Bruce - Guidance Module POST 1

The biggest surprise I encountered during the research for the Guidance Counselor Module was the emphasis on the mental/behavioral aspect of dealing with students. I remember in elementary school, the guidance counselors were very involved in teaching us about personal character, conflict resolution etc. At the high school level, I never considered that many students may still need those lessons, and the guidance counselor must be prepared to deal with those students effectively. I could only imagine having to tell a student that the college/career of their choice would not be a viable option for them. It is a good thing counselors are prepared to help our students on a variety of fronts. I was also impressed by the long list of items the state DOE has assigned to counselors to be either in charge of, or assist with. I always knew that the guidance department was a busy place - now I know exactly why. My impressions of the education requirements for guidance counselors has also changed. My post-secondary experience was in Mass Media, not education, leaving me with little knowledge of everything teachers must learn before entering the classroom. I had mistakenly lumped guidance counselors in with the average undergrad who majors in education. Now I know the academic pursuit one must undertake to become an effective guidance counselor.