How Many Social Workers Does Your District Have? {EDUCATION?}

LewRockwell.com - Via WND / Commentary ^ | February 17, 2003 | Linda Schrock Taylor

[George Frm Br00klyn Park]

LewRockwell.com

How Many Social Workers Does Your District Have?
Many school districts have too many

by Linda Schrock Taylor

        

It is incomprehensible that school districts are rushing to hire social workers while educational standards are dropping across the nation. In some districts, the budgets for social services staff are higher than those for hiring additional instructional staff; or for purchasing new science books for sixth grade classes; or for funding quality training in reading instruction for teachers.

Some schools have gone so far as to replace school guidance counselors, who are trained in educational testing, advising and counseling; with young social workers lacking any background in the field of education. Some districts allow first-year social workers to train intern social workers. Some districts allow the various social and vocational activities planned by these young and inexperienced social workers, to take priority over the educational needs of the students, and the instructional plans of the teachers. In some districts, students are traveling to neighboring schools to beg assistance from real high school counselors who actually know who to file forms and fill out applications.

Many wonder what lies behind such decisions, made during this time of crisis in American education; in this time of grade inflation and academic deflation. The lack of student knowledge and thought processes puts the nation greatly at risk. Our freedoms, and the future decisions for this country, rest upon the shoulders of poorly educated students coming out of our schools. American students are failing to learn...and the districts hire social workers. Go figure. Or rather, "Fiddle, Nero, fiddle."

High school counselors have traditionally handled high school counseling responsibilities in effective, reasonable ways. They have known how to assist students in filing applications for colleges, scholarships, ACT/SAT testing. They have known how to be alert to potential scholarships and have kept seniors aware of opportunities and filing dates. Guidance counselors have been trained in testing and evaluation procedures so that test taking, and test results, can be handled with integrity and professionalism. For example, counselors are trained to put space between test takers, and to walk the aisles, monitoring to prevent talking or cheating.

I used to proctor for MENSA, so have experience with group testing procedures, and I do extensive individual testing and evaluation at my clinic. However, when I noticed students seated side-by-side while taking the Michigan MEAP test, I made the mistake of offering assistance to a young social worker. I thought that this counselor-replacement must be stressed at having to seat three students at each small, round table, making it difficult for students NOT to cheat, so I stopped to help. I explained that the retired high school counselor had always found the custodial staff very nice about setting up long tables for test days. The new employee made it clear that she was not worried about the seating or cheating, and she complained to the principal that my 'behavior' was pressuring her. I received a stern reprimand and inadvertently learned that the district's hiring change, from educational guidance counselors to social workers, was not based on any criteria that included skill and integrity in administering precision test instruments.

Some might wonder if this hiring change could have come about because of a shortage of trained school guidance counselors, but that seems not to be the case. I know of one tenured, caring, capable, teacher who spent years commuting to a state university to take classes for a master's degree in high school counseling. Everyone in her building knew that counseling was her deep interest, and that she was doing the degree on a timeline that would coincide with the retirement of a senior counselor. The teacher completed the new degree in time to apply for the vacant position, but she lost the job to an inexperienced social worker, untrained in school-related needs. So I learned another lesson – that not even loyalty to long-term, well-trained, hardworking staff members was reason enough to avert the district's new policy of filling the ranks with social workers.

Stress and dissatisfaction grows among and between staff, since these new social workers, and their social agendas, are becoming priorities in some districts. One soon learns to never question the usefulness of these new employees, their positions or their projects. Many are almost joined-at-the-hip with the young principals, while teachers who have lovingly taught students for decades are treated as liabilities; as used goods; as unnecessary and unwelcome staff members. Teachers sense that plans are secretly being made to replace we old knowledge-based dinosaurs with more social workers, or at least with the new kind of educators – those who believe in social leveling more than in teaching knowledge, and thinking skills to students.

So – if these decisions to hire social workers, rather than instructional staff or guidance counselors, are not based on the need to improve the educational standards and academic achievements in American schools; if these decisions are not based on possession of special skills in proctoring the increasing number of standardized tests now required by law; if these decisions have not been forced by an inability to find certified and trained guidance counselors; – then what could possibly explain hiring decisions that not only detract from, but further harm American schooling?

MONEY! Yes, I suspect that if one knew exactly where to look, one would learn that all reasons lead back to funding. I suspect that somewhere within the Clintons' "Goals 2000" attempt to implement the cradle-to-grave agenda within the schools; one can find federal funds for partial, even total, reimbursement for any expenses involved in hiring school social workers. Consider the savings for a school district – they save the cost of a guidance counselor's salary and benefits, while receiving a 'free' social worker – a warm body, at least; a gain in adult-to-child ratio; at least 'on paper.'

Might the Clintons' School-to-Work program be funding the new social workers being hired as career counselors? Where else would school districts get such funding? If schools could truly afford additional personnel, why would they not, considering the shocking and embarrassing rates of illiteracy and failure in American schools, hire reading specialists, instead?

