THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, November 25, 1994              TAG: 9411230108
SECTION: DAILY BREAK              PAGE: E15  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Back Talk 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   41 lines

BACK TALK

RESPONSES FROM all ages came in regarding the question, ``Do you think parents should have to give their permission for students to receive guidance counselors' services at school?'' Here are the responses:

I'm very much opposed to the new regulation that would require guidance counselors to report to parents every time they talk to children. I think it's going to make it difficult for some children with difficult issues to be able to discuss those issues with their guidance counselors. . . . These regulations just serve to hamstring them and make them unable to deal with issues, such as parents' marriage difficulties or parent alcoholism with young people. - H. Graham Hudgins, 38, and a parent of three children.

If the child needs help in school, the child should have someone other than the parent to talk to. If the parents know the kids are going to the guidance counselor, it sort of defeats the whole purpose. - Amanda Brown, 16-year-old at Lake Taylor High School. I think it's ridiculous that kids would have to get a parent's OK to talk to a guidance counselor at school. That's why they are there. If it actually did happen that they need to get an OK I think it would be nice to have a blanket OK, not for a specific problem. Just have that option open at the beginning of the year. Jennifer Gordon, 23-year-old.

I don't think the guidance counselor needs parents' permission. The child comes to the counselor, not the parents. The child also deserves the right to talk to a professional if he or she cannot talk to the parents. - Christine Keller, 15-year-old at Kellam High School.

I think the children should have access to counselors. Suppose there is a problem with abuse? Then the counselor can decide and work with the kids in terms of sharing the information and getting an appropriate resolution. - Mrs. C. Davis, 66, Chesapeake. by CNB