As families in Santa Clarita grieved this week in the aftermath of the fatal shooting at Saugus High School, communities throughout California asked the question “What if?” and turned to counselors for guidance.
This week, we explore the issue of gun violence and how school counselors are dealing with it and the multiple areas of stress in students’ lives. Reporter Carolyn Jones describes how the significant increase in hiring of school counselors has barely kept up with the need for student mental health services.
Loretta Whitson, executive director of the California Association of School Counselors, discusses the need to train the full school community on how to recognize signs of student trauma. UCLA professor Ron Avi Astor, an authority on school violence, talks about the need to go beyond safety measures — such as installing metal detectors — to focus on school climate and social-emotional learning in schools.
For more, check out the following:
- Schools keep hiring counselors, but students’ stress levels are only growing
- Saugus High School shooting in Santa Clarita: Teen girl and boy dead, alleged shooter in ‘grave condition’
- For principals, biggest task is creating a school culture without the threat of gun violence
- California school shooting a potent argument against arming teachers