School counseling: Proud Past, Bright Future - From The Editor - Brief Article

Professional School Counseling, Dec, 2001 by Kenneth Hughey

Proud Past, Bright Future," the theme for the ASCA presidency of Mark Kuranz, is an effective introduction to the focus of this issue of Professional School Counseling. From this perspective, it seems to be an appropriate time to consider the profession and its future. As a result, the authors of the first four articles of this issue were invited to address school counseling from a personal and professional perspective of what has been, what is, and what is to come with respect to school counseling. Thanks to the authors (Stan Baker, Alan Green and Susan Keys, Norm Gysbers, and Pam Paisley and George McMahon) for responding to my invitation to prepare articles for this issue. My hope is that you will find their presentations relevant and that their work will stimulate discussions which will result in appropriate personal and/or professional action. The next issue of the journal will present reactions to these four articles, which will hopefully further stimulate discussion regarding the profession and its future.

In addition, I want to thank the authors whose articles are presented as features in this issue of the journal. These, too, address important and relevant issues for school counselors in meeting the challenges of the profession. These authors are to be commended for their efforts in preparing articles that will benefit the profession. My hope is that you find this collection of articles professionally stimulating and relevant to your work whether it be at the local state, or national levels. The overriding goal however, is to present work that will enhance the work of school counselors in meeting the needs of all students.

Paisley and Borders (1995) presented an important discussion of school counseling and described the profession as "an evolving speciality" (p. 150). They stated that "School counseling as a speciality of the counseling profession emerged, and continues to evolve, as a result of social educational, political, and economic trends" (p. 150). As the profession moves forward, it is important to have discussions and determine appropriate action to support the work of school counselors implementing effective comprehensive guidance and counseling programs designed to meet the needs of all students. Further, as Paisley and Borders (1995) noted:

   It is clear that much work and many challenges remain for school
   counselors. Despite their many successes, it often seems to us that school
   counselors too frequently find themselves in a reacting role, using all
   their energy trying to respond to daily challenges and external demands.
   (p. 153)

As Wrenn (1962) noted, the school counselor must be prepared to counsel students in a changing world. Even with the changes, challenges, and demands faced by professional school counselors, my hope is that the articles presented in this issue will enhance the profession and your work as a professional. In addition, I hope that, as a result, appropriate individual and/or collective action will be taken to move the profession forward and, more importantly, enhance the work of school counselors in meeting the personal/social, educational, and career development needs of students.

The articles presented in this issue, as well as the other issues of Professional School Counseling, are presented to enhance professional school counselors' knowledge and expertise in working with students and other relevant stakeholders in the changing environment. Further, the articles may create discussions about the profession and the future of the profession. I concur with the assessment Sink (1999) made about the future of the profession after reading articles in an issue of Professional School Counseling:

   To summarize, as I perused this collection of manuscripts, my optimism
   about the future of our profession was renewed. The next generation of
   counselors, like the previous ones, will have the necessary knowledge and
   skills to guide our students safely through the many challenges of the
   coming decade. The outlook, while fairly hazy and uncertain, appears
   brighter than I first envisioned. (p. iii)

"Proud Past, Bright Future," as presented by Mark Kuranz, provides an effective title for viewing the profession and considering the future of school counseling. Best wishes in your important work.

References

Paisley, P. O., & Borders, L. D. (1995). School counseling: An evolving speciality. Journal of Counseling & Development, 74, 150-153.

Sink, C. A. (1999). Reflections on the future of school counseling. Professional School Counseling, 3(2), ii-iii.

Wrenn, C. G. (1962). The counselor in a changing world. Washington, DC: American Personnel and Guidance Association.