School Counselor free essay sample

This profession interests me for two reasons. First of all, I like to talk with people of all types. Second of all, I am always concerned with the feelings of others. The combination of these two qualities of mine is what makes becoming a guidance counselor my goal. Early in the 1920’s, some school systems in such major cities as Boston and New York offered their students vocational guidance. These programs ended during the Depression when money was scarce. It was not until after World War II that guidance departments were formed in schools. This was a result of many reasons. Students lost their individual identity in the crowds of fellow students† (â€Å"Guidance Counselors†) in big city schools. New jobs were created with advances in technology. More students planned to attend college. Parents were unable to help their children in these areas. These and other services had to be provided by trained individuals, the guidance counselors. Education and Other Requirements To be a counselor in a school in the state of Pennsylvania, an individual needs to have a Masters Degree and a state certification in their particular level of counseling. For example, one possibility is to have a Masters of Science Degree in Counseling and Human Relations with a certification in School Counseling. The certification may be dual, meaning one certificate for two areas of school counseling–Elementary School and Secondary School. This covers kindergarten through twelfth grade. A person may be able to get a Masters Degree in Counseling without a related undergraduate (Bachelors) degree. However, extra courses may need to be taken. It is most beneficial if a school counselor has teaching experience which means the Bachelors degree would be in some kind of education. Following is a list of courses, which may be required for a future school counselor: ? Guidance Services ? Group Dynamics ? Theories of Counseling ? Methods of Research ? Counseling for Human Differences ? Assessment Methods in Guidance ? Counseling and Consultative Techniques in the School ? Group Procedures in the School ? Practicum in Elementary or Secondary Guidance ? Advanced Practicum (Practicum is when the counselor in training goes into a school and practices what was learned at college, and learns from the employed counselor. ) (Handbook 13-16). The future outlook for employment of school counselors is good. The field is expected to grow because of increasing enrollments, mostly in secondary and post-secondary schools. Counselors are becoming more involved in crises and helping students deal with issues ranging from drug and alcohol abuse to death and suicide. The job growth among counselors may depend on budgetary constraints. If funding is tight, schools prefer to hire new teachers before new counselors because they want to keep the classroom size at an acceptable level. Salary and Benefits A counselor is paid according to the teachers’ professional contract. This is negotiated every two to five years. A typical public school counselor will earn from $25,000 to $80,000 per year. The salary schedule reflects a person’s experience and the level of education attained. The steps are unique to the particular district. Education levels may include a Bachelors Degree, a Bachelors Degree plus fifteen credits, a Masters Degree or a Masters Equivalency, a Masters Degree plus fifteen credits, a Masters Degree plus thirty credits, a Masters Degree plus forty-five credits, a Masters Degree plus sixty credits, or a Doctorate. The earnings are printed out on a chart and increase for each year of experience in the district. This may be from a first year teacher to a maximum amount after sixteen years. Again, the number of years to get to the maximum level is different from district to district. There is a salary schedule figured for each year of the contract. A negotiated cost of living increase is the basic difference from year to year. Typically, an average of three personal days and ten sick days are given to the employee each year. There is often a monthly fee for health and dental benefits. Workman’s compensation may be offered as a choice. A counselor will get a paycheck every two weeks. Most school districts offer an option to get the annual salary divided over either ten months (22 checks) or twelve months (26 checks). Besides the usual deductions, money is taken out for the state retirement fund. The amount of money received during retirement has just increased. Job Description and Duties Counseling in schools includes a wide variety of activities and services. The following list will describe the services of a school-counseling program. Individual Counseling- School counselors provide individual sessions for students to help with educational and personal concerns. ? Group Counseling- Students help each other by working in small groups with leadership from the counselor. Students share ideas about issues such as problem solving, educational planning, and peer relationships. ? Group Guidance- Counselors meet with groups to help students learn information about themselves. Groups can be small or large and are instructional. The topics might focus on self-concept, study