tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7186797.post115462445356469157..comments2023-12-29T05:24:43.830-06:00Comments on Kay Brooks: Graduating deferredKay Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06073075957511329333noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7186797.post-1154967824149337292006-08-07T11:23:00.000-05:002006-08-07T11:23:00.000-05:00And what MNPS school is 'yours'?And what MNPS school is 'yours'?Kay Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06073075957511329333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7186797.post-1154967503414367992006-08-07T11:18:00.000-05:002006-08-07T11:18:00.000-05:00At my MNPS high school, the guidance counselors DO...At my MNPS high school, the guidance counselors DO meet with each and every senior during the first month of school to review their academic record, count credits and tell them what they must do in order to graduate on time. The students sign the sheet indicating that they have had the conference and get a copy for their records. In addition, guidance counselors meet with students through out their high school careers about the graduation requirements and the progress each student is making toward that goal. <BR/><BR/>In our culture, high school students are not expected to be responsible for their own learning. Students know if they fail a class, but few take responsibility to make up the credit on their own. Every student gets a copy of the Program of STudies which states very clearly what the requirements are for graduation. Until we start holding high school students accountable for their academic progress, we are not going to see much change.<BR/><BR/>When I was in high school, we had only one guidance counselor for 1000 students, so I can't ever rememember meeting one on one with a counselor to discuss my academic progress. We did have group meetings and I was expected to listen to the information and make sure I met the requirements. By the time a student is in high school, it is time for the student to be held accountable for knowing the graduation requirements and for meeting them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7186797.post-1154793269076176812006-08-05T10:54:00.000-05:002006-08-05T10:54:00.000-05:00To little,too late.Counselors should be required t...To little,too late.Counselors should be required to meet with all Juniors during the first week or two of the school year,to assure they are on track.Then they should meet again,in the week prior to the Senior year to recheck.I agree that more and possibly better trained counselors are needed.This would be a positive step.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7186797.post-1154727999619161112006-08-04T16:46:00.000-05:002006-08-04T16:46:00.000-05:00This is a great idea, but it's going to take a lot...This is a great idea, but it's going to take a lot more counselors to do it (and better ones too). My high school had 4 counselors for 1200 students and they worked their tails off to meet with all of us at the beginning of the year. Metro has nowhere near as many counselors (per student) and a much more difficult job considering how many students enter, leave, and transfer each year (I've seen cumulative records from within and outside the system show up months after the student). As for getting better counselors (and firing the bad ones), they need to be taken off of the tenure track and placed in the administrative ranks--they are far too crucial to be protected from their mistakes (teachers too, but that's another can of worms).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com