Schools are not meant to be altruistic institutions; they are meant to be educational establishments. It simply does not make sense that school boards would willingly, without federal financial bait, hire social workers, untrained in any aspect that would contribute to the improvement of academic standards. Money. Federal Money. Nothing else explains such seemingly inexplicable expenditures made by supposedly financially strapped school districts.

February 17, 2003

Linda Schrock Taylor lives in northern-lower Michigan, where she is a special education teacher (in Room 18), a free-lance writer, and the owner of "The Learning Clinic," where real reading, and real math, are taught effectively and efficiently.

Copyright © 2003 LewRockwell.com

THIS article

[George Frm Br00klyn Park]

All, The objective of the EVIL thing known today as education is to "socialize" children. NOT "educate" them. And this DOES flow downhill from "above". Or maybe "pumped" {using CASH as the engine} up from the BOTTOM would fit better. Peace and love, George.

[George Frm Br00klyn Park]

"Schools are not meant to be altruistic institutions; they are meant to be educational establishments."

Guys, No longer in our NWO is this necessity true. Peace and love, George.

[moyden]

Public schools want control over parents.

[templar]

All, The objective of the EVIL thing known today as education is to "socialize" children. NOT "educate" them.

Indoctrination, not education. (Actually, that's something I could immagine a liberal crowd chanting.)

A lot of the blame has to be placed on society and parents in general though. I'm dumfounded by the almost universal acceptance, by parents, of the public schools systems intrusion into the lives of the students and family. A teacher or councillor suggests Ritalin for very normal behavior and it's an instant 'O.K.'. They send out invasive personal questionaires about a students (or families) personal attitudes, and activities and there are few or no protests. Forced gynecological exams of young girls, strip searches, ostricism of Christian beliefs, you name it; it's all O.K. now.

There's no excuse for having your children in public school. If you're Christian, it's a sin to do so.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

The primary purpose is to provide jobs for those who "graduate" with a degree in sociology. Of course the left then gets the side benefit of leftist clap trap being pumped into kids. These people study such important topics as basket weaving in the ghetto.

[LouD]

I've been substitute teaching lately, and have gained some insights into this situation. The district where I've been working is in an urban area, with all the urban pathologies you would expect: violence, child neglect, crack babies coming of age, poverty, etc.

The social workers here (and there is typically one per school) deal with those kinds of problems, that typically get in the way of these kids getting an education. I would agree that it is not a perfect solution. I would further agree that it absorbs resources that would be better spent teaching children. It is at best, a band-aid solution to a complex and pervasive problem. But, absent radical action on the part of society to compel people to be better parents, I don't know what the alternative is.

The problem is exacerbated, in my district anyway, by a system of "school integration" (read forced busing) which exports the urban pathologies of the 'hood to a formerly good school in a middle class neighborhood - Consequently, our neighborhood public school, which I pay for, is not an acceptable option for my own children. The mindset which underlies this integration seems to be a kind of insane egalitarianism: classes are not grouped by ability (with the exception of "learning disabled" kids) but instead all move at the pace of the slowest crack baby in the class, with interruptions by all the discipline problems - These two factors, which govern the speed with which the rest of the children learn, are the direct result of poor parenting.

It used to be that the children of poor parents were, for the most part, similar demographically - They all resided in the poorest neighborhoods, and so were concentrated in those schools. Now, however, we have magically assigned blame for their poor academic performance to the implicit racism of school assignment - Hence they, and the pathologies they bring with them, are now attending a school near you.

Thought you made enough money that you didn't have to deal with the problems of the inner city? Bought a house in a good neighborhood, in the hope of insulating your children from the problems of the ghetto? Guess again - Those problems are sitting at the desk next to your child.

It would be better if children could attend their own neighborhood schools, and we could concentrate and optimize resources, like social workers, on the children that need them. But here, as in many places, that is not politically possible. So children like mine attend private school, or home school, while children of parents who cannot afford private education suffer. As long as we export the problems of society to every school in America, we'll need someone there to deal with them.

[George Frm Br00klyn Park]

"But, absent radical action on the part of society to compel people to be better parents"

LD, This is the usual refrain handed down by those who are running education today. Have you ever asked which of the bad policies you mentioned that the parents initiated?

These people are talking about my parents and yours. NOT "those" parents. It is NOT the parents who are running the school systems and classrooms. It is the most highly educated people in the world. Even IF parents are strict disciplinarians at "home", what do you think the children "learn" at schools where a common comment upon returning from the principal's office is, "I just recieved my twelfth 'last' chance."

Nah, the problem is NOT "parents", but those who run public education. And, it IS DELIBERATE. Check out the critiques of this book. World Net Daily is also selling it. Peace and love, George.

[George Frm Br00klyn Park]

"Public schools want control over parents."

M, Yep. The "youth" of the "State". Peace and love, George.

[Vic3O3]

All the reasons you list, and many more, are why we will be homeschooling both our kids!

[Redleg Duke]

Answer....TOO DAMNED MANY! And we found out that we have a 4th Grade Teacher (Our Son's) who doesn't think it is necessary to insure that all of the students understand what their homework assignment is!

[Redleg Duke]

Oh, this is that libertarian horsepoop specialist, isn't it.