skills, friendship, or good citizenship. Student Appraisal- Counselors help students, parents, and teachers by collecting information about student abilities, behaviors, and achievement so decisions can be made about educational placement and instructions. ? Referral- Counselors are referral agents who help students and their families receive assistance from other programs and services in the school system and from agencies outside the school. ? Consultation- Counselors consult with teachers and parents to plan appropriate services for every child. Consultations focus on the individual needs of the child. Coordination- Counselors coordinate services and activities for smooth administration. An example would be the coordination of school standardized testing schedules (Schmidt 26-27). In order to fully understand these services it is necessary to understand what counseling is about. Counseling is a process involving a relationship between two people who are meeting so that one person can help the other to resolve a problem. In group counseling the roles of helpers can be shared and interchanged among the group members. The group counselor would then be called a facilitator (Thompson 13). It is necessary to listen for three pieces of information children bring to counseling sessions: 1) their problem or concern, 2) their feelings about the problem, and 3) their expectations for what they want the counselor to do. Most problems may be classified in one or more of five categories: 1) conflict with others, 2) conflict with self, 3) lack of information about self, 4) lack of information about the environment, and 5) lack of skill. An important part of the counseling process for children involves training in communication, assertion, and effective study habits (Thompson 14). The counselor’s attitudes and skills are very important to the quality of the counseling relationship. The qualities and behaviors present in very effective counselors are as follows: ? Intellectual Competence- counseling requires a person to have adequate knowledge of many different areas. This involves searching for data to make informed decisions about choice of plan and progress of student. ? Energy- Counseling is emotionally demanding. When dealing with problems counselors are likely to feel emotionally drained and physically fatigued. Being dynamic produces student confidence and a willingness to work. ? Flexibility- Effective counselors are not tied to a single method of work. The question they ask is â€Å"Which technique will work best for this particular student? † ? Support- The student experiences the fact that here is someone who respects him as he is. ? Good Will- The counselor’s motives and intentions are positive and constructive rather than negative and destructive. ? Self-awareness- All our feelings and thoughts influence the way we handle certain things in the counseling relationship (Cormier 12-13). In school counseling there are both advantages and disadvantages of the job. The main advantage is that you get to touch the life of a child. You are able to reach out and help someone solve a problem or feel good about him or herself. This is very important because it helps the student grow emotionally and be ready for more challenging life events. Another advantage would be that you have the opportunity to work with a variety of professionals who all are concerned about the welfare of the child. Psychologists, social workers and various therapists would be examples. An unusual advantage is that you get most of the summer as well as holiday weeks off. The pay and benefits are also thought to be excellent. The main disadvantage of school counseling is that it is both emotionally and physically draining. Counseling itself can become very difficult because you are listening to the problems of others everyday and many times there can be no solution. â€Å"Dealing daily with these problems can cause stress† (â€Å"Counselors† 1). Another disadvantage is that you work for many people. The principal, vice principals, teachers, parents, and students all demand time and attention from you. Conclusion Secondary school counseling is an occupation with many responsibilities. He or she must respond to the most mundane problems of a child to crisis situations. A solid college and graduate school education, along with training and experience, are the requirements. Then, counselors can help students to understand and learn to deal with the intellectual, emotional, social, and physical changes that occur in the student’s transition from childhood to adolescence, and finally to a young adult. Personally, I feel that I would be an excellent guidance counselor. Firstly, I am a good listener, which is a necessary quality. Secondly, I empathize with the problems of others, and genuinely care about their feelings. Very often, students need to understand why things happen the way that they do. I would explain clearly based on their backgrounds and experiences. Finally, the field of education has been part of my entire life. Both of my parents are teachers, and conversations often reflect situations that occur in their schools. I have always been interested and involved in these family discussions.

