Social Work in the Schools   Clint A. Wilson, Huntington University Introduction to Social Work (SWX171-(EX16)-X1, SP-2017-UNDG)   Social Work in the Schools   I never considered that there is social work happening within the school systems, but as I think back to events in my life as well as in my kid's lives, I can see the social worker in action. They are the ones that intervened when family crisis’ was happening along with counselors. I also wonder are not the school counselors also social workers in a sense? “Rural school systems are notably devoid of resources for children whose native language is other that English” (Suppes & Wells, 2012, p. 247). This statement made me think back to my high school days at John Glenn High School in New Concord, Ohio. John Glenn H.S. was about as rural as you can get. It was likely there would be one if not more tractors parked in the parking lot. Thinking about the cultural diversity at John Glenn, I realized there was none. The only people who spoke anything other than English was the ones who was taking either Spanish or French. With the absence of cultural diversity, it is hard for me to see the potential impact. I can imagine what it would look like at John Glenn High School, and I do not like what I imagine it would be like. It makes sense to see the school systems as a centralized hub for the various social services. Schools are the only places mandated that every child attends except home-schooled children. With everyone in one location, it is easy to offer “a full range of services, involving various health, mental health, and social services from the wider community” (Suppes & Wells, 2012, p. 246-247). Workers have the best opportunity to interact with children in the school system. In my high school days, I was something of an outcast an enigma to others around me. I had a juvenile record and was fairly well known for various things both good and bad. I can only recall five teachers from my high school days. Three of those five appeared not to like me and seemed to go out of their way to make my education difficult. The other two was engaging and treated me with respect. In my entire time at John Glenn, I can not remember a single instance when I had a positive conversation with any administrative person. Usually was to lecture or remind me of the things I kept doing wrong. I wonder where was the social worker then? Where was the social worker at when I was led out of school in handcuffs for having “illegal narcotics” in my locker, that was Benedryl still in the foil packs? Now, kids have someone to advocate for them, but who was advocating for me? Why was I singled out? The advocacy for these children can give them the best opportunity to succeed in life before mistakes happen. We are assuming the schools have an actual social worker in them. I tend to allow my personal emotions to get in the way of my writing, but I refuse to discount them as they are part of me. They are the words that make me think, the words that challenge me. So if I get off topic from time to time, I will not apologize, but understand it is just how my brain works.         References Suppes, M. A., & Wells, C. C. (2012). The Social Work Experience. The Social Work Experience (Sixth). Pearson.