In light of National School Counselor Week, a review of the Alabama School Counselor Association (ALSCA) shows counselors across the state are being provided resources that may stun lawmakers and parents alike.
According to their website, "The Alabama School Counselor Association encourages and promotes excellence in Alabama’s school counseling programs as they support student success. Our goal is to improve student academic, career, and social/emotional development through professional learning, advocacy, collaboration, and leadership."
Resources available to Alabama professionals in public K-12 schools include anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as well as a new resource for counselors to role-play with students, telling them how unfair Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) law enforcement actions are through their national affiliation with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).
Just as the Alabama Education Association (AEA) is the state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), a leftist organization, the ALSCA is the state affiliate of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), which is equally as progressive.
While many older generations remember guidance counselors in school, the field has been renamed. According to a social media post this week, "ASCA moved away from 'guidance counselor' in 1990 because it didn’t reflect today’s comprehensive role, and research shows the term lowers perceived competence."
Anti-Racism
The second topic listed under resources for school counselors throughout Alabama is "anti-racism." The link takes Alabama counselors to the national website, where DEI and critical race theory resources are abundant.
"The U.S. education system contributes to maintaining systems of oppression through racist policies, practices, and guidelines that negatively affect all students but especially students from racially diverse backgrounds, including Black and Indigenous students, who historically have been distinctly affected by white supremacy in the United States (Steward, 2019). By supporting anti-racist policies through their actions and expressed anti-racist ideas, school counselors embrace their roles as social justice advocates and change agents who examine and dismantle systems of oppression (Kendi, 2019)," one resource, "The School Counselor and Anti-Racist Practices," explains.
Among the things the guide tells school counselors to do is: "Initiate and/or participate in 'courageous conversations' that move to discomfort on topics of injustice, racism, privilege, oppression and related issues."
Several of the resources on the national page linked from the Alabama page are from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). "All Students Need Anti-racism Education," explains, "Examining anti-Blackness in our practice is something we all must be looking at. Looking at anti-Blackness or inequities brought about by systems rooted in white supremacy and racism is something all students should be doing."
It goes on to say, "It can be easy in teaching privilege to fall into the trap of 'white guilt' or 'privilege guilt' (or even 'survivor guilt' for BIPOC who have moved up socioeconomically and have internalized the belief that their communities were something to be 'survived'). While guilt can be an important emotion to notice and process, educators should help students move through it to a place of action. Beyond “feeling bad” about generations of oppression, how can they use this knowledge to advocate for change and begin breaking down their own racist beliefs?"
Helping Students in Troubling Times
One resource link, "Helping Students in Troubling Times," gives the disclaimer: "ASCA offers some suggestions and resources to consider as you provide ongoing support to your students. Before you take any action, review your school and district policies to be sure you don’t violate any policies as you help your students. For example, some districts have policies prohibiting faculty from talking about politics with students."
On that page, the first external resource is "What to Say to Kids about ICE."
That page includes a mock conversation by age.
Conversation as follows:
Ages 3 to 6: Keep explanations simple and comforting. Say, “Some families are being treated unfairly because of where they were born.” Offer extra comfort with hugs, stories, and routine. Reassure them they are loved and protected.
Ages 7 to 11: Provide more detail. Say, “Some families are being separated because of how they came to the U.S. That isn’t right.” Let them ask questions and remind them to talk only to trusted adults.
Ages 12 to 18: Be honest and open. Say, “It’s not fair that families are treated differently because of where they’re from.” Encourage teens to express feelings and ask questions. Support any positive actions they want to take.
Other resources
Alabama guidance counselors are also being provided with "The Trevor Project" as a resource for Suicide Prevention.
The Trevor Project has been widely criticized for encouraging children and teens to hide their need for support from their loved ones. The site is coded to automatically close with a quick push of three buttons, helping youth evade parental detention or oversight.
The Trevor Project website includes a website "TrevorSpace" which it bills as "a welcoming online social community for LGBTQ+ young people between the ages of 13-24 years old. With over 700,000 members across the globe, you can find support groups and make friends in a moderated online safe space intentionally designed for you."
This space, which is promoted from the homepage of the resource linked for Alabama school counselors, has been called a haven for groomers and adults who prey on youth.
One of the frequently asked questions on the national website asks counselors: "What are a student’s rights in terms of confidentiality related to gender identity?"
"School counselors’ goal is to ensure the safety, comfort, and healthy development of all students, maximizing inclusion and social integration while minimizing exclusion and stigmatization," it states. "Requiring school counselors to 'out' students could prevent school counselors from being a safe haven to listen to and support students. Students are in the best position to predict their parents’ reaction and to gauge when they are ready to broach the subject with them. It isn’t the school counselor’s role to 'out' students, but to listen, support, and provide unconditional positive regard."
It notes, "If school counselors are in a state where a law has been passed that requires staff to notify parents when a student requests to be referred by a different pronoun or name, school counselors should find out the school’s/district’s implementation process or guidelines. Inquire if the state education department has released guidelines to assist schools in the management of adhering to the laws while still performing school counselor duties. If there is credible concern regarding the student’s safety were this information to be shared with the parent/guardian, school counselors are encouraged to follow district procedures for reporting."
Governor Kay Ivey recently signed a proclamation celebrating school counselors.
The executive director of the Alabama School Counselor Association has not responded to a request for comment.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning or become a member to gain access to exclusive content and 1819 News merch.