The Issue of Pesticide Content in Soft Drinks Essay Example

The Issue of Pesticide Content in Soft Drinks Essay In the August 10, 2006 news article of The Times of India, reports were made that after coming out from a cabinet meeting of the state’s Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, Kerala’s Marxist Achuthanandan said, â€Å"Neither Coke nor Pepsi can manufacture or sell their products in Kerala. Their licenses are being scrapped as well† (Surendran, 2006). Although LDF has been hostile towards the two multinational companies due to the over-extraction of groundwater by their bottling plants in Palakkad, it was the Centre for Science and Environments (CSE) campaign against alleged pesticide residues in colas produced and sold in India by Coke and Pepsi that has influenced the pronouncement. Though the cola producers might have not directly applied pesticide to the crops and instead, the traced pesticide residues might have come from the groundwater as seepage from other plants to which chemical have been applied, the fact remains that there is pesticide in the colas that are being used in Coca Cola production in India. In the latest news regarding traces of pesticides in colas in India, Sunita Naraian, a director of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and a New Delhi-based NGO, said that â€Å"the governments own committee had found pesticides in the products† before the Supreme Court. We will write a custom essay sample on The Issue of Pesticide Content in Soft Drinks specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Issue of Pesticide Content in Soft Drinks specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Issue of Pesticide Content in Soft Drinks specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer She further maintains that the government must agree to fix a mandatory standard for the drinks (Surendran, 2006). Conclusion In the beginning, soda’s or soft drinks were the natural choice preferred by drinkers because they equated bubbly drinks to wellness of health. But as time progressed, various additions and revisions have been made to soft drinks, which tickled the palates of its drinkers such as changing the sweetening agents and enhancing its appearance and packaging. These are the factors that cannot be found in water which makes millions of its drinkers prefer sodas or soft drinks over water, or any other noncarbonated beverage. Further, too many of its drinkers formed the habit of consuming it because of the addictive properties contained by some of its ingredients, thus resulting in the continuous patronage of the product regardless of the health problems found to have been caused by consuming it. The manufacturing processes involved in the production of sodas or soft drinks have changed in various ways too, from backyard operation to the modern soft drink industry operation. Although primitive to our standards today, the owners back then used to make the final products by themselves and were in close contact with their customers to check for comments or criticisms and to make necessary actions accordingly before the final product is produced. In modern times, the syrup mixture is produced by the soft drink companies and then delivered to the independent bottling companies all over the world that are licensed to sell the drink. One problem that faces the industry and questions the above-explained practices of soft drink companies is the issue of the pesticide residue in colas, which are used to produce soft drinks in India. Since there is no ample supply of safe drinking water in India and companies have to get underground water to supply their production needs, there comes a problem of quality soft drink production. Since underground water is susceptible to pesticide seepage, due in part from the agricultural practices of this region, the ingredients for making soft drinks becomes susceptible to pesticide contamination as well. Here is one specific display of the effects of soft drinks in the food web. Since the primary producers, which are the plants that produce the key ingredients for the soft drinks formula are contaminated by pesticide, so will the soft drinks be affected. These soft drinks will then be consumed by people and in some cases, by pet animals. Since pesticide causes harm to the human body, it can be said that its consumption can be detrimental to human beings as a whole. This is true not only for the case of pesticide content in soft drinks in specific, but also for the other empirically proven problems that soft drink could be causing to the health of human beings such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, liver cirrhosis, osteoporosis, and many more. When human beings incur diseases due to soft drink consumption, or worse when human beings die untimely, a crucial element of the food web is taken away. It could be said that human beings are the largest consumers in the food web. In view of the worse case scenario, take them away from the system and the entire system could collapse. In a more simplistic term, soft drink consumption affects the food web because soft drinks become more preferred substitutes to the natural products of the food web such as milk, water, natural fruit juice, and even for solid food. Thus, when human beings deviate from their natural consumption pattern in terms of the food web because of soft drink consumption, the entire food web could be altered too. On a lighter note, soft drink companies have been aware that people aspire to have a healthy body. Reports linking sodas or soft drinks to obesity and to many other grave diseases are causing concern for both consumers and the makers of soft drinks. These propelled external agents to make guidelines for soft drink production, to which soda or soft drinks companies hope to comply by marketing ‘healthy sodas’. Observably, this is why the trend now is to fortify soft drinks with minerals and vitamins. However, it must still come into question whether or not these healthy options really do eliminate or minimize the negative effects of soft drink consumption in the human body, and thus in the food web too. Whatever warnings concerned organizations give to soft drink consumers against soft drink consumption, it still boils down for the public to decide whether they will continue patronizing and consuming soft drinks or not. And in as much that there has been an advent of the so-called ‘healthy options’ nowadays, there comes a need for people to develop ‘healthy decisions’. References American Association for State and Local History, Society of American Historians (1947). American Heritage. (pp. 11-12). New York, N. Y. : American Heritage Pub. Co. Bellis, M. (2007). The History of Pepsi Cola Caleb Bradham. Retrieved March 31, 2007 from http://inventors. about. com/library/inventors/blpepsi. htm

