Voice of the School Counselor - Texas Counseling Association

HUMAN RIGHTS ART CONTEST
by Laura Bannerman, Human Rights Chair
Whether we would like to admit it or not, there are injustices that happen all over the world and even in our neighborhoods. It seems daily
that we hear in the news about victims of abuse, human trafficking, racism, people fleeing their country because of persecution, etc. These
injustices are heart breaking.
One of the bright spots that sometimes the media fails to recognize is that there are numerous people and organizations making a difference
in the area of advocating for human rights of people who may not otherwise have a voice. As school counselors, we advocate for our
families and students who may be facing some of these injustices or who have in the past. We also promote human rights through our developmental
guidance program. TSCA’s Human Rights Art Contest gives students the opportunity to put into action what they have learned and
express their passion for justice for all people.
This art contest is a way to encourage students to highlight people and organizations that make a difference in the lives of people who are
victims of injustices. This year the theme is “Make a Difference---Show You Care.” All participants will receive a certificate of participation and
we will have first and second prizes awarded at each level-elementary, junior high/middle school, and high school. First prize winners receive
a $500 savings bond and second prize winners receive a $250 savings bond. The deadline for the art contest is March 1, 2011. Visit the
TSCA website for the art contest entry form at http://www.txca.org/tca/TSCA_Home.asp?SnID=198251945 under resources.
Ways to promote TSCA’s Human Rights Art Contest:
• Include the entry form in the school newsletter and/or website.
- Begin promoting the contest in Jan. or Feb. to give students adequate time to prepare their entries.
- Remind students of the contest through the school announcements or e-blasts.
- For high school, counselors may want to include this contest as a scholarship opportunity in a senior newsletter.
• During National School Counselor’s Week (Feb. 7th-11th) host a school art contest using the same theme and art contest entry form as
TSCA. Post the participants’ work outside your office or in the library. Then by March 1st turn in the entries for the contest.
- Then when the participation certificates arrive have a reception for participants and their families.
• Conduct Guidance Lessons on “Making a Difference-Show you Care”
- Have students begin on their entry at the end of the lesson or hand out entry forms to students who may be interested in entering.
- Visit the TSCA website under Bright Ideas for sample guidance lessons that you may use.
- If you have a lesson to share, send it to llbannerman@gmail.com to be shared.
• Involve your Art Teacher-Inform your art teacher of the contest.
- Your art teacher may be able to integrate the art contest into his/her curriculum.
- Your art teacher may also want to provide students opportunities to work on their entries after school or during a
special time during the day.
• Involve your History/Social Studies teachers in promoting the art contest.
• Inform clubs or organizations in your school or community
- Ex. PALS, Best Buddies, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.,
• Organize a club after school one day a week for a month-Care Club/Human Rights Club
- Help students brainstorm ideas
- Provide materials for the art contest
Please contact Laura Bannerman at llbannerman@gmail.com if you have any questions about the Human Rights contest or
how to promote it.
Bright Idea
Genevieve Bennetts, MS Vice President
Teaching Tolerance was created in 1991 as a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center and according to
their website is “dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable
school experiences for our nation’s children.” They offer a free magazine which is distributed in the United
States and abroad to over 400,000 educators as well as an email newsletter containing links to the magazine
articles online. They also have free curriculum kits available for order that address the issue of tolerance
throughout history and in our current society. Their teaching materials have won two Oscars, an Emmy and
more than 20 honors from the Association of Educational Publishers.
For more information please visit: http://www.tolerance.org/
KEY POINTS TO KEEP IN
MIND AS YOU ADVOCATE
FOR COUNSELING!
By Linda Hughes, Advocacy Chair
It is that time again! The 82nd Legislature will be meeting this spring and there are a few School Counselor issues on the
Public Policy Agenda.
Save the date for Advocacy Days:
February 22, 2011 • March 22, 201 • April 19, 2011
Each Advocacy Day will begin with breakfast in the Capitol Cafeteria located on the first floor of the Capitol extension, followed by an orientation.
The orientation will include an Advocacy Day Packet that includes resource materials to share with your elected officials as well as
updates on bills, committee meetings and other events that will be considered by the Legislature on that particular Advocacy Day.
An office visit is one of the most effective ways to communicate your interest in an issue or bill and to build a relationship with your elected
official. We encourage you to call to schedule an appointment with your Representative or Senator or their staff while you are in Austin. If you
are unable to confirm an appointment with your elected official, ask to meet with the staff person who handles mental health or education issues,
depending on your area of interest. Meeting with staff can be as, if not more, effective than meeting with your Legislator.
Texas School Counselor Association will provide a packet of information and power points for your chapter to use prior to attending Advocacy
Days. We will post the materials on our website as soon as we finalize the materials. These materials may be used to promote advocacy
within your organization and colleagues.
Here is a brief outline of what to do when you visit the Capitol:
• Introduce yourself and tell where you live
• State the purpose of the visit
• Tell your story
• Ask to meet the staff person
• Thank them for their time
As Professional School Counselors, we are the VOICE to support and advocate for our profession. If not you, then who else will do it?
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2011-2012
WATCH FOR THE TCA NOMINATION ANNOUNCEMENT
THE NOMINATION PROCESS WILL BEGIN JANUARY 7, 2011
ENDING AT MIDNIGHT FEB 1, 2011
TSCA PRESIDENT-ELECT
The President-Elect is a three-year commitment to serve as President-Elect, President, then as Past-President. The year as President-Elect
is for learning the processes and procedures of TSCA as well as for beginning preparation for the year as President.
HIGH SCHOOL VICE-PRESIDENT • COLLEGE EDUCATOR VICE-PRESIDENT • COUNSELOR SUPERVISORY VICE-PRESIDENT
The candidates for these positions must be currently employed in the area that they are elected to represent (i.e. be a High School Counselor,
Counselor Educator, or Counseling Director or Coordinator of a district program). If elected they serve to represent the professional school
counselors of their respective areas and serve as a resource for state concerns. Each position is a two-year commitment.
TSCA SENATOR
The Senator works closely with the TSCA Director to promote the needs and concerns of TSCA to TCA. This position is a three-year
commitment.
Michelle Shoulders Elementary VP
Counselors are always thinking of ways to get students to focus on being kind to each other. One
idea is to read “Have you Filled a Bucket Today?” by Carol McCloud. You can read it during guidance
lessons or have teachers read the book to each of their classes. The book discusses how each person
carries an invisible bucket that needs to be filled. The way to fill these buckets is to smile, be polite, be
helpful and kind, etc. Provide each classroom a bucket or have teachers provide a bucket for their own
rooms. Let students know to be on the lookout for kind behaviors that fill buckets. When they see one,
they can write it on a slip of paper and place it in the bucket. At the end of each week, a student or the
teacher can read the slips to the class. The class can work each week to fill their class bucket.
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