Counselors from Kagman, Marianas, and Saipan Southern high schools have one thing in common — they have been approached for guidance regarding tough family crises such as beating, neglect, and sexual abuse to name a few.
Second to family issues are relationship conflicts between friends or boy/girlfriends.
Counselors said students who