Argument Essay Topics of Online Privacy

Argument Essay Topics of Online PrivacyArgument essay topics of online privacy are a challenging topic to write about. It is no wonder why so many people find it a challenge to write about this, as they are not sure what the purpose of privacy is, or what they can possibly say to support their position.You can be sure that you are going to have a very difficult time writing an essay that supports your viewpoint if you have not at least an inkling of the subject matter of privacy. Many people don't understand the main facts, or even the basics of how it has developed in our society, and yet somehow they will still feel that they know all there is to know about it. If they know all there is to know, and have attempted to write about it for their argument, then you know that they do not understand it well enough to support their viewpoint.The Internet is filled with problems, and even the most experienced legal experts cannot seem to agree on the impact or effect of the new technology i s having on our society. If you want to make a convincing argument that your privacy is an issue, you need to be aware of the main facts, and know more about the subject. If you only know about the 'how' and not the 'why', then you are surely going to make mistakes when writing your essay. This means that you must have a solid understanding of what privacy is, before you write.Privacy is a concept that is not well defined, but it has been practiced in all societies throughout history. It is also a concept that has changed very little over the years. All societies have defined a limit to the public activity that is permissible and has been used to restrict certain activities in a society. For example, a society that is a democracy would not allow political candidates to use threats and bullying tactics in order to win elections, since this could negatively affect the democratic process.Privacy is therefore an important issue that is always being discussed by those who live in democra tic societies. If we look at the history of privacy in a certain culture, we will see that some measures were taken to protect it. In our society today, those same measures are being taken, however there are some groups who are fighting hard to keep those measures in place. If we are to look at the history of privacy, we will also find that it is not a concept that will disappear overnight.Privacy has been talked about and written about for as long as any culture has existed. It was considered something that should be protected from the public and kept within the community. This is the way that societies organized themselves and did things in the past.Today, privacy is being promoted by so many people in every society, because it is something that is being used as a tool of social control. If we can see the common notion of privacy in our society, then we can understand that it is a concept that will never disappear. As with the social controls of all societies, privacy is a real co ncern, and therefore it is important that we know more about the subject.You cannot believe how many people feel that privacy is a myth, and that there is no real issue regarding privacy. This is because they cannot define it properly, or because they are afraid to write about it in their essay. It is a legitimate and important issue, and you should write about it if you really feel strongly about it.

Escher essays

Escher essays Maurits Cornelis Escher was born on June 17, 1898, in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. His parents were George Arnold Escher and Sarah Gleichman Escher. They had three sons and Maurits, called Mauk for short, was the youngest. The family lived in a big and nice house named "Princessehof," which would later become a museum and hosted exhibitions of M.C. Escher's works. Young M.C. Escher and his family later moved to Arnhem. He attended elementary and secondary school there, and also in the seaside town of Zandvoort, where he lived for a while to improve his health. In 1907, he started learning carpentry and piano. In secondary school, his marks were poor except in drawing. His art teacher took an interest in his artistic talent, and taught him to make linocuts. He failed his final exam and never graduated. Also, in 1917, the Escher family moved to Oosterbeek, Holland. During this year and the following few years, M.C. Escher became very involved in literature, and began to write some of his own poems and essays. Trying to pursue a career in architecture, M.C. Escher next moved to Haarlem and began studies as the School for Architecture and Decorative Arts. There he met the artist Jessurun de Mesquita. After seeing Escher's drawings, Mesquita and the school's director advised him to continue with them. He began full-time study of the graphic and decorative arts in 1919. In 1922, Escher and a couple of friends visited Italy. He did a great deal of serious drawing in San Gimignano, Volterra, and Siena. He spent all of the spring of 1922 roaming the Italian countryside, drawing landscapes, plants, and even insects. In On June 12, 1924, Escher married Jetta in Viareggio, Italy. The new couple traveled much that year. They visited Genoa, Annecy, and Brussels. Upon their return home, Escher and Jetter bought a house just outside Rome and moved into it in October of 1925. Shortly after Escher and ...

