Advocacy as a Critical Role for Urban School Counselors: Working toward Equity and Social Justice

摘要: The academic achievement gap of students color and low-income as compared to middle upper socioeconomic White has been clearly documented. Historically the long-standing role school counselor contributed status quo these inequities, inadvertently maintaining educational social disparities. This reflected in counselors' training, or job descriptions, actual practice. article explores need for a change counselor's incorporate advocacy key component decreasing fostering justice equity all students. Challenges being an advocate are discussed along with recommendations counselors. ********* In today's society, gaps poor higher classes European American have documented (Education Trust, 2000; Haycock, 1998). Although this can be attributed many facets public education United States, counselors potential play major eliminating inequities. addresses importance K-12 urban assuming part their work aim toward creating environment that will ultimately lead gap. begin brief history counseling it relates counselors, followed by discussion inequities schools how profession maintained quo. shift includes becoming advocates strategies empower discussed. Finally, made infuse into training. ADVOCACY IN COUNSELING: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE After decades stationary position schools, there some recent movement role. changing involves effort evolve from simply addressing needs individual leaders, agents, (Bemak, Lee, 1998; Stone & Hanson, 2002). We would strongly suggest integral To better understand modern-day advocacy, is important briefly review field counselor. Advocacy defined belief that, fight injustices, collective actions improving conditions benefit both individuals groups necessary (House Martin, Advocating clients viewed act speaking up taking action leads environmental changes on behalf (Kiselica Robinson, 2001). just reemerging field, present mental health since 1700s when was improve mentally ill people (Brooks Weikel, 1996). It took another two centuries emerge schools. guidance programs early 1900s aimed help develop personal moral character while assisting them locating good jobs contribute good. Frank Parsons (1909) introduced vocational means address unemployment youth who left school. During same time period, Clifford Beers became suffering illness Robinson). More recently during 1970s, community gained recognition only lose ground late 1980s 1990s, diminished strove professional credibility narrowly scientific research standards (McClure Russo, …