Post 11

Brown’s (2012) chapter on career development programs from K-12 was informational and I can see how it could apply to many different grade levels within schools.  Brown discusses many different steps in the process of preparing a comprehensive program.  These steps include: receiving administrative support, establishment of preconditions, gathering a planning committee, needs assessments that determine which competencies need to be developed, planning the actual program to meet those competencies, implementing the program, and forming an accountability system (Brown, 2012).  All of these steps to developing a comprehensive program in schools seem practical, and they are all of equal importance.  However, speaking from my own experiences of working in a school district; I feel that this task may appear at times to be almost impossible.  I feel this way for a number of different reasons.  The first reason being, that the ratio of counselors to students is too high; and I believe that could make it difficult to formulate plans for such a program.  I work in an intermediate elementary school and there are only two school counselors in the building.  Each counselor has about 500 students.  It is difficult for them to even see each student, let alone guide them with career development tasks.  I also see counselors taking on too many roles.  I have seen them putting stickers on PSSA tests, sharpening pencils, and putting mail in the faculty’s mailboxes.  With all of that being said; I still see them running small groups and counseling students one-on-one.  However, I think that it is difficult for them to create more programs when they feel that they have too much on their plates already.  

Even though I may have described some negative aspects to the school counseling profession; I do believe that career development programs should be started early and continue until graduation.  There needs to be more focus on career development; and maybe school counselors are the ones who need to be advocating for comprehensive programs.  I feel that two of the important aspects to formulating a program are gaining administrative support and establishing preconditions.  Gaining administrative support is the first step and without it a program will most likely not succeed.  Secondly, it is important to establish preconditions so staff and administration will know the exact materials, supplies, technology, and budget that need to be used for these programs to succeed. 

Overall, there definitely seems to be a need for more career development programs in all levels of education.  Even if programs could start off small; it is better than nothing at all.  Maybe schools could start giving interest inventories to students and explain what the results mean in terms of career choices.  Schools could also have events where professionals within the community come and speak to the students and explain their positions. Even if this was a start; it may lead to more support, and comprehensive programs that are competency based and meet the needs of every student. 

 Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development. (10th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.