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HISTORY In the United States , the School Counseling profession began as a vocational guidance movement at the beginning of the 20th century. Jesse B. Davis is considered the first to provide a systematic school guidance program. In 1907 , he became the principal of a high school and encouraged the school English teachers to use compositions and lessons to relate Career Interests , develop character, and avoid behavioral problems. Many others during this time did the same. For example, in 1908 , Frank Parsons (the "Father of School Guidance") established the Bureau Of Vocational Guidance to assist young people in making the transition from school to work. From the 1920 s to the 1930 s, School counseling and guidance grew because of the rise of progressive education in schools. This movement emphasized personal, social, moral development. Many schools reacted to this movement as anti-educational, saying that schools should teach only the fundamentals of education. This, combined with the economic hardship of the Great Depression, led to a decline in school counseling and guidance. In the 1940 s, the U.S. used Psychologists and Counselors to select, recruit, and train Military personnel. This propelled the counseling movement in schools by providing ways to test students and meet their needs. Schools accepted these military tests openly. Also, Carl Rogers ' emphasis on helping relationships during this time influenced the profession of school counseling. In the 1950 s the Government established the Guidance and Personnel Services Section in the Division of State and Local School Systems. In 1957 , the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I . Out of concern that the Russians were beating the U.S. in the space race, which had military implications, and that there were not enough Scientists and Mathematicians , the American government passed the National Education Act , which spurred a huge growth in Vocational guidance through large amounts of funding. Since the 1960 s, the profession of school counseling has continued to grow as new Legislation and new professional developments were established to refine and further the profession and improve education (Schmidt, 2003). THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND SERVICES The Professional School Counselor is a certified/licensed educator trained in school counseling with unique qualifications and skills to address all students’ academic, personal/social and career development needs. Professional School Counselors implement a comprehensive school counseling program that promotes and enhances student achievement. Professional School Counselors are employed in elementary, middle/junior high and high schools and in district supervisory, counselor education and post-secondary settings. Their work is varies, with attention focused on developmental stages of student growth, including the needs, tasks, and student interests related to those stages. Professional School Counselors meet the needs of student in three basic domains: Academic Development , Career Development , and Personal/Social Development . These domains are developed through appraisal, consultation, counseling, coordination, and collaboration. School counselors may use a variety of Personality and vocational testing to help students explore vocation needs and interests or observe a student in a class, and provide their expertise to teachers and other personnel to develop a plan to address the student behavioral problems. They also help by providing consultation services to family members. Additionally, professional school counselors may lead classroom guidance on any variety of personal/social issues relative to student needs, or establish groups to address common issues among students, such as divorce or death. Often counselors will coordinate outside groups that wish to help with student needs such as academics, or coordinate a state program that teaches about Child Abuse or Drugs , through on-stage Drama (Schmidt, 2003). EDUCATION AND TRAINING According to the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a school counseling program should meet several standards such as the professional identity of school counseling (history, organizations, so on), cultural diversity courses, Human Development and growth, and Career Development . Additionally, it has to have core components for helping relationships (consultation, counseling, so on), group work, assessment, research and program evaluation, knowledge and requirements for school counselors, contextual dimensions of school counseling, and foundations of school counseling. In programs that are, CACREP accredited, a school counseling student must have 600 hours of Internship under a highly qualified school counselor (master's degree or higher, and appropriate licenses and certifications) (CACREP, 2001). Lastly, according to CACREP, a school counseling program must be a master level (or higher) graduate program. Each state has its own certification or licensure requirements, and at least one state, California, merely requires a bachelor's degree, causing concern about competence of school counselors in that state. School Counselors may opt for national (American) certification through two different boards. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) requires a two-to-three year process of performance based assessment, and demonstate in writing content knowledge in human growth/development, diverse populations, school counseling programs, theories, data, and change and collaboration. As of February, 2005, 30 states offer financial incentives for this certification. The National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) requires passing the National Certified School Counselor Examination (NCSC), which includes 40 multiple choice questions and seven simulated cases which assess school counselors abibilities to make critical decisions on the spot. Additionally, a master's degree and three years of supervised experience are required. NBTS also requires three years of experience, however a master's degree is not required, but only state certification (41 of 50 require a master's degree). At least four states offer financial incentives for the NCSC certification (McLeod, 2005). Both certifications have benefits and costs that a school counselor would want to consider for national certification. For more information, see external links. JOB GROWTH AND EARNINGS According to the Outlook Handbook (OOH) the Median Salary for school counselors in 2002 was $41,400. "The middle 50 percent earned between $33,160 and $100,770" (OOH). Moreover, school counselors could earn additional money working summer jobs as counselors for schools or community agencies, and among all counseling fields, are currently (2002)paid the highest salary. Although overall employment for counselors is faster than average, school counseling job growth is as fast as the average and relates to population and student growth. REFERENCES
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