by Sylvia Harrison

Created on: November 19, 2011

The key word in this debate is "might". A lot of people, students and adults, "might" become unstable given certain circumstances. It could happen to any one of us at any given time.

School counselors, of course, should report, or at least keep on record, a student's words that indicate he may cause harm to another person. And, if the student is extremely violent in actions or words, it would behoove the counselor to advise others of the possibilities that could arise from said student losing control completely.

However, to label a student as dangerous or unstable when there is no factual basis for such a label is unethical in the extreme. Students and others who trust in a counselor to help them work through issues in their lives should be able to trust that person implicitly. If that trust is taken away, there is no reason for anyone to contract the services of a counselor.

Students have problems. Especially during teenage years, children are growing up in all ways physical and mental. Or they are trying to. They may find that, though they have been taught right from wrong, others just don't live like that. They may feel that they don't "fit in" with any group and are struggling to find their niche in this more adult society. Problems at home and at school are discussed during the counselor visits. These kids need someone to listen and guide them through to the next level in their lives. Not someone who will take the words they say, in private to their counselor, and turn them around to mean something they, most likely, never intended.

That is not to say that counselors should never report instability in a student. If that student is despondent or depressed and the counselor sees the potential for harm to another or the student, himself, then he should get another source involved. Who and how that source is integrated with the student is of vital importance.

If the intention is to enhance the safety of the student or another person, then those intentions are good. How the counselor goes about reporting his concerns and to whom he reports them is the key. The student is not a criminal and should not be treated as one. Trust should not be taken lightly. Confidentiality, unless there is an extremely good reason, should never be broken by any counselor for any age group.

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