[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 14 (Friday, February 11, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       SCHOOL COUNSELORS PRAISED

                                 ______


                         HON. NORMAN Y. MINETA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 11, 1994

  Mr. MINETA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with you and my 
colleagues my appreciation for the work conducted by our school 
counselors. Students who attend school in the 1990's face an incredible 
set of challenges, obstacles, and choices which can impact them 
immediately and well into their adulthood.
  The school counselors of the 1990's are trained professionals who 
must meet State certification standards, and if they are members of the 
American Counseling Association, are bound to a code of ethics. 
Children as young as 5 years old come to school and face the problems 
of drugs, violence, and social problems that many of us never thought 
existed when we went to school. And, while some of us did experience 
the pain of prejudice, I am glad to see that today's school counselors 
are trained in facilitating classroom and small group exercises which 
help kids appreciate each other's differences--rather than use such 
diversity to divide and segregate.
  School counselors consult with teachers to improve classroom behavior 
and they work with the parents of students who may be experiencing 
academic or adjustment problems.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the rich ethnic and cultural diversity 
which encourages what I feel are some of the best educational 
institutions in this country. To ensure that the elementary, middle, 
secondary, and postsecondary schools of my district provide the best 
possible education for all of our students, regardless of income, 
ethnicity, disability or social situation requires a team of highly 
skilled educational professionals. We are fortunate in the 15th 
Congressional District to have dedicated educators who each day provide 
important services to our students. Among this group of professionals 
are school counselors.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me during National 
School Counseling Week in acknowledging the dedication of our Nation's 
professional school counselors.

                          ____________________