Social Work In The Social Work In The SchoolsSchools

Chapter 11Chapter 11

Introduction Introduction

►Functionally illiterate adults in the U.S. Functionally illiterate adults in the U.S. total 25,000,000.total 25,000,000.

►The nation is at risk due to the failures The nation is at risk due to the failures of our public schools.of our public schools.

►Social services were first established Social services were first established in the schools at the turn of the in the schools at the turn of the century in New York, Massachusetts century in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. and Connecticut.

The Education Delivery System:The Education Delivery System:New ApproachesNew Approaches

► The National Center for Family Literacy The National Center for Family Literacy seeks to end the intergenerational cycle of seeks to end the intergenerational cycle of poverty and under-education resulting in poverty and under-education resulting in economic failure, hopelessness, and despair economic failure, hopelessness, and despair by fostering education where disadvantaged by fostering education where disadvantaged parents and children attend school together parents and children attend school together as partners in learning, partners in success.as partners in learning, partners in success.

► This program to increase family literacy will This program to increase family literacy will strengthen the family by increasing the strengthen the family by increasing the adult’s self-esteem and will make it possible adult’s self-esteem and will make it possible for the adults to get better jobs.for the adults to get better jobs.

New Approaches New Approaches

► The Alternative High School program was The Alternative High School program was created to meet the needs of drop outs and created to meet the needs of drop outs and potential drop outs.potential drop outs.

►During the past decade 25 percent of all During the past decade 25 percent of all eighteen year olds have failed to graduate eighteen year olds have failed to graduate from high school.from high school.

►One program gaining momentum is the One program gaining momentum is the Freedom to Choose plan, which allows Freedom to Choose plan, which allows parents to select their children’s school.parents to select their children’s school.

►Nearly five million school-aged children Nearly five million school-aged children were enrolled in private schools in l991.were enrolled in private schools in l991.

Problems Plaguing the Public Problems Plaguing the Public SchoolsSchools

►Discipline problems in the schools are Discipline problems in the schools are caused by:caused by: Disruptive studentsDisruptive students Students demanding their “rights”Students demanding their “rights” Teachers no longing having authority over Teachers no longing having authority over

their studentstheir students Teachers’ fear of being sued.Teachers’ fear of being sued.

Problems Plaguing the Public Problems Plaguing the Public SchoolsSchools

► Violence Violence ► School shootingsSchool shootings►Drugs Drugs ►Gangs Gangs ► Cheating Cheating

Widespread because students want to get better Widespread because students want to get better grades, teachers allow it so students will excel and grades, teachers allow it so students will excel and universities select only those with high GPA’s.universities select only those with high GPA’s.

►HarassmentHarassment► Teaching valuesTeaching values

Social Work Practice in the Social Work Practice in the Schools Schools

► School social work helps to achieve educational School social work helps to achieve educational objectives by contributing knowledge, attitudes, objectives by contributing knowledge, attitudes, and skills uniquely identified with the profession and skills uniquely identified with the profession of social work.of social work.

► Social work practice in the schools involves:Social work practice in the schools involves: The provision of diagnostic counseling and treatmentThe provision of diagnostic counseling and treatment Work with individuals, groups, and the school system Work with individuals, groups, and the school system

itselfitself Addressing and treating problems interfering with Addressing and treating problems interfering with

the teaching-learning process.the teaching-learning process. It is not involved in administering achievement tests!It is not involved in administering achievement tests!

Social Work Practice in the Social Work Practice in the SchoolsSchools

►Tasks and responsibilities of the school Tasks and responsibilities of the school social worker are best described as social worker are best described as both direct and indirect.both direct and indirect.

►Social work practice in the schools Social work practice in the schools accepts the need for continuing accepts the need for continuing examination and refinement of theory examination and refinement of theory and practice.and practice.

►The range of problems and issues The range of problems and issues within the schools is wide.within the schools is wide.

Work with Individuals Work with Individuals

►Work with individuals is a traditional Work with individuals is a traditional casework approach.casework approach.

► A national problem impacting our schools is A national problem impacting our schools is the high number of teenage pregnancies.the high number of teenage pregnancies.

► Studies show that 70 percent of teenagers Studies show that 70 percent of teenagers who become pregnant do not finish high who become pregnant do not finish high school.school.

► Knowing that it is not the “norm” for Knowing that it is not the “norm” for teenagers to talk through their feelings or to teenagers to talk through their feelings or to think about consequences, the social worker think about consequences, the social worker helps them to look to themselves for answers.helps them to look to themselves for answers.

Social Work Using a Group Social Work Using a Group ApproachApproach

► When resources are at a minimum, social When resources are at a minimum, social workers in some school districts have mobilized workers in some school districts have mobilized an untapped resource in the schools – peer an untapped resource in the schools – peer helpers.helpers.

► Peer helpers can be recruited and trained to Peer helpers can be recruited and trained to help classmates prepare assignments, handle help classmates prepare assignments, handle drug problems, and deal with other adjustment drug problems, and deal with other adjustment problems.problems.

► Results of this activity were rated very good as a Results of this activity were rated very good as a preventive measure, and it had some value preventive measure, and it had some value when used with students who had previously when used with students who had previously acquired drug or alcohol problems.acquired drug or alcohol problems.

Working With MinoritiesWorking With Minorities

►Large numbers of immigrants and Large numbers of immigrants and refugees arriving on our shores will refugees arriving on our shores will challenge educators with new challenge educators with new acculturation and education problems.acculturation and education problems.

► It has been estimated that by the turn It has been estimated that by the turn of the century the population in this of the century the population in this country will exceed 300 million.country will exceed 300 million.

►This is attributable not to a high birth This is attributable not to a high birth rate, but to immigrants and refugees.rate, but to immigrants and refugees.

When the System Fails When the System Fails

►Dropout rates in public schools have Dropout rates in public schools have reached to 30% overall and as much reached to 30% overall and as much as 50% in some areas.as 50% in some areas.

►Students commit suicide, “cop out” on Students commit suicide, “cop out” on drugs or alcohol, or vanish from drugs or alcohol, or vanish from school.school.