The Need for School Psychologists at this Critical Time
Public schools provide support staff that help teachers consider the whole child. This includes the role of the school psychologist. These professionals are the experts that make a school and school system complete. They provide children and teens the mental health support they need.
Since the corporate school reform march to privatize public education, those in supportive school roles have been under attack. Budget cuts to public schools means the loss of critical support positions that make public schools comprehensive. Privatization supporters want parents to pay for these services.
Today, most public schools have shortages when it comes to counselors, librarians, nurses, and the school psychologist. In some schools, these positions are replaced by volunteers who have little training.
The ACLU found that while 14 million students have police officers in their schools, the schools lack counselors, nurses, social workers, and school psychologists.
It’s unconscionable at a time when worry surrounds school shootings, that there continues to be a shortage of school psychologists. Money is poured into school CONTINUE READING: The Need for School Psychologists at this Critical Time