Changed Impressions

What has changed in my impression of a counselor is the depth of knowledge and range of job descriptions they must be adept in. Looking at the history, it has gone from one thing to another but looking at what a counselor is expected to be responsible for today seems to be a culmination of all of it through the ages: guidance, vocational interests, including assisting students with the social, personal and educational aspects of their lives, being non-directive yet spending more time in guiding special needs students. To have to be the liason between community and school, assisting everyone from teachers, parents and students is more to me than one person can do well.  On top of it all, it is preferred they have a teaching background? I would agree that the best counselor is one who once taught the students they will guide.

In some countries, I saw that the counselor is required to teach in addition to their counseling duties. One description in the reading described the 'counselor' at our school. In an IEP meeting last week the question of her title came up. The parent asked, "...who is the counselor", she said, "I am". They asked, "Well who is the assistant principle then?". She said, "that's me too, along with several other things". It is awful that our jobs (especially counselors) must be so multi-faceted. I don't think their time should have to be split between paperwork or administrative duties versus assisting the needs of students.

Learning about all of this makes me understand why there has always been multiple counselors. It baffles me that this sector would be downsized so heavily because of the value of what they do.