• Foundation and Philosophy of School Counseling

     Statement of Philosophy: As a school counselor, we believe that:

    ·         All students should be treated with dignity, respect, and worth.

    ·         All students have the right to participate in the school counseling program.

    ·         All students compose the unique and diverse student population and should be addressed when planning and implementing the school counseling program.

    ·         Each student’s ethnic, cultural, racial, sexual differences and special-needs must be considered in planning and implementing the school counseling program.

    ·         All students should act in a manner that demonstrates respect for and acceptance of others. 

    ·         All students have the opportunity to become productive, cooperative, socially responsible, and ethically sensitive members of a global society.

    ·         All students should be encouraged to achieve optimal personal growth, to acquire positive social skills and values, to set appropriate career goals, and to realize full academic

              potential in order to become productive, contributing members of the world community.

    And we believe that the counseling program:

    ·         Is an essential and integral part of the overall education process.

    ·         Will align and work with the school’s mission to support the academic achievement of all students as they prepare for the ever-changing world of the 21st century.

    ·         Is built on the belief that certain educational, career, and personal objectives are attainable when school counseling for all students is provided.

    ·         Must have an organized and planned curriculum that is sequential and flexible.

    ·         Must be aligned with the ASCA National Standards and the NJSCA Standards.

    ·         Is no longer a service to be offered by one person, but, rather, a program coordinated with other educators incorporating a comprehensive curriculum.

    ·         Will help faculty and staff to recognize and understand the many challenges faced by today’s diverse student population.

    ·         Must understand that growth and learning are developmental and, therefore, school counseling must be developmental and sequential.

    ·         Must strive to reach the needs of 100% of the student population.

    ·         Must utilize the numerous combined resources within the community.

    ·         Must include character education because it is integral to the development of positive self-esteem, which, in turn, encourages positive growth.

    ·         Will respect and embrace cultural diversity and understand that cultivating individuality enhances the educational experience.

    ·         Should be developmental and proactive, addressing the academic, career, and personal/social development of students through individual and small group sessions as well

              as classroom lessons.

    ·         Should provide counseling services individually and in groups to assist all students in exploring and understanding themselves.

    ·         Will focus on academics, personal problems, peer relationships, authority conflicts, critical social problems, and family situations; these services are delivered both through group

              and individual models.

    And that all school counselors:

    • Must abide by the ethical standards as advocated by the American School Counselor Association, Counselor Association, and the New Jersey School Counselor Association.
    • Should pursue opportunities to develop their professional competencies to ensure the provision of a quality school counseling program.
    • Must understand that cultural and individual diversity enriches learning.
    • Must be certified professional educators who assist students, teachers, parents/ guardians, and administrators. 
    • Should help students to identify and achieve personal goals and to assume rights and responsibilities in various life roles at each developmental stage. 
    • Should continue their on-going professional development in order to stay current with educational reform and the challenges facing today’s students.
    • Should be a part of a professional association membership in order to gain further school counseling knowledge and effectiveness.

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