It is incomprehensible that school districts are rushing to hire social workers while educational standards are dropping across the nation. In some districts, the budgets for social services staff are higher than those for hiring additional instructional staff; or for purchasing new science books for sixth grade classes; or for funding quality training in reading instruction for teachers. Some schools have gone so far as to replace school guidance counselors, who are trained in educational testing, advising and counseling; with young social workers lacking any background in the field of education. Some districts allow first-year social workers to train intern … Continue reading The Plague of Social Workers