Well, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

[ladylib]

The best reply I ever heard from a homeschooling mother was: I don't want anybody to think they have control over my child.

[George Frm Br00klyn Park]

Oh, this is that libertarian horsepoop specialist, isn't it.

Well, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
==============

RD, Ah-yup! Note that I got the link at WND. Most of Rockwell's writers are too "long-winded" with not a lot of substance among the obfuscation. I had to quit going there. Such writing tends many times to sell "a pig in a poke". But, this lady was concise and right on. Wonders NEVER cease. Peace and love, George.

[ladylib]

My parents never would have put up with the intrusion that parents put up with today, and schools usually knew better than to intrude.

My mother hung up on my fifth grade teacher when she called during dinner time about my choice of school friends. My mother told her to please mind her own business.

Perhaps today people feel that the government is there to help them; hence the blurring of the line between schools and families.

Schools should decide whether they want to be state nannies or institutions of academic learning. My guess is the former.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

bump for reading

[LouD]

Nah, the problem is NOT "parents", but those who run public education.

Actually, the problem is both - I am no fan of the teaching profession (trust me, I could fill a whole thread with my thoughts on teachers) but you have to recognize what teachers are facing in the classroom today. I did not graduate from high school all that long ago, but I was shocked at the way students today act in the classroom today. It is literally like a different planet.

These kids are typically discipline problems, and their poor attitude is often accompanied by some degree of learning disability, and that disability might be as simple as parentally-induced stupidity. In other words, they've been put in front of a TV, never read to, ignored, and not given adequate nutrition for cognitive development for their entire lives. I have dealt with kids whose single parent mom is in jail; I have dealt with kids that have been through a succession of foster homes for most of their lives; I have dealt with kids who live through abuse that you probably could not imagine in your worst nightmare. I have dealt with kids who have no food in their house, because whatever excuse for a parent they got stuck with pissed away the welfare check on alcohol or drugs. I have dealt with kids who have cognitive deficiences directly attributable to fetal alcohol syndrome, or maternal drug use. I have dealt with pregnant sixth graders. I have dealt with child sexual abuse victims. I have dealt with students who live with an endless succession of mom's boyfriends parading through their lives. And I'm just a sub who has been doing this for a few months.

These kids bring a whole lot of baggage to school with them, and someone needs to deal with it. If you leave it to the teacher, you take time away from teaching - and these kids already take a disproportionate share of the teachers time because of discipline or learning problems.

It is not as simple as you would like to believe. School social workers, in my experience, are not there to intrude on the personal lives of good parents, as some posters here would have you believe. They are there to help salvage the kids of people who are lousy parents - crackheads, alcoholics, criminals - Not exactly your typical PTA members, or poster parents for home schooling.

[LouD]

See my post #17 above.

The "intrusions" that I've seen have been entirely warranted. In the cases I've seen where social workers have become involved, that involvement was warranted. These people weren't Ozzie and Harriet, and intrusion by social workers is the least of their problems.

[ladylib]

Some intrusions are warranted; some are fishing expeditions.

[George Frm Br00klyn Park]

"I could fill a whole thread with my thoughts on teachers) but you have to recognize what teachers are facing in the classroom today. I did not graduate from high school all that long ago, but I was shocked at the way students today act in the classroom today. It is literally like a different planet."
===================

LD, I know "what teachers are facing in the classroom today." But, It was NOT parents that dictated the policies that made those conditions possible. Actually mandatory. Nor was it the teachers. It has been education "leaders" and union "leaders' who lobbied for the LAWS that made discipline in schools IMPOSSIBLE. Teachers WATCHED and acquiesced these policies handed down from "on high" that any scientient being would KNOW would lead to the chaos we have. As I wrote earlier, "home" life matters NOT a'tall when it comes to discipline.

Children learn QUICKLY that when out of sight of "mom and dad", ANYTHING goes. And, since they ARE "mom and dad's little angels" they are believed by their parents. They DO "act right" at home. Bring back corporal punishment, and reform schools for those students who won't learn from a short period of stinging sensation that most times lasts for a lifetime. Of course, as a highly placed education counsellor told me, "We CAN'T call them "reform" schools. There is a bad connotation with that word."

THEN, get the administrations to BACK UP THE TEACHERS except in KNOWN cases of abuse. THIS STORY chronicles the adventures of a teacher who braved "inner city" schools. Note, too that "Josh" also puts some blame on the parents. But, again, which of the policies did the parents initiate? In their acceptance of the "violence {in ALL cases} begets violence", theory of morons, teachers have stood idly by and accepted the chaos creation policies handed down from "on high". In the beginning possibly from belief engendered by psychiatrists, but most probably later by fear of losing well paid jobs. It is a myth that teachers are "low paid". For the most part, their beginning salary is well above that of the parents of the students they teach. ESPECIALLY in "inner city" schools.

"It" is most certainly a MESS, but to blame parents is flat out wrong. When you and I went to school, there WAS discipline in the classroom! Most everywhere. Parents haven't changed. The system of education HAS. For the worse, DESPITE {because of??} the infusion of billions of dollars MORE to the education establishment. Peace and love, George.