[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 386-387]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 360--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6 THROUGH 
       FEBRUARY 10, 2006, AS ``NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK''

  Mrs. MURRAY submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 360

       Whereas the American School Counselor Association has 
     declared the week of February 6 through February 10, 2006, as 
     ``National School Counseling Week'';
       Whereas the Senate has recognized the importance of school 
     counseling through the inclusion of elementary and secondary 
     school counseling programs in the 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 every student;
       Whereas personal and social growth results in increased 
     academic achievement;
       Whereas school counselors help develop well-rounded 
     students by guiding them through their academic, personal, 
     social, and career development;
       Whereas school counselors have been instrumental in helping 
     students, teachers, and parents deal with the trauma that was 
     inflicted upon them by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma;

[[Page 387]]

       Whereas students face myriad challenges every day, 
     including peer pressure, depression, and school violence;
       Whereas school counselors are usually the only 
     professionals in a school building who are trained in both 
     education and mental health matters;
       Whereas the roles and responsibilities of school counselors 
     are often misunderstood, and the school counselor position is 
     often among the first to be eliminated in order to meet 
     budgetary constraints;
       Whereas the national average ratio of students to school 
     counselors of 478-to-1 is more than 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; and
       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:
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of February 6 through February 10, 
     2006, as ``National School Counseling Week''; and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities that 
     promote awareness of the role school counselors perform in 
     the school and the community at large in preparing students 
     for fulfilling lives as contributing members of society.

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