Sharon Leonard, the guidance counsellor for Willard Wheatley Primary School and Francis Lettsome Primary School, has said too many students in public schools are performing below grade level. Photo: GIS/Facebook

February 1-5, 2021 is being observed as National School Counselling Week. Photo: Facebook

Some of the Guidance Counsellors in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Facebook

Sharon Leonard, the guidance counsellor for Willard Wheatley Primary School and Francis Lettsome Primary School, said that is one of the challenges she has seen in the education system over the years.

“We notice that there are a lot of academic challenges with our students; a lot of our students are performing below grade level,” Mrs Leonard revealed.

Bullying

While she did not specify any reasons why she felt students were not performing as they should, she said: “We have a lot of bullying and peer pressure in our schools. You may be surprised to see a Kindergarten student bullying another child, and it is there very clear.”

She added: “Also we have cases of self-worth, how you feel about yourself, self-esteem. Another thing that is coming across is family issues; all kinds of different various issues.”

She said as guidance counsellors; they do their best to work with students, “what we cannot do on our own we make referrals. So we will refer them to outside agencies.”

Parents urged to dialogue with their children

Guidance Counsellor Leonard then encouraged parents to make more time for their children.

“If they are open with their children, the more they dialogue with them, the children will be open when they come to school, and so they would not be afraid to speak to the counsellors, they would not be afraid to speak to the teachers.

"Another thing parents can do is appreciate counsellors and the services we are offering, and so even when children are experiencing difficulties at home, they can also reach out to us. So we just want parents to speak to their children and acknowledge that we are here to help.”

Mrs Leonard was at the time being interviewed by Acting Chief Education Officer Connie E. George on Wednesday, February 3, 2021, on A Chat with the Community.

This week is being observed as National School Counselling Week.