A comprehensive school
counseling program is developmental in nature . Proactive
and preventive in focus, school counseling is integral to the educational
program. It assists students in acquiring and using lifelong academic,
career, self-awareness and interpersonal communication skills. We
recognize that the educational system is being challenged by the increasing
needs of today's students and society's rising expectations. Many
of our children enter school with emotional, physical and interpersonal
barriers to learning. Effective school counseling programs are a collaborative
effort between the counselor and other educators, administrators, and
parents to create an environment promoting student learning and school
success. Comprehensive school counseling programs help ensure
equal opportunities for all students to participate fully in the educational
process. (American School Counseling Association, 2002-2003)
The
Mount Laurel School Counseling Curriculum is based on the New Jersey
Core Content Standards and the American SchoolCounselor Association
national standards. Character Education is included in support of national,
state and local initiatives.
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Academic
Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and
skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life
span. Our technological age requires crucial skills such as decision-making,
problem-solving, critical thinking, goal setting, organization, management
and interpersonal communication. (American School Counseling Association,
2002-2003; New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Career Education
and Consumer, Family, and Life Skills.)
Career
Students will acquire the skills
to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to
make informed career decisions. This
promotes the development of a positive attitude toward work, an awareness
of career options, school and training requirements, and an understanding
of how these relate to personal values, aptitudes, interests, abilities
and personalities. (American School Counseling Association, 2002-2003;
New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Career Education and
Consumer, Family, and Life Skills.)
Personal/Social
Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and interpersonal skills to
help them understand and respect self and others. This assists students
in the development of skills necessary for interacting with individuals and
groups. It is based on standards that relate to educational, career
and life success. (American School Counseling Association, 2002-2003; New
Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Career Education and Consumer,
Family, and Life Skills.)
Character Education
Character Education is the teaching of key social values, which enable students
to become positive, self-directed adults and responsible members of society.
The six pillars of character education, adopted by the State of New Jersey,
are shared values that affirm our dignity, promote the good of the individual
and the group, and protect our human rights---values that are recognized
by all civilized people and taught by all creeds. The professional school
counselor, as part of the school community, takes an active role by working
cooperatively with the teachers and administration in providing character
education in the schools as an integral part of the school curriculum and
activities. (American School Counseling Association, 2002-2003; New
Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Career Education and Consumer,
Family, and Life Skills; Character Education, Mt. Laurel Schools, 2001) |