The Socratic Method and Opportunities for Its Application by Middle School Counselors to Increase Awareness About Bullying

The Socratic method is one of many methods used in counseling guidance services. The simple Socratic method can be applied by counselors to reduce bullying. The purpose of this study was to determine whether high school counselors in Yogyakarta Province recognize the Socratic method and whether there is an opportunity for this method to be applied to increase the awareness of students about bullying. A qualitative research approach was used, with a focus on phenomenology. The data were collected using an open questionnaire. The subjects consisted of 19 counselors from 15 secondary schools in the Yogyakarta Province who were selected by purposive sampling. Data analysis was carried out based on the guidance of Narbuko and Achmadi; this process consisted of three steps, namely editing, coding, and tabulation. The results showed that there was a substantial opportunity for the Socratic method to be applied by secondary school counselors in Yogyakarta Province to increase students’ awareness about bullying. This was evidenced by: 1) bullying continued to occur among middle school students, even though the counselors had used various methods and services to discuss bullying; 2) only a small number of school counselors had received information about the Socratic method, but the procedure for implementing the Socratic method was considered simple; and 3) all counselors stated that guidance on implementing the Socratic method was necessary and were enthusiastic about applying the Socratic method in an effort to increase students’ awareness about bullying Keywords: Socratic method, opportunity, anti-bullying awareness

School Counselors’ Assessment of the Legitimacy of High School Choice Policy

Drawing on interviews with 88 middle school counselors tasked with implementing New York City’s high school choice policy, we show that counselors largely question the policy’s legitimacy and the equity of the high school assignments it produces. By highlighting issues of transparency and procedural fairness that threaten counselors’ acceptance of school choice policy, we offer lessons for policymakers and practitioners about how policy design and communication affect policy legitimacy and, as a result, implementation.

A National Survey of School Counselors’ Perceptions Of Multiracial Students

A total of 1627 school counselors from all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated in a study designed to investigate their personal perceptions of multiracial individuals. Results indicated that school counselors held a wide variety of perceptions and those with 1 to 5 years of experience were more likely to believe that multiracial students experienced more academic and behavioral problems. Middle school counselors were more likely to believe that multiracial students have a more difficult time adjusting to society. School counselors who were unsure if cultural diversity and awareness programs were promoted in their school were also unsure if the physical appearance of multiracial students impacted how they racially identified themselves. Finally, school counselors in schools with a Very Diverse student body believed that multiracial students would experience fewer problems related to identity development if they lived in a diverse community. They also believed the problems experienced by multiracial students were related to identity conflicts.

Counseling Multiple Heritage Adolescents: A Phenomenological Study of Experiences and Practices of Middle School Counselors

The number of middle school students with multiple heritage backgrounds has grown since they were first able to identify their multiple racial identities in the 2000 U.S. Census. Today, the multiple heritage population makes up 3% (U.S. Census, 2011) of the total population. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and counseling practices of middle school counselors who work with adolescents with multiple heritage backgrounds. The authors identified five themes that made up the essence of this study: (a) generation dependent, (b) significance of presence, (c) single race identity, (d) students in crisis, and (e) need for acceptance. This article discusses the themes, implications for counselors, and the need for continued research.

Relational-Cultural Theory for Middle School Counselors

Young adolescents (ages 11–14), typically in the middle school grades, face life tasks involving connections and belonging with their peer group along with the development of their individual identity (Henderson & Thompson, 2010). Learning to negotiate through these developmental tasks, they face myriad relational challenges. This article explores the application of Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) with early adolescents. It provides implications and recommendations for school counselors.