Blog 5

 

              I apologize because this will blog will be on chapter 5, as I read the wrong chapter and the article listed for this week. I am actually glad that I read the wrong chapter because it gave me more insight into completing the analysis part of the research project, as well as looking back into what the ASCA model is and chapter 6 gave me insight into the specifics of the model.

             One thing that struck me in doing the interviews was the countless times; the counselors stated that people just don’t know what the role of the school counselor is and all that it entails. There is not enough knowledge about the profession, and how can one know if a program or model is working if they do not fully understand the process as a whole. The article by Schwallie-Giddis, Ter Maat, and Pak, start out by asking this, “ What do school counselors do and how do we know that what counselors do is effective and contributes to the students’ academic achievement”, (2003). The ASCA National Model, makes it easier to show the proof that school counselors and their programs are helping the students, not only with improving academic scores, but also social and emotional developmental, something that gets put to the wayside behind academics .Another bullet in the article was sharing the vision, the struggle to get people to make the change and move forward with the ASCA model. All three counselors were using parts of the model, even if it was only in a small way. Their struggle was finding the time and funding to implement more programs and meet with students more, as well as teacher and administration support. There is a tremendous gap between school counselors that were certified years before the ASCA model took shape and for grad students like us that will have the training and knowledge of the ASCA model. How can people be asked to share a vision, if they do not understand fully what that vision is and how it benefits all stake holders?

                A theme that ran throughout my paper, which I hope I made apparent was the need to have consistency throughout the model. Taking just small parts of the model and trying to have a successful counseling program is not going to be effective. It is great that the counselors are trying but in my eyes, you have to use all that the ASCA model is giving you. All the parts and the levels of the model work with each other.  Management system, foundation, Delivery system, Accountability depend on one another and if there is not enough accountability, than the data is not there to support the information being given. If there is not a shared vision between all stake holders, the way the delivery system is used, cannot be effective. I hope I am making my point clear enough, and like I said previously, it is great to see counselors that do not have to follow the ASCA model, try to use it somehow in their program, but it is not enough. One of the counselors I talked to mentioned that they might be moving towards having counselors be certified by way of the ASCA National Model, and school districts must follow the model, and I hope it happens, and it is a big undertaking, but with everyone on board and working together, it can happen. Why wouldn’t we want to make a positive change for the student’s future?


        Schwallie-Giddis, P., Ter Maat, M., & Pak, M. (2003). Initiating leadership by introducing and implementing the ASCA National Model. Professional School Counseling, 6(3), 170-173.