K.Tappendorf, Article Précis #1 1

K.Tappendorf, Article Précis #1 1

Foster, L., Young, J., & Hermann, M. (2005). The work activities of professional school counselors: Are the national standards being addressed? Professional School Counseling. 8, 313-321.

Researchers surveyed more than 500 school guidance counselors nationwide regarding their perceptions and practices with respect to the newly developed American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model. Each counselor was asked to evaluate his/her performance of tasks and activities that promote academic, career, and personal/social development. Additionally, counselors were asked to evaluate the importance of each task in promoting these areas of student development. Results of this study suggest that school counselors rate their work as important. They frequently perform those activities that support the development of students in the three domains of the ASCA National Model.

Essential Information Contained in the Article

· Over 2500 school counselors were invited to participate in the survey and, of those invited, 526 individuals completed the questionnaire (a response rate of 17%). Although all participants reported their job title as school counselor, they were varied in their educational backgrounds including community/agency counseling, psychology, rehabilitation counseling, and marriage and family counseling.

· Researchers analyzed 193 items from the Job Analysis Survey (JAS) measuring two different scales – the frequency with which a task/activity was performed by counselors and the importance of each task/activity in promoting student development.

· A panel of six qualified experts classified each of the 193 questions in relation to the three domains of development identified in the ASCA National Model – academic, career and social/personal. Additionally, experts ranked these items on a 4-point Likert scale in terms of importance and effectiveness in each of the three domains. Researchers investigated tasks/activities that were identified by the expert panel as highly promoting student achievement

· School counselors identified two activities that are frequently performed and highly important to academic, career and personal/social development. According to these counselors, facilitating the development of decision-making skills and identifying support systems are highly effective counseling techniques applied in each of the three domains.

· Research identified three additional tasks that are frequently used and highly effective to student development in the academic realm. Counselors frequently provide general school counseling, promote healthy lifestyle choices and create classroom guidance lessons. They find each of these activities to be highly beneficial to student academic achievement.

· Research identified three additional activities that frequently occur in the counseling setting that are highly important in promoting career development. Counselors reported that they frequently provide general counseling, counsel students concerning physical abuse, and conduct prevention activities in an effort to promote healthy lifestyles and increase social and personal development.

· School counselors identified four behaviors as only moderately important to career development – assessing students’ educational preparation, evaluating students’ educational skills, implementing large group, small group and individual activities, and providing career education for students.

· School counselors acknowledged tasks that were classified as highly important yet rarely performed including sexual trauma counseling, counseling regarding sexuality and sexual behavior, and evaluating substance abuse and violence prevention programs.

· Limitations - Because only National Certified Counselors were respondents, the survey may not necessarily be representative of all school counselors. Also, only individuals with access to the Internet were able to complete the survey. Only 17% responded to the survey thus it is uncertain the extent to which their responses were representative of the nation.

· This research does not distinguish between school districts that have fully implemented the ASCA national model and those that have only partially implemented this program. Future research comparing and contrasting full and partial implementation of the model would be beneficial.

Relevant Information for my Work with Students.

I feel that this article provides information that is thoroughly applicable to my future in the school counseling profession. Through my training, I have studied the ASCA national model and am aware that, in theory, the model works to promote the academic, career, and social/personal development of students. More importantly, I am learning that, in practice, this model is essential in promoting the well being of individuals in these three domains. As a school guidance counselor it is important to be competent and knowledgeable in each of these three areas of development.

Additionally, while it is crucial to be proficient in counseling students regarding the less frequent issues of trauma, abuse, and sexuality, my day-to-day activities will be equally instrumental in the successful overall development of my students. In providing general counseling to my students, I will help them to define themselves in terms of their academic, career and personal goals. In assisting my student with the development of decision-making skills, I will help them to make improved academic, career and social decisions.