Recently Nathan Mains, President of Communities in Schools of PA, asked the question - can you name the country with the following education problems?

• One in five ninth graders fail to graduate from high school.
• Two in five minority students fail to graduate on time.
• 170 students drop out every day.

Somalia? Afghanistan? The answer isn't a country at all, the answer is Pennsylvania! We rank in the bottom 10 of all states in graduation rates. Shocking, isn't it?

If we don't make a concerted effort to improve our schools, our students will continue to be at risk. Did you know that the achievement gap between groups is widening? Students who drop out of school are more likely to be incarcerated - 75 % of inmates do not have a high school diploma. Dropouts are four times more likely to be unemployed.

So what can we do? We can convey our expectations that all our students will graduate. We can support teachers so all students are prepared for some form of post-secondary education. We can find new ways to collaborate with parents to help them help their students. Elementary level counselors can place the same emphasis on academic and career standards that we tend to place on personal/social standards. Middle level counselors can work with students to develop career portfolios, focusing on future goals. We can work towards making our schools a safe place for all students. "School counselors not only play a significant role in school improvement efforts; they also hold the heart of the school in their daily work with students, teachers and parents." (Vicki Phillips, Transforming School counseling, 2007)

I believe that school counselors can bring about the changes that will help students be ready for the world of work in addition to helping them gain the necessary skills to make positive contributions to society. If we don't believe that our professional can make a difference, why should our stakeholders?

Did you know that nine out of ten students reported hearing "that's so gay" or "you're so gay" to mean stupid or worthless. Over 1/3 of students experience physical harassment at school based on sexual orientation and more then a quarter on the basis of their gender expression. LGBTQ students are 18 times more likely to drop out of school and their attendance is lower than their peers. And most disturbing, almost half of students said that school staff were present when the homophobic remarks were made and that staff often left the remarks go unchallenged.

In most of our districts, you or a colleague could be fired in PA because of sexual orientation. (Orientation describes the attraction one feels towards either or both sexes, NOT behavior displayed.)

Think this is relevant for our middle or high school colleagues? Just last week I spoke to a school counselor who had a transgendered first grade student. He now dresses like a girl and has feminized his name. And the expereince isn't the first one I've heard from elementary school counselors.

So what can we do? We can start by confronting negative assumptions about gender and sexual orientation. Education is key; the October/November 2009 NEA magazine has an article titled The Power of One with more sobering statistics. The best thing we can do is to advocate for safety for all our students. Regardless of our own beliefs, when we stand up against prejudices, stereotypes and derogatory statements, we create a safe learning environment for all students, and not just those who are the object of negative comments. We know the role of bystanders and how they, too, are effected by bullying. Create a safe place by putting up a sign that says: this office is a safe place for all students, no matter who you are. Let your students know that you do not accept harassment of any kind.

So next time you hear a student say "that's so gay" go ahead, address it.