School counselors, along with classroom teachers, are on the front line

New Mexico Highlands University professor Kevin Ensor’s opinion piece regarding school counselors is shocking (“Well-trained, skilled school counselors can make a difference,” My View, April 15).

In 1964, I was a first-year high school counselor in Los Angeles County. In my very first meeting with all counselors and our superintendent, I listened to the “super” telling us all what and how we should do our jobs.

Well, I did have my 60-plus graduate credit hours — master’s level graduation program from University of Southern California. Yes, I spoke up and said, “You know, Dr. — , the academic requirements to become a counselor are far greater than the requirements to become a superintendent.” Silence! After the long meeting, my counselor colleagues told me they were planning my farewell party.

I remained in this same high school for my entire career. Yes, I was proactive. I also received my clinical license in mental health, was instrumental in bringing in an outstanding woman from Berkeley, Calif., who helped all counselors develop/work with a peer counseling program and administered the peer counseling program at my school for years. (Yes, it does work.) I represented the Los Angeles County counselors in a position paper for the California Reform in Intermediate and Secondary Education Commission. I did many workshops for school counselors in the L.A. County headquarters, planned and administered districtwide in-service days in my school district and worked with local police department in developing communication skills — emphasis on listening.

My suggestions: The state of New Mexico really needs to seriously look at, and then act quickly to remedy, the weak link that is obstructing well-trained school counselors from performing and utilizing their muchneeded professional skills. It is an understatement to say we are in a crisis — a nationwide crisis. And, it does not take a mental health license to recognize this. My bottom line: Stop individuals and groups who are restraining the licensed school counselors from doing their vital work.

If school administrators are at fault, develop programs and laws to correct this major blockage. Counselors are not assistants to the school administrators. The American School Counselor Association ratio of 250-to-1 (students to counselor) must be reached.

Counselors — go for it. Involve the community. Involve your counselors and students. I applaud and respect you tremendously. You, along with the classroom teachers, are on the front lines.

Mary Dykton lives in Santa Fe.