[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 23, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H420-H422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend
the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 932) expressing support
for designation of the week of February 4 through February 8, 2008 as
``National School Counseling Week''.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 932
Whereas the American School Counselor Association has
declared the week of February 4 through February 8, 2008 as
``National School Counseling Week'';
Whereas the House of Representatives has recognized the
importance of school counseling through the inclusion of
elementary and secondary school counseling programs in the
last reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965;
Whereas school counselors have long advocated that the
education system of the United States must leave no child
behind and must provide opportunities for all students;
Whereas school counselors have long emphasized the
importance of personal and social development in academic
achievement;
Whereas school counselors help develop well-rounded
students by guiding them through their academic, personal,
social, and career development;
Whereas school counselors play a vital role in ensuring
that students are aware of financial aid and college
opportunities;
Whereas school counselors may encourage students to pursue
challenging academic courses to prepare them for college
majors and careers in the science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics fields;
Whereas school counselors help students cope with the
serious and common challenges of growing up, including peer
pressure, mental health issues, school violence, disciplinary
problems, the deployment of family members to conflicts
overseas, and problems in the home;
Whereas school counselors are also instrumental in helping
students, teachers, and parents deal with personal trauma and
community and national tragedies;
Whereas school counselors are among the few professionals
in a school building that are trained in both education and
mental health;
Whereas, despite the important contributions of school
counselors to student success, counseling positions are not
always protected when budgets are cut;
Whereas the average student-to-counselor ratio in America's
public schools, 476-to-1, is almost double 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;
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; and
Whereas the week of February 4 through February 8, 2008
would be an appropriate week to designate as ``National
School Counseling Week'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
(1) honors and recognizes the contributions of school
counselors to the success of students in our Nation's
elementary and secondary schools; and
(2) encourages the people of the United States to observe
``National School Counseling Week'' with appropriate
ceremonies and activities that promote awareness of the
crucial role school counselors play in preparing students for
fulfilling lives as contributing members of society.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Keller) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself
such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 932,
expressing support for designation of February 4 through February 8,
2008 as ``National School Counseling Week.''
I thank Chairman George Miller and Ranking Member Buck McKeon, as
well as Vern Ehlers, the lead cosponsor, for their support of this
important resolution and the majority and minority committee staff for
doing the hard work behind the scenes to get this resolution to the
floor.
This resolution is about recognizing and honoring school counselors.
[[Page H421]]
I want to begin, however, with full disclosure: I was not always the
biggest fan of school counselors. Unfortunately, one of my own high
school counselors suggested to me that I give up on my plans to go to
college because I was likely to get pregnant and drop out anyway.
Well, I've learned a few things since then. First, I learned that
that particular counselor's fortune telling skills weren't so great,
and, second, I've learned a lot more about the counseling profession
and come to understand that one bad apple doesn't represent what
counseling is all about.
In fact, good counselors do exactly what this person didn't do. They
inspire us to dream big, help us get on the road to accomplish those
dreams, and, when necessary, they enlist the support of our parents,
teachers, mentors, and others to keep moving us down the road.
Counselors can be vital to a student's success, especially in high
school. High school is a transition period into adulthood and the world
of work. As students make this transition, some need additional help to
keep up in class, others get distracted by family issues or bad
behavior, and still others might get involved with gangs and crime.
But a good school counselor can intervene, working with parents and
teachers to get students back on track. Individual attention and
follow-up from a counselor can help a student accomplish amazing
things. I want to recognize just two of the counselors from my district
who accomplish amazing things every day they go to work.
Cheryl Redgate of Santa Fe High School and Shanna Moore-Garcia of La
Serna High School are just two of the many exceptional counselors in my
district who have devoted their lives to serving young people. They
treat each of their students as if they were their own children by
holding them to high standards and providing encouragement, guidance,
and support. I understand that local parents have expressed deep
appreciation for the work of these two stellar counselors and are glad
to know that Cheryl and Shanna are looking out for their children's
academic achievement as well as their emotional well-being.
I regret that I don't have time to name every outstanding counselor
in my district or across the country. There are just so many who every
day go above and beyond the job description to help students achieve
academic success and plan for a bright future.
One other thing prevents me from naming more counselors who have made
a difference in the lives of their students, and that's the fact that
there aren't nearly enough of them. Nationwide, the average student-to-
counselor ratio is 476-1, almost double the 250-1 recommended ratio. In
California, unfortunately this ratio is a dismal 920-1.
While today's resolution is a great start, to truly honor the work of
counselors we must do more to put school counselors where they're
needed so that students have access to these professionals who have so
much to offer.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KELLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as
I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 932
offered by the Representative from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez).
National School Counseling Week, which is celebrated annually the first
full week of February, helps focus public attention on the unique
contribution of professional school counselors. School counselors are
employed in school districts and public and private schools of all
levels across America to help students reach their full potential. They
are actively committed to helping students explore their abilities,
strengths, interests and talents as these traits relate to academic
success and career awareness and development. School counselors serve
as a vital resource for parents by helping them focus on ways to
further the educational, personal and social growth of their children.
They work with teachers and other educators to help students explore
their potential and set realistic goals for themselves. They often seek
to identify and utilize community resources that can enhance and
complement comprehensive school counseling programs that help students
become productive members of society.
