(Washington, D.C.) –Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced a resolution designating February 1st through February 5th, 2010 as ‘‘National School Counseling Week.’’ The resolution seeks to increase awareness of the important and necessary role school counselors play in the lives of students in the United States. Recognizing the work of school counselors is especially important now as schools across the country face budgetary pressures and are often forced to make difficult cuts to school counseling.
“School counseling is so critical to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to learn and develop to their fullest potential,” said Senator Patty Murray. “School counselors are often among the first positions to be eliminated when school budgets are cut, but they are more important now than ever before as families and students deal with the turbulent effects of this tough economic climate. I am proud to join with Senator Collins in introducing this resolution that will help raise awareness of the important and necessary role that school counselors play in the lives of students across the country.”
“Our nation’s school counselors are a vital part of the education system. They help students focus on academic, social, and career development so that they can achieve their goals and become successful members of society,” said Senator Susan Collins. “It is important that we recognize the role school counselors play in encouraging increased academic, personal, social, and career achievement.”
Click here for more information on Senator Murray’s work to strengthen the education system.
The full text of the resolution follows:
Designating the week of February 1 through February 5, 2010, as ‘‘National School Counseling Week’’
Whereas the American School Counselor Association has declared the week of February 1 through February 5, 2010, as ‘‘National School Counseling Week’’;
Whereas the Senate has recognized the importance of school counseling through the inclusion of elementary and secondary school counseling programs in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.);
Whereas school counselors have long advocated that the education system of the United States must leave no child behind and must provide opportunities for every student;
Whereas personal and social growth results in increased academic achievement;
Whereas school counselors help develop well-rounded students by guiding the students through their academic, personal, social, and career development;
Whereas school counselors have been instrumental in helping students, teachers, and parents deal with the trauma that was inflicted upon them by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, and other recent natural disasters;
Whereas students face a myriad of challenges every day, including peer pressure, depression, the deployment of family members to serve in conflicts overseas, and school violence;
Whereas school counselors are usually the only professionals in a school building who are trained in both education and mental health matters;
Whereas the roles and responsibilities of school counselors are often misunderstood, and the school counselor position is often among the first to be eliminated in order to meet
budgetary constraints;
Whereas the national average ratio of students to school counselors of 475-to-1 is almost twice the 250-to-1 ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association, the American Counseling Association, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and other organizations; and
Whereas the celebration of National School Counseling Week would increase awareness of the important and necessary role school counselors play in the lives of students in the United States:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— designates the week of February 1 through February 5, 2010, as ‘‘National School Counseling Week’’; and encourages the people of the United States to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities that promote awareness of the role school counselors perform in the school and the community at large in preparing students for fulfilling lives as contributing members of society.
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