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My school district has 5 schools located in five different buildings. Each school has its own full time well paid psychologist with excellent benefits. How many psychological problems can kids have? Is each psychologist actually seeing "patients" the entire day? Do grammar school kids actually need this?
Why can't there be one for the whole district or have a psychologist on call for those psychological " emergencies" and give taxpayers a break!
School Psychologists are often responsible for overseeing more than just the students with psychological issues. Schools are now required to go through an extensive "response to intervention" process if a child is not doing well academically, and the teacher feels that the child needs additional services. After the teacher documents every avenue he/she has exhausted in the classroom, the psychologist then administers a battery of tests to the student one-on-one. The tests take a total of several hours. This could also involve observing the child in the classroom to see how he/she interacts in a group. The psychologist in my school is also responsible for visiting the preschools that are attended by students in our district who have been identified as needing early intervention, which means she is not in the building all day, every day.
Students who used to attend separate schools due to their disabilities are now being mainstreamed back into "regular" schools. You would be amazed at how many of these children are emotionally disturbed, and can be "set off" by minor things. When we hear the psychologist being paged, we know it means a student is throwing a tantrum, and could potentially be endangering himself or others. Schools are a very different world today than they were even a decade ago.
As a school custodian in an elementary school I see much of what a school psych does.He/she is involved in the child who has problems socially,educationally,emotionally as well as ones who have home problems which sadly is many. Our school psych is in building early,stays late and always with kids or with face into computer screen.He also is involved in deciding whether or not to give the child medication.Personally over the years I have seen a large increase in medicated kids.You can many times pick out the kids who take meds and you always see the kid who starts taking them as they are usually very quiet.I hate seeing so many kids doped but it's not my place to cast opinion about it.Now schools are employing 'Behavioral Specialists' who sit around and observe how kids interact with each other.That's another story.
Each of the 9 schools in the West Islip School District also has an in house psychologist, in the 2 middle schools they also double as a 3rd or 4th guidance counselor in addition to the 2 or 3 "normal" guidance counselors.
As a school custodian in an elementary school I see much of what a school psych does.He/she is involved in the child who has problems socially,educationally,emotionally as well as ones who have home problems which sadly is many. Our school psych is in building early,stays late and always with kids or with face into computer screen.He also is involved in deciding whether or not to give the child medication.Personally over the years I have seen a large increase in medicated kids.You can many times pick out the kids who take meds and you always see the kid who starts taking them as they are usually very quiet.I hate seeing so many kids doped but it's not my place to cast opinion about it.Now schools are employing 'Behavioral Specialists' who sit around and observe how kids interact with each other.That's another story.
I looked it up.. yeah thats what doctors offices are for, not my tax-funded schools.
As a survivor of Catholic grammar schools, I can attest that there is no need for school psychologists. If you had an emotional problem or did not do well academically, Sister Mary PasstheCandlelit would take care of that with the back of her holy hand.
As a survivor of Catholic grammar schools, I can attest that there is no need for school psychologists. If you had an emotional problem or did not do well academically, Sister Mary PasstheCandlelit would take care of that with the back of her holy hand.
Both you Gpsma and Silver Bullet should spend a day at my job and see what a pathetic society we have become. Children know no punishment for their actions and therefore have no fear. Teachers who's hands are tied as far as what they can do to students who disrupt class,disrespect others and cause damage to school property. Principals are afraid to institute punishment for fear the parents complain to administrators or are related to BOE members who call teachers out on carpet. Ten year old girls dressed as little street corner walkers because this is what they see on tv or their mom is living through them. Boys not being told to remove their hats but being given a demerit because they failed to wear school colors on Friday. Gym class curriculum where baseball,flag football and basketball is no longer played because those games have winners and losers and that is damaging to children's psychs.Instead kids now play circus games(frisbee on a stick spin,silk bandana juggling,parachute ball toss,etc) ,foam fun doodle fencing but no jabs above the waistand dancing.No not squaredancing but rumba and samba.I could go but enough already.
I totally agree with gpsma. Our kids go to catholic school where there is no guidance counselors etc. Granted its elementary school. There is discipline and respect on both parts.
No amount of money will fix the totally broken system. It appears as if there is no responsibility on the part of the parents, students and those who want to educate in a respectful setting cannot due to lawsuits etc. Surely the system has to help the majority of children and not coddle the minority of children.
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