1. WALTER J. SULLIVAN, PH.D. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR & DIRECTOR OF THE EDUCATION CENTER COLLEGE OF NEW ROCHELLE WSULLIVAN@CNR.EDU 1 Major Legal, Ethical, Educational, and Psychological Challenges Facing Schools & Guidance Programs October 18, 2010

2. The Teacher/Counselor as Model “I’ve come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher/counselor, I possess a tremendous power to make a student’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides where a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a student humanized or de-humanized.” Haim Ginott

3. Key Ideas 3 Whole child & whole school approaches (wholechild@ascd.org)wholechild@ascd.org Teaching & Counseling as a RELATIONSHIP

4. Ethical Behavior in Schools and Counseling 4 Individual values and impact on moral decision-making Ethical decisions at the building level Ethical decisions at the district level Ethics and building a community

5. Emotional & Ethical Challenges 5 Paradox of our times Transitions are “BIG” Lost boys-James Garbarino Consequences of perfection and competition Cornucopia Kids (Baldwin) Dealing with death, dying & bereavement Self-image is the pivotal concept Bullying (Be cool not cruel) Peer pressure & cultural pressure

6. Challenges Continued… 6 Equity of resources & educational opportunities; achievement gaps and some solutions Identification of learning difficulties & IEPs “Test Prep” mentality & NCLB and ‘Race to the Top’ mandates → Teacher and counselor evaluations using standardized tests (40%) Poor quality teaching as a result of student & parent complaints: what do you do? Explosion of the impact of brain research on teaching and learning; Thinking Maps

7. Possible Ethical Solutions to these Challenges 7 Building Community-culture of caring Power of Modeling (Bandura) (Sizer) Possibility Thinking (Schuler) Character Education & Attitude (Licona- www.charactercounts.com) www.charactercounts.com Resiliency & building of assets Moral & spiritual leadership (Tolman) Find ‘significant others’ for isolated students LOVE: give and receive (Kapel)

8. Possible Solutions cont… 8 ‘In praise of judicious praise’ Students need a personal victory every day. (We all do!!)-Support! Support! Professional Staff Development: Differentiation of Instruction, 21 st Century Skills, modeling, and awareness of the school and classroom climate.

9. Schools, Ethics and the Law 9 Parent’s right to know & counselor’s role Zero tolerance policies-problematic FEPRA: a matter of discipline Student files: disciplinary vs. personal Student’s rights & responsibilities: due process “in loco parentis” School’s code of discipline & the Athletic Code of Conduct Free speech: are there limits? (Tinker Case)

10. Schools and the Law cont… 10 Reasonable search of students & lockers Sexual harassment: ‘hostile environment’ & ‘quid pro quo’ Prayer groups in public schools –equal access Dress: cannot be distracting to the educational process

11. Safety & Violence in Schools 11 Clear emergency plans Threat assessments (Secret Service) School resource officer ABC’s of school safety: awareness, balance, & control Dealing with crisis (www.emsc.nysed.gov/sss?Save?)www.emsc.nysed.gov/sss?Save Early warnings & timely response (www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/gtss.htm)www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/gtss.htm

12. “It takes a village to raise a child and a bridge to reach the village.” “Behind every behavior problem is a story to be told and a heart to be healed.”