Blog # 13

      
    Reading the vignette in chapter 13 of Dollarhide & Saginak (2012), reminded me of the in class role play we did in Brief. Throughout the semester in Brief as well as guidance program, we have talked about collaboration. In Brief, it has been through role playing and conference scenes between parents, teachers’ counselors and students. I can relate to the nervous and embarrassed feelings that are associated with the parent screaming at the second grade teacher in front of everyone. When the counselor asked if there was anything she could do, it was good to see that the teacher recognized that they came from a different culture but at the same time, that was all that was said. It was like she was giving up and did not want to take any steps to understand where the mother was coming from and if there was anything she could do on her part to help.

              We have talked about in class numerous times about the role of the counselor and how other stake holder's perception of the counselors role can affect how successful a school counselor can be utilized. Collaboration with the teacher would have been tremendously helpful for the teacher as well as the counselor in deciding how they could best help Samuel, the student. Diversity awareness and being conscious of one’s own limited knowledge on how diversity can affect a student and their family is important. It is something that our CSCP program is really dedicated to promoting through the programs and activities we have lined up. This quote really stuck out to me in in the chapter, " students of color and linguistic diversity are expected to compromise the majority of all student by the year 2020, (2012, pg. 235). This does not even include individuals that are within the LGBT community. Having a diverse knowledge is so important with the way society is today, it would be a disservice to the students and all stake holders if one did not make it a mission to become knowledgeable with all the different diversities that are in today's school settings and communities.

         It is scary to think about all the potential scenarios that we will be encountering as a school counselor and it is important to recognize what we are and are not able to do as school counselors and who can we refer students, teachers, parents and all stake holders to. Another part in helping counselors be as successful as they can in understanding the roles of a counselor in a school setting. This is also something that we have discussed  throughout the semester and with must heated debate and will probably continue to be discussed when we are school counselors. It is important for school counselors to advocate for not only the student but as well as themselves and what their roles are.

 

 

Dollarhide, C. T., & Saginak, K. A. (2012). Comprehensive school counseling programs. (2nd ed.). New York: Pearson, Inc.