Wow....since I've been at my field placement, there has been at least one fight once a week, and it is not uncommon for there to be more. Unfortunately, the kids continue to fight because there aren't many consequences for their actions.

One of my clients fought another student, and they were back at school the next day.

Eventually they both got suspended, but it was a 4 day suspension instead of a 5 day suspension because one of the administrators "didn't want to do the paperwork for a 5 day long-term suspension."

Don't get me wrong....I LOVE my placement. I feel like I am learning more about the educational system and mental health than ever before....but I get frustrated when kids fight so vicously that the school police has to get involved and they are let back in school the next day. If we don't show them that there are consequences for their actions, then what happens when they get out into the "real world"? Police officers are not going to delay an arrest...Judges are not going to delay their verdict...the students will have to face their consequences.

Do I think the consequences have to be an out of school suspension? Absolutely not--there is a great program that allows students to serve their suspension in school with extra resources to complete their assignments, etc. However, I do think that students should understand that they can't just beat each other crazy without facing any consequences. Consequences are necessary in order to establish authority and to protect those who are being bullied.

What do you think? Leave a comment with your thoughts.

Posted by Carmen at 5:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

My friends and I were in the student mailroom waiting to go to our 6PM class and someone said, "Hey--do you know that we register on Nov. 5th?" We all looked at each other in disbelief! Nov. 5th at 6AM will be the last time that most of us will EVER register for classes.

It's hard to believe that my social work journey is almost over. It doesn't seem like the papers, exams, and studying will ever end...but May 16th will be here faster than I can imagine.

On Monday, Nov. 5th, at 5:50 AM, I plan to have my computer on with course numbers in hand. I only have to take two classes and field next semester, instead of three classes and field. This is definitely a benefit of taking a summer class.

Hopefully, I will be able to register for the classes that I want. I'll let you know if it works out.

Shoot me an email :)

Posted by Carmen at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Are you MACO or Clinical?

A friend of mine who is a first year student is really struggling answering this question. She doesn't have a social work background and is not sure what she wants to do when she graduates...but by mid-November she has to register for Spring classes and by Feb. she has to declare her concentration.

Are you MACO or Clinical?

This is what I've found: there are a LOT of people who come into SSW and know exactly what they are passionate about--maybe they want to run a non-profit or work for DSS or be a community organizer or work with substance abuse clients...so for them the question is easy.

But for those of us with NO SW Background (I was a history major in undergrad)--how do you answer the infamous question?

My advice: discover what you are passionate about and how you want your days to look (do you want to work from 8-3 like a school social worker, do you want to work weekends at a residential treatment facility, do you want to work nights as a community organizer helping residents and attending community meetings?) And..try out different field placements! If you are placed somewhere clinical, volunteer with a non-profit org to get the MACO side of things and vice versa. Do a little bit of both to see what things are non-negotiable for you in a job (do you have to be face-to-face with clients experiencing trauma...do you want to do policy work with the state legislature?)

It's not an easy question--but no matter which way you decide to go, the best social workers combine key elements of both areas to create a dynamic practice!

So, don't worry--we're social workers! It's a great proffession and there's great need. That may not alleviate your anxiety about declaring a concentration, but you can be assured that no matter which way you decide to go, when graduation comes, you will have a job...and a few years down the road if you are ready for a change, there will be another job (maybe in a different concentration)!

Blessings today!

Posted by Carmen at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)