How Teachers Can Make Effective Discipline Decisions

How Teachers Can Make Effective Discipline Decisions A major component of being an effective teacher is making correct classroom discipline decisions. Teachers who cannot manage student discipline in their classroom are limited in their overall effectiveness in almost every other area of teaching. Classroom discipline in that sense may be the most critical component of being an outstanding teacher. Effective Classroom Discipline Strategies Effective classroom discipline starts during the first minute of the first day of school. Many students come in looking to see what they can get away with. It is necessary to establish your expectations, procedures, and consequences for dealing with any violation immediately. Within the first few days, these expectations and procedures should be the focal point of discussion. They should be practiced as often as possible. It is also important to understand that kids will still be kids. At some point, they will test you and push the envelope to see how you are going to handle it. It is essential that each situation is handled on a case by case basis taking into account the nature of the incident, history of the student, and reflecting on how you have handled similar cases in the past. Gaining a reputation as a strict teacher is a beneficial thing, especially if you are also known as fair. It is far better to be strict than to be known as a push over because you are trying to get your students to like you. Ultimately your students will respect you more if your classroom is structured and every student is held accountable for their actions. Students will also respect you more if you handle the majority of the discipline decisions yourself rather than passing them on to the principal. Most issues that occur in the classroom are minor in nature and can and should be dealt with by the teacher. However, there are many teachers that send every student straight to the office. This will ultimately undermine their authority and students will see them as weak creating more issues. There are definite cases that merit an office referral, but most can be dealt with by the teacher. The following is a sample blueprint of how five common issues could be handled. It is only intended to serve as a guide and to provoke thought and discussion. Each of the following problems is typical to what any teacher may see occur in their classroom. The scenarios given are pos- investigation, giving you what was proved to have actually happened. Disciplinary Issues and Recommendations Excessive Talking Introduction: Excessive talking can become a serious issue in any classroom if it is not handled immediately. It is contagious by nature. Two students engaging in a conversation during class can quickly turn into a loud and disruptive whole classroom affair. There are times that talking is needed and acceptable, but students must be taught the difference between classroom discussion and engaging in conversation about what they are going to be doing on the weekend. Scenario: Two 7th grade girls have been engaged in constant chatter throughout the morning. The teacher has given two warnings to quit, but it has continued. Several students are now complaining about being disrupted by their talking. One of these students has had this issue on several other occasions while the other hasn’t been in trouble for anything. Consequences: The first thing is to separate the two students. Isolate the student, who has had similar issues, from the other students by moving her next to your desk. Give both of them several days of detention. Contact both parents explaining the situation. Finally, create a plan and share it with the girls and their parents detailing how this issue will be dealt with if it continues in the future. Cheating Introduction: Cheating is something that is nearly impossible to stop especially for work that is done outside of class. However, when you do catch students cheating, you should use them to set an example that you hope will deter other students from engaging in the same practice. Students should be taught that cheating will not help them even if they get away with it. Scenario: A high school Biology I teacher is giving a test and catches two students using answers they had written on their hands. Consequences: The teacher should take their tests up immediately and give them both zeros. The teacher could also give them several days of detention or be creative by giving them an assignment such as writing a paper explaining why students shouldn’t cheat. The teacher should also contact both students’ parents explaining the situation to them. Failure to Bring Appropriate Materials Introduction: When students fail to bring materials to class such as pencils, paper, and books it becomes annoying and ultimately takes up valuable class time. Most students who continuously forget to bring their materials to class have an organization problem. Scenario: An 8th-grade boy routinely comes to math class without his book or some other required material. This typically happens 2-3 times per week. The teacher has given the student detention on multiple occasions, but it has not been effective in correcting the behavior. Consequences: This student likely has a problem with organization. The teacher should set up a parent meeting and include the student. During the meeting create a plan to help the student with organization at school. In the plan include strategies such as daily locker checks and assigning a responsible student to assist the student in getting the needed materials to each class. Give the student and parent suggestions and strategies to work on organization at home. Refusal to Complete Work Introduction: This is an issue that can swell from something minor to something major very quickly. This isn’t a problem that should ever be ignored. Concepts are taught sequentially, so even missing one assignment, could lead to gaps down the road. Scenario: A 3rd-grade student hasn’t completed two reading assignments in a row. When asked why, he says that he didn’t have time to do them even though most other students finished the assignments during class. Consequences: No student should be allowed to take a zero. It is essential that the student be required to complete the assignment even if only partial credit is given. This will keep the student from missing a key concept. The student could be required to stay after school for extra tutoring to make up the assignments. The parent should be contacted, and a specific plan should be designed to discourage this issue from becoming a habit. Conflict Between Students Introduction: There will likely always be petty conflicts between students for various reasons. It doesn’t take long for a pretty conflict to turn into an all out fight. That is why it is necessary to get to the root of the conflict and put a stop to it immediately. Scenario: Two 5th grade boys come back from lunch upset at each other. The conflict hasn’t become physical, but the two have exchanged words without cursing. After some investigation, the teacher determines that the boys are arguing because they both have a crush on the same girl. Consequences: The teacher should start by reiterating the fighting policy to both boys. Asking the principal to take a few minutes to speak with both boys about the situation can also help deter further issues. Typically a situation like this will diffuse itself if both parties are reminded of the consequences if it progresses any further.

