I cited the same source several posts ago, my man.youthathletics wrote: ↑Sun Jul 02, 2023 3:35 pm So where does the counselor go if it is serious? Bypass the parents and straight to the State? Nope.....not advised.
There is a lot of innuendo flying around, without any cited facts on what School Counselors are 'legally/ethically' obligated to do.
And whether intentional or not, you're leaving out the ENTIRE section on confidentiality.
No. It doesn't. The word that it DOES use, and clearly uses, is RELEVANT stakeholders.youthathletics wrote: ↑Sun Jul 02, 2023 3:35 pm Section A.6.a clearly states to collaborate with all parties. And when serious A.9.A spells it out.
What does that "clearly" mean? It means: the Counselor gets to decide who is 'relevant' in a particular situation, placing the power in the hands of the counselor to figure it out, not the parents.
It's always a judgement call on the part of the counselor. Hence the disagreement I'm having with Tech, who believes the Parents are the customer, not the Child. Counselors' ethics as well as the law says no, sorry......student is the customer.
Read the section on Confidentiality, and you'll see I'm not just making this stuff up. You'll find sections like:
d. Are aware that even though attempts are made to obtain informed consent, it is not always possible. When needed, school counselors make decisions on students’ behalf that promote students’ welfare.
That sound like Parents are in charge?
Or how about this one:
g. Recognize their primary ethical obligation for confidentiality is to the students but balance that obligation with an understanding of parents’/guardians’ legal and inherent rights to be the guiding voice in their children’s lives.
School counselors understand the need to balance students’ ethical rights to make choices, their capacity to give consent or assent, and parental or familial legal rights and responsibilities to make decisions on their child’s behalf.
Student first. Parents, second.
Good counselors know when to inform and work with parents, and when not to. But THEY get to make that call, not parents. Although....and this is what prompted the conversation....laws are being changed in some States that are trying to turn School Counselors into the KGB, which to me? Is PLAINLY not in the best interest of kids.
And the current system, which has been in place since we were kids? It clearly served both Tech and his daughter well, as well as myself and my daughter. I have no interest in changing this setup. Kid first. Everyone else, second.