Within the classroom, many behavioral issues are met
with disciplinary actions such as detention, ISS, OSS, and expulsion.
These disciplinary acts offer a base level solution to behavioral
misconduct at the cost of a child’s mental well being. Lack of knowledge and awareness combined with
a lack of funding has led to a system that does not offer students in Memphis,
as well as students at large, the best possible mental health resources that
would allow them to thrive in school.
Mental Health is
instrumental in ensuring that a student succeeds in the classroom, connects
with their peers, and connects with their community. Without understanding the
state of a student’s mental health, the teacher and the school system run the
risk of stunting the student’s educational growth. The stigma surrounding mental health must be
broken in order to allow for open dialogue between all parties involved in the
learning process.
In order to accomplish
the work of breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health, relationships
between the student, the teacher, the school system, the parents/guardians, and
the community must develop. It is the
role of the teacher, after receiving extensive mental health and bias training,
to work alongside student and guardian to understand the student in a holistic way.
Once an understanding of self occurs, the teacher can then craft lesson plans designed
around the student’s specific learning capabilities.
The school system and
local/state/national government should focus also on funding more counselors,
social workers, psychologists, and nurses for each school. Currently, there is 1 social worker to every
250 students, 1 counselor to every 500 students, 1 nurse to every 750 students,
and one psychologist to every 1,400 students. The amount of students assigned
to each professional means that students are not getting the individualized
attention that they need. Individualized
attention is crucial in assessing mental health for without it, the student
feels ignored and their exact needs will go unfulfilled.
By focusing on creating a
healthier environment to discuss and strategize ways to best accommodate the mental
health of each student, schools will give their students the tools they need in
order to thrive in their own education.
I completely agree with this. Especially in the large, public, and poorly funded schools present in Memphis, kids need to have someone who is able to listen to them. Mental health is something that has been pushed aside for far too long, and the consequences of poor mental health can effect kids for their entire lives. When dealing with a large population of black students and identifying the low rates of diagnosed depression within their demographic, schools need to step up to the plate to help kids, both in education and in their personal lives.
ReplyDeleteThis is something I have definitely noticed during my time at my clinical field placement. It is not being addressed in schools or at home, causing these mental health issues to continue in adulthood without ever getting a diagnosis or treatment. It is shocking to know the little amount of counselors, nurses, and psychologists in schools because this huge issue deserves more attention, starting with the number of specialists within a school. Students need to be able to easily access someone that can help.
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