MASCA
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION
VOL. 47, NO. 10
The Many Faces of Advocacy By CHRISTINE EVANS, MASCA Past President
CHRISTINE EVANS
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s professional educators and school counselors, we often talk about advocacy. In MASCA’s mission statement it is referred to in this way: “MASCA advocates for school counselors in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by providing leadership, collaboration, and professional development.” In the summary of the MASCA Annual Day on the Hill Leadership Forum, advocacy was mentioned twice: “Last month over 70 school counselors and their supporters came together at the Massachusetts State House for the third annual Leadership Forum, a professional development and advocacy program sponsored by the Massachusetts Coalition for School Counseling. The program provides school counselors with information and resources to be a better school counselor and to advocate for the school counseling profession in their schools, communities and with their policy makers.” In our work as school counselors, advocacy plays an important role. We advocate for our students when we work to provide the best possible opportunities for them. Or when we seek fair and equitable treatment for them. Or when we speak up to ensure that they receive the support they need to succeed. Or when we ask the admissions office to review their application once again. Or when we appeal a financial aid decision.
We also advocate in our school communities. When we talk about the work we do and how it helps students achieve their goals, we are sharing information that will help stakeholders better understand our roles and responsibilities. This is essential in creating a collaborative team that works together to meet student needs. The Leadership Forum/Day on the Hill is an excellent example of advocacy work that we do in the larger community. Sharing information, seeking support, and working on legislation to provide services that students need are all part of our efforts to reach out to legislators, helping to inform them about what we do and how it helps students. Our advocacy efforts, however, need to be increasingly focused on teaching students how to advocate effectively for themselves. With the current emphasis on college and career readiness, students need to learn self-advocacy skills in school and at home. Teachers, counselors, and parents can help. Students are capable of taking more responsibility for managing time, making decisions, and conducting business transactions. We can help them learn to do so by giving them opportunities before they go off to college. Encouraging students to do what they can for themselves, while standing by to support them, is one of the most valuable gifts we can give them to help find success. Although it may be easier to fill out forms for them, mail their applications, register them for classes, etc., every time we do so, we put students at a disadvantage. They become accustomed to thinking that someone will take care of business for them. It is better for all of us to teach them to advocate for their own needs. When they do what they can for themselves, students will ultimately be more successful and satisfied. ■
JUNE 2011
Advocacy Committee Action Alert
BOB BARDWELL MASCA Advocacy Committee Chair
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uesday, June 21 could be the biggest day in MASCA’s recent history. On that day at 10:00 a.m. in Hearing Room A2 in the Massachusetts State House, MASCA will have a chance to testify about its bill to mandate that every elementary school will have a certified elementary school counselor. We need everyone’s help in making this become a reality: all members and non-members, our students (especially those at the elementary level), family members, friends, colleagues, and even neighbors. For those not familiar, House Bill 1068 (An Act to mandate elementary school counselors) would require all public school districts to employ a certified school guidance counselor as outlined in the regulations for Educator Licensure and Preparation. In 2009-2010, an estimated 70% of elementary schools had no school guidance counselor and 41% had no school counselor, adjustment counselor, or social worker. It is critical that we let our elected state senators and representatives know that HB 1068 is important. In this current economic situation, when many school districts are laying off people, there is going to be little interest in adding mandates, particularly if there is no fund(continued on page 4)