The Mundane and Unresponsive:An Unanticipated Consequence of a Most Reasonable Definition?
Abstract
0 REACTIONS The Mundane and Unresponsive: An Unanticipated Consequence of a Most Reasonable Definition? Norman I. Kagan University of Houston The major contribution of this issue, Counseling With Children (Wagner, Stem & Kaczmarek, 1994 [this issue]) is largely a compendium of activities that are traditionally ascribed to elementary school counselors. It could as easily have been written in the 1950s as now. It is remarkable in its complete avoidance of the critical issues of our decade. The potential of using coun- seling psychology knowledge with children, particularly in the elementary schools, to overcome critical social ills that seem to be unresponsive to intervention in adulthood may be one of the only hopes society has left. The AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) epidemic, substance abuse, childhood pregnancy, child abuse, savage violence and crime on the streets (so rampant that evening strolls are dangerous in any neighborhood in our country, and if the current trend continues, an entire generation of inner-city youth will likely spend their teens and 20s in prison if the economy can bear the cost of constructing enough jails), homelessness, blunted affective ability (including the absence of empathy or compassion)-these are the issues that frighten people and threaten