues I had with students outside of physical needs, I went to our in-school social worker. Between her and I, we handled the emotional needs like contemplation of suicide, abuse from the home and emotional issues to name only a few. My history with guidance counselors was that they handled mainly truancy problems, guided class registration and “other things” of which I had no clue. 

Now as a teacher in a different school district, I do not have an in-school social worker but we do have a school counselor. I have worked closely with her with several issues like truancy, suicide threats, behavior issues and of course class registration needs.  Having studied the readings given us in the module, I now know that there is much more to a school counselor than meets the eye!  I was astonished to learn how old the profession is; the current educational requirements; the credential requirements; and all the “hats” they wear! Not only do they take care of students, but they are attending to parents, teachers and even administration needs. I learned firsthand just recently after a meeting that included the counselor, that they are also knowledgeable in areas like postsecondary choices and their requirements, community resources and job outlooks regionally.  The counselor reminds me of that childhood story where the man wears many, many hats at one time on his head.  (Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina)  A school guidance counselor’s job is a constant juggling act and I have a new respect for them all!