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Guidance
For such a small "intimate" school it is shocking to hear story after story of the guidance department dropping the ball on seniors applying to colleges. Heaven help the student who does not have the parental support at home to do the counselors job for them.
Im surprised at how they barely meet with the kids ALL through High school.
ReplyDeleteNot to worry, we parents of seniors have all been warned enough. Were on our own. Cant rely on them, have to keep checking up on them. Apparently Its been that way for years. Nothings changed this year.
ReplyDeleteDoes every problem have to be put on this blog to get attention? For crying out loud Dr Bossert, go and see what's going on in guidance. It's a mess. My ninth grader doesn't even know who their guidance counselor is!!!!!
ReplyDelete9th? Go ask some of the juniors. They dont know either.
DeleteHow did the guidance department drop the ball on a senior? What happened?
ReplyDelete>>Does every problem have to be put on this blog to get attention?<<
ReplyDeleteNo, it's typically only from parents who feel that the school district is responsible for their kids with everything from changing their underwear to making sure they are kind to an old lady crossing the street.
Hey, let's make a fresh start with 2013 - parents: stop passing the buck and raise your own kids! Maybe teach them to not have to rely on anyone and take matters in their own hands. Lead by example and show them that whether a guidance counselor, or teacher, or coach does his/her job satisfactorily or not...there's no excuses. No one at Harvard is gonna care if "Johnny's" guidance counselor dropped the ball. You wanna go there, Johnny? Make it your business to get there.
"Oh, that's ridiculous!! My little Johnny isn't capable of such an adult task!! And I have no time to help him myself!! And we PAY these guidance counselors to do their job!! Boo hoo..wah wah wah!!!" .... with that attitude I hope your kid enjoys Suffolk. Are you gonna complain on the Wal Mart Blog when his supervisor isn't giving him the day off after Thanksgiving, too?
If we followed your line of thinking, we could save a whole lot of money by eliminating the Guidance Counselor positions completely. Is that what you are advocating?
DeleteMaybe we could all home-school our children too. There, we've just solved the whole LIPA issue haven't we?
Let's be serious, we DO pay these people to provide a service to our children and their parents. Yes, students and parents have responsibility but so do our employees.
I love how people don't read... no I'm not advocating home schooling or firing GCs. You're taking my point and turning into something else.
DeleteYou are 100% correct - the employees DO have responsibilities. But at the end of the day, WE are ultimately responsible. Colleges don't care if the GCs do their job or not.
So the point I was trying to make was: the problem is beyond any one of us, so we have to take ownership for each of our situations and make it work for our families and our kids.
My kids are being raised with a simple mantra: "Your fate is no one's hands but your own. It's YOUR responsibility to make your life happen. Don't rely on anyone and you won't need to bitch when they don't come through."
I am the parent of a senior who missed an early action deadline because the transcript and letter from the school did not make it in time. If I could bypass the school and "raise my child" myself, believe me I would. Unfortunately, the students are at the mercy of the guidance department for ONE task over 4 years! No amount of follow up or even your mantra would get what is REQUIRED by the colleges. Let me guess, your kid is in Middle School? Let us know how your mantra is doing after 2nd semester senior year.
DeleteBeen there, done that. All is well. My kids were at the mercy of no one because that's not tolerated in my house. I guess your "follow up" is a little weak.
DeleteGood luck.
Same thing happens year after year- seems it especially happens with early action/early admission, which more kids are doing these days. The person who says you dont have to rely on guidance at all is an idiot. The guidance department is essential in getting these deadlines met.
Delete"...the problem is beyond any one of us, so we have to take ownership.."
DeleteI'll agree that the problem is beyond any one of us but how about the school taking ownership of the ineptitude and actually try to improve things there? Its gone on long enough. My 2 kids graduated from college already and I see things have not changed much.
>>...The person who says you dont have to rely on guidance at all is an idiot. The guidance department is essential in getting these deadlines met.<<<
DeleteWell, I guess EVERYONE is screwed! Not 1 kid is gonna be spared because the guidance department is "essential" yet they're incompetent or lazy or don't care or whatever.
The may be all of the above! So, how are you going to handle it? If you're going to accept it for what it is (which is what it seems like most people on this forum do while whining and complaining all the way)and teach your kid to just accept it for what it is, then your kid is the one who suffers.
If that's the case...who's the idiot?
There are certain things that you cannot do for yourself (or your child. Guidance has to do it ex- sending the transcripts out ON TIME!!! The bottom line is- THEY DO NOT CARE!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo that means that if I wanted to apply for college now, being out of high school for many years, I can't because I don't have a Guidance Counselor?
DeleteMaybe they don't care, but gimme a break about not being able to do things for yourself.
They really do have a cookie cutter approach here. One brief meeting senior year where every kid gets the same ditto with the exact same colleges recommended (given to guidance by a parent, btw). For a small school they should really be more individualized. They pat themselves on the back when kids get into top notch schools. My older 2 did but it was in NO WAY reflective of the "guidance" that our guidance dept gave.
ReplyDeleteHere's a piece of advice- look into having your child take the ACT's, parents. Our school gives no information about these and I dont know why. Talk to parents in other high schools
Is that in addition to the SATs?
DeleteAlso have your child attend the "college night" with you. It is important. Dont know why our school does not encourage this.
ReplyDeleteThis guidance department has been a problem for many many years. The higher ups know it. Get them some re-training or something for pete sake. Parents in Pj all know the phrase- YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN
ReplyDeleteIm so glad to see this topic brought up. my husband had a blow up last year with guidance. The coach from the college my kid applied to was calling my home saying they had not recieved the necessary paperwork. When we called guidance we were told "We dont do it that way" meaning what? they hold onto all the kids paperwork & then wait until the last damn minute to send it out? I wish we could have bypassed this guidance department. Believe me it would have been a relief! Ill give my advice now based on the horror stories Ive heard happen here - Follow up follow up follow up. Dont take their word that they sent it out. Call the colleges way before the deadline hits and make sure guidance has done what they are supposed to do.
ReplyDeleteI should have sued their asses for all the misinformation and problems they gave me regarding my child with am IEP & learning disability. Total incompetence.
ReplyDeleteSome colleges require them to take the ACT if they have an IEP. Shouldnt a guidance counselot know this?
DeleteWhere is the guidance website? It is not listed under departmants.
ReplyDelete