Rep. Cavanagh offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 321.

A resolution to declare March 17-21, 2014, as School Counselor Week in the state of

Michigan.

Whereas, The House of Representatives has recognized the importance of school

counseling through the inclusion of elementary and secondary school counseling programs in

Michigan schools; and

Whereas, School counselors have long emphasized the importance of personal and social

development and academic achievement and help develop well-rounded students by guiding

them through their academic, personal, social, and career development; and

Whereas, School counselors play a vital role in ensuring that students are aware of

financial aid and college opportunities, and encourage students to pursue challenging academic

courses to prepare them for college majors and careers in the science, technology, engineering,

and mathematics fields; and

Whereas, School counselors help students cope with the serious and common challenges

of growing up, including peer pressure, mental health issues, school violence, disciplinary

problems, the deployment of family members to conflicts overseas, and problems in the home,

and are also instrumental in helping students, teachers, and parents deal with personal trauma and

community and national tragedies; and

Whereas, School counselors are among the few professionals in a school building that are

trained both in education and mental health; and

Whereas, Despite the important contributions of school counselors to student success,

counseling positions are not always protected when budgets are cut; and

Whereas, The average student-to-counselor ratio in Michigan public schools is 634 to 1,

almost triple the 250 to 1 ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association,

the American Counseling Association, the American Medical Association, the American

Psychological Association, and other organizations; and

Whereas, The celebration of Michigan School Counselor Week will increase

awareness of the important and necessary role school counselors play in the lives of students in

Michigan; and

Whereas, It is important to acknowledge the role school counselors play in cultivating our

most important resource, Michigan’s children; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body

declare March 17-21, 2014, as School Counselor Week in the state of Michigan.