{time} 1415
These comprehensive developmental school counseling programs are
considered an integral part of the educational process which enables
all students to achieve.
National school counseling week highlights the tremendous impact that
counselors have in helping students achieve academic success and plan
for their career. This year's theme, ``School Counselors: Creating
Pathways to Success,'' truly sums up the effort they put forth daily to
ensure that no child is left behind.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all school counselors, not
only from my home State of Florida but also all across this great
Nation. I also wish to thank the Representative from California (Ms.
Linda T. Sanchez) and the Representative from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) for
bringing forth this resolution today.
I urge all my colleagues to support it.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I appreciate my
colleague for his support of this resolution. I would urge all my
colleagues to support House Resolution 932.
Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H Res. 932,
Honoring National School Counseling Week. First, I'd like to thank my
colleague, Representative Linda Sanchez, for introducing this important
resolution.
As a social worker, I recognize the invaluable role that guidance
counselors and other social services personnel play in our schools.
These dedicated men and women devote their lives to ensuring the
bright futures of our Nation's children, supporting them both
academically and socially, and assisting them on the great journey
towards higher education and a successful career.
Guidance counselors also play a vital role in our efforts to increase
high school graduation and college enrollment rates.
However, despite our reliance on these important individuals for
doing the crucial work of preparing our Nation's youth for entry into
college and the real world, we often fail to give school counselors the
support they need to do their jobs effectively.
Many of our schools are under-staffed with guidance counselors, and
these hardworking individuals are tasked with serving an overwhelming
number of students with a limited amount of resources. The average
counselor-to-student ratio in our Nation's public schools is 1 to 436.
We must acknowledge this reality, and direct our efforts in Congress
toward increasing both our support and recognition of these hardworking
men and women in our schools.
For these reasons, I am a proud co-sponsor of House Resolution 932,
to recognize the important work of school guidance counselors,
inspiring the youth of America, and providing them with much-needed
support in their journey toward high school graduation and a prosperous
future.
My fellow colleagues in Congress, I urge you to support House
Resolution 932, so that we may celebrate the accomplishments and
diligent efforts of guidance counselors in our Nation's schools.
Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution
expressing support for designation of the week of February 4 through
February 8, 2008, as ``National School Counseling Week.'' I am proud to
be a cosponsor of this resolution, and I would like to take this
opportunity to thank our school counselors for their hard work.
I am committed to ensuring that all school districts, particularly
those with the greatest economic needs, have access to the necessary
resources to retain talented teachers and school counselors. I have
enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with school counselors in my
home State of Rhode Island. I have seen firsthand the difference that
the quality school counselors in our State are making in our children's
lives and understand the tremendous need for the training and placement
of more of these professionals in our schools.
We must make sure that our school counselors have the resources
necessary to help our children, and that is why I am a strong proponent
of increasing funding for the Elementary and Secondary School
Counseling Program--one of the programs that No Child Left Behind
promised to expand. Funding from this program helps to ensure that all
school districts have the ability to retain talented teachers and
school counselors. However, despite this promise, school counselors and
other advocates have had to fight hard to
[[Page H422]]
maintain this program at the elementary level, and this year marks the
first time it has enough funding to reach high school students. It has
been and will continue to be a priority of mine to ensure that the
federal commitment to education matches what we ask of school
districts.
While we designate one week to honor our school counselors, let us
pledge to help them the rest of the year with the resources they need--
and deserve.
Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 932.
This resolution signifies Congress's appreciation for the critical
work school counselors do to provide students and their families with
guidance and support, both academic and emotional, toward obtaining a
higher education and entrance into the workforce.
In his 2008 budget, President Bush proposed eliminating federal
support for elementary and secondary school counselors. Under
Democratic leadership, the President's proposal was wisely rejected and
this Congress provided nearly $14 million of additional support to
school counseling programs, for a total of over $48 million. I am proud
of this accomplishment, but feel there is still more to be done to meet
the needs of our children.
In California, eight in nine high school students attend a school
with fewer counselors than the national average. This makes California
the State with the highest counselor to student ratio in the Nation;
over two times the School Counseling Association's suggested ratio.
Students attending intensely segregated minority schools are most
likely to attend schools with fewer counselors than the national
average. Addressing the school counselor deficit is a critical
component of closing the achievement gap that plagues our Nation.
As we reflect on the vital role counselors play in the lives of our
children, we should remember that investing in our schools is an
investment in our future; it is the best investment our country can
make.
School counselors create pathways to success and H. Res. 932 will
ensure our Nation comes together this February to recognize their vital
contributions.
Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 932
to express support for school counselors and the designation of the
week of February 4 through 8, 2008, as ``National School Counseling
Week.''
I thank Representative Linda Sanchez for introducing this timely
resolution and for allowing me to collaborate with her on it. I also
thank the many Members of Congress that decided to cosponsor this
resolution, especially Chairman Miller and Ranking Republican McKeon.
School counselors are instrumental in helping our students face daily
challenges. They help develop well-rounded students by guiding them
through their academic, personal, social, and career development.
School counselors also play a vital role in ensuring that students
are prepared for their future. They may encourage students to pursue
challenging academic courses to prepare them for college majors and
careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
I certainly recognize that school counselors contribute to the
success of students in our schools, and I encourage all Members to join
me in supporting this resolution.
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 932.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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