Within Metro Atlanta you could walk into any school at any time and find a school counselor. Counselors are vital parts of the school system. In elementary schools counselors guide students on a journey of self-discovery learning about how to treat others, bullying, emotions, death & dying and developing a great self-esteem. In middle school counselors are working with students who are beginning to experience some of the things mentioned previously and in high school they provide counseling to develop career and collegiate opportunities among other things.
Teachers rely on counselors to provide guidance and advice when they can’t give individual attention to students in their classroom. Administrations rely on counselors to be abreast of the most recent research concerning testing and counseling strategies. Students rely on counselors to be their number one advocate in the school and parents rely on counselors to make them aware of any issues they may have overlooked in the home and in school.
So why has a bill been passed that will eliminate school counselors in the elementary and secondary schools?! H.R. 1 is doing just that. It is a bill that will cut $10.6 billion (15.3%) of the budget. This bill will eliminate the one advocate in the school that is strictly for the student. As we are trying to increase our awareness of the importance of the student this bill creates a barrier.
There are many other things affected by this bill including decreased funding for IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). I urge you to contact your congressman. You can find out who your representative is here. Email them and let them know you are an educator and you oppose of H.R. 1!
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