My Role as the School Counsellor

It would be prudent to note that various research studies have in the past indicated that school counsellors have a significant and crucial role to play in school violence prevention. Indeed, as Miller (2008) points out, school counselors should respond to violence as well as work to prevent it (113). It therefore follows that in this case, my role as a school counselor will be both preventive and responsive. From the preventive point of view, I have a responsibility to collaborate with other members of staff to ensure that the school environment is safe and conducive for learning. This is a role I could perform by identifying any violent intent or vulnerabilities. The said intent and/or vulnerabilities could be inclusive of; aggressive behavior among students, expression of violence among students (i.e. via drawings and writings), dark and poorly lit hallways, etc. Next, I will also serve as a ready resource for learners. This is to say that I will ensure that learners are aware of the fact that they could turn to me and share any concerns they might have in relation to their safety and wellbeing. This I could do by becoming more visible and present and packaging myself as the go-to person. This is an approach that has been promoted by Twemlow and Sacco (2012). In the authors words, school counselors ought to be being highly visible throughout the school go from classroom to classroom during the first week of school every year and introduce yourself (Twemlow and Sacco, 2012, p. 129).

When it comes to responding to violence, I would ensure that learners are aware of the process of reporting violence and/or instances of bullying. I would also see to it that those who file such...…occupy, those in this categorization have significant influence on matters revolving around the deployment of resources. Given that resources happen to be scarce owing to the fact that there are other school activities and programs competing for the very same resources, there will be need to ensure that those highlighted in this case are convinced of the merits of the proposal.

Teaching Staff: It is important to note that owing to their constant interactions with students, teachers are better informed on the various issues that impact student wellbeing and performance. Thus, they could be crucial sources of information on risk factors for violence (i.e. dysfunctional families, mental health concerns, drug involvement, etc.). They are, thus, crucial partners in efforts to deploy preventive measures.

Parents: In most cases, parents come in handy as worthy partners in matters relating to the performance and behavior of their children. In this case, I could work closely with…