Counseling services needed for today’s youth

Following the day of youth protests regarding gun violence in our public schools, I must compliment their efforts for greater gun controls. As a retired elementary public school teacher, I can relate to the concerns expressed by today’s youth.

As a classroom teacher, I had a youth attempt to board a school bus with his BB gun to exercise harm upon a classmate; however, as his classroom teacher, I was never informed, and I had to depend upon other sources in the school for that information.

Many years later, that same student shot and killed a former female student of mine while turning the gun upon himself leaving them both to die.

Having had another student who was severely physically abused, I reported all to my principal and school nurse; however, they failed to report the situation to children’s services. When I spoke out to others and questioned the situation, I was physically threatened by my principal. Today the law requires teachers to report such situations directly to children’s services.

Today’s youth is troubled like no other group of youths and requires guidance and counseling as well as psychological services like never before in history. We need to require those services.

I paid for my honest convictions sincerely and honestly serving youths with my career, and I have no regrets.

My story could comprise a 12-volume book, but nobody would believe, and it would have to be listed as fiction even though true.

Again, the bottom line is that we need to increase guidance and counseling services for today’s youth like never before in history.