Importance of Classifying Period Cost and Product Cost Assignment

Importance of Classifying Period Cost and Product Cost - Assignment Example The period costs are normally reported in form of expenditures in the period of accounting in which they match the best with revenues, in the period of accounting and when they expire. In addition to general administrative and selling expenses, most of the interest expenses are categorized as a period expense. Mr Smith’s classification of these costs, therefore, would increase the reported earnings of the period. The classification of the period cost and product cost is hence important since the classification will ensure that the net income is properly measured during the time period in which the best match. Classifying period cost and product cost will also ensure that Mr Smith reports the proper inventory cost appearing on the balance sheet. It is also important to classify these costs since the two costs cling to the units of the manufactured or purchased products. This will increase the reported period earnings because if any unit of a product will not be sold, the produc t cost will appear as a current asset on the balance sheet since it will be reported as an inventory. The classification will also ensure that the product cost will be reported at the expense of the cost of sold goods on the income statement for the period in which the product units were sold. In addition, classifying period costs will ensure that the expenses incurred in sales and salaries of the general administration are only featured during the exact period in which those salaries were paid to the employees. This will increase the reported earnings of the company. The actions of Mr Smith to postpone expenditures to the new year such as cancelling or postponing supplier orders, delaying maintenance already planned, and cutting down on the travels and adverts of the end year is ethical enough since it was in the best interest of the company to report an increase in the end year earnings. By ordering reclassification of both the period and product costs, Mr Smith significantly increased the reported earnings since every particular period cost was to be reported in the financial year to which it relates to.  

Entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Entrepreneurship - Essay Example What remains after establishment of the firm is managing the enterprise into a successful firm. 2. Application of technology in modern businesses cannot be underestimated. Most business processes are heavily dependent on modern technology. For instance, computer technology has made it possible for entrepreneurs to analyse market conditions, formulate market models, and integrate the various business concepts into practice. Therefore, technology is an overwhelmingly important tool for creativity and innovativeness in that great ideas can be tried and put into practice using technology. It is also important to note that successful entrepreneurs are flexible to fiscal changes in the market. Business in the modern world has become increasingly competitive and dynamic thereby demanding high degree of business flexibility. Competition may change business conditions and fiscal policies as well and therefore, successful entrepreneurs need to be well equipped to anticipate and prepare for these changes. Otherwise, it would be difficult to maintain viable business enterprises without a clear understanding of prevailing and even future market