The first bit of strangeness for the school year.

I actually think this is fairly innocuous; it just strikes me as a wee bit strange.

Letter from the "Guidance and Counseling Department", titled Elementary School Parent Needs Assessment 2010-2011:

Purpose: The purpose of this needs assessment is to determine the ways in which the school's Guidance and Counseling Program can be of the most service to you and your child/children.

Then, a list:

1. Providing college and career awareness.
2. Providing community resources.
3. Providing post-secondary options.
4. Assistance for my child during a crisis situation.
5. Assistance during teacher-parent conferences.
6. Informational classes for parents.
7. Support groups for children with specific needs (e.g. family issues, peer pressure, grief, anger, self-esteem, etc.)
8. Interpreting test scores.
9. Helping my child with his/her emotional, physical, intellectual, and social well-being.
10. Helping my child develop study habits and testing skills.
11. Helping my child deal with family-related issues.
12. Helping my child deal with drug or alcohol issues.
13. Helping my child develop decision-making skills.
14. Other _______

From the list above, find the 3 most important statements that you feel you would like to see the counselors address with your child/children.  Write the numbers of the statements below:

Instead of numbers, I wrote: 

None.  These things are my job as a parent.  Thanks anyway.

I'm not certain whether to be glad that these things are being offered--I recall guidance counselors as being pretty much useless when I was in school--or sad that there are apparently a lot of parents out there who think the school should be in charge of helping their child develop social skills.  Sigh.