Crisis in Minot demonstrates the need for trained social workers for students.
As a clinical social worker of more than 20 years and former school social worker in the Minot Consolidated School, I am a strong advocate for social workers to be utilized for crisis and confidential meetings with students, as well as classroom involvement.

In my brief nine months in that school, there was a strong focus by a group of teachers and some school board members to have social workers spend the majority of their time in the classroom.

In the spring of 1999, I consulted with the National Association of Social Workers Legal Department in Washington, D.C., as well as the NASW-Maine Chapter of School Social Workers, regarding the questionable nature of comments and behaviors of this group of teachers and some of the school board members.

I was prompted to pursue this when several incidents occurred, the last of which was three days after the tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo.

Some of the issues include the following:

• Consistent non-renewal of contracts beyond a school-year for guidance counselors/social workers in the school;

• Exclusion of the guidance counselor or social worker from team meetings for the upper grades;

• Lack of a functional conflict resolution model for teachers and the administration.

One possible way that we could respond to why the students at Minot Consolidated School did not disclose that there was a gun in the school is because there was no trusted person with a private office where students could discuss the matter.

The principal’s office would probably not be a student’s first choice, given the office is enclosed in glass. Although the principal of this school most likely would have handled the situation ethically and fairly, having a social worker to team with him would be the best solution.

On the other hand, if a student goes to a teacher, there is no privacy or confidentiality given the nature of the classroom environment.

In these times, it is critical that students have access to a guidance counselor or social worker services. A long-term relationship with such a worker enables students to build the trust needed to disclose a potential crisis. A nine-month program does not allow time for the necessary trust to develop.

Social workers have a code of ethics that clarifies issues of confidentiality and behavior. But, first and foremost, the code prioritizes the interest of the student or client.

As parents, students, teachers and community members, we need to have more of a voice in matters regarding education and alternative educational choices.

After this recent crisis, the community of Minot has made its voice heard regarding the safety and education of their children. My hope is that part of this change will include a social worker or guidance counselor who will be supported and included as a team member and will be renewed annually to create the trust and consistency that students, teachers and families need.

We, as a community, need to use our voice and influence in creating as many good choices for our children’s education as possible.
Frances M. White is a licensed clinical social worker. She lives in Oxford.

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