Jackson Board of Education has put on the agenda to eliminate all elementary school guidance counselors effective sept. 2010.  Parents need to be aware of this proposal. They need to make the decision to agree or disagree with the board. Remember, All the middle schools and high schools have numerous guidance counselors in their buildings. Elementary has this only one.   Who will be there for the children?  Most likely any of the elementary schools that have an assistant principal currently in their building will have this position up for elimination too.  so who will be there for the kids?  Teachers are too busy teaching. 

Counselors are responsible for the 400-900 students that are in their schools everyday. They are there for the parents and the staff.  Children of today face larger issues than any adult could imagine. Parents getting arrested, divorcing parents, sexual and physical abuse, foreclosure, homelessness, etc. Typical issues: death of classmates, parents, grandparents, pets, etc.  Counselors regularly meet with children in groups, individually, and conduct classroom lessons.  They are an intervention resource for developing plans to assist children academically, socially and emotionally.  They are there when DYFS arrives and needs to speak to them.

I can go on and on.  I can only imagine what will be said to the child who walks into school crying next year….  sorry, deal with it 7 year old. Or better yet, maybe mr. christie can come over and console him or her?  think long and hard about this.  will any sports be cut? or field maintenance?  I don’t know.

Margie