Book Being Reviewed:
Holcomb-McCoy, C. (2007). School counseling to close the achievement gap: A social justice framework for success. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Reviewer:
Helen Runyan

Curricular Areas:
Diversity/Multiculturalism/Social Justice, School Based License

Subject Headings:
Elementary school, High school, Middle school, Multicultural/cross-cultural issues, Racial/ethnic identity, Social justice

Review:
School Counseling to Close the Achievement Gap is a powerful book that is likely to change the worldview of each and every reader. From the Preface to the Resources, the author challenges the readers to truly deepen their awareness about the achievement gap, social justice, and the part that school counselors (and other educators) may unwittingly play in maintaining the status quo. This knowledge and consciousness is then used to propel the reader into action, working to increase social justice at every given opportunity.

While there is a lot of material written about how atrocious the achievement gap is and what teachers can do to close the gap, school counselors have often been left to figure out their part in the solution. This book effectively communicates and explicates what the author refers to as "the six C’s” (p. 22) that are key to increasing a social justice focus in a school counseling program. These chief functions are "counseling and intervention planning; consultation; connecting schools, families, and communities; collecting and utilizing data; challenging bias; and coordinating student services and support” (p. 22). Besides filling the gap in the literature concerning the part school counselors play in closing the achievement gap, this book offers powerful data likely to spur (or maybe even shock) counselors into action. School Counseling to Close the Achievement Gap poses questions for counselors to apply to their current school situations. It presents counseling snapshots (scenarios to spur further thought about possible situations).

The author also proposes actions counselors can take immediately to begin increasing social justice within their schools. Although School Counseling to Close the Achievement Gap was apparently written for school counselors, it can be used by a broad spectrum of counselors to increase self knowledge. While many of the excerpts are particular to school settings, the underlying themes of social justice, multicultural competence, and systemic change are critical to skilled counselors. In fact, teachers may well benefit from this same basic subject matter. Despite the many strengths of this book, one caveat must be mentioned. In the author’s words, "once counselors understand equity and social justice, they will begin to see inequities everywhere and across many diverse groups” (p. ix). Also, "once you are aware of injustice and inequities, it can be burdensome and tiring” (p. 120). In other words, once enlightened by this book, your worldview will change and you will be hard-pressed to close your eyes or mind to the numerous wrongs perpetuated even in today’s "enlightened” world.

Originally posted on 8/26/2008 at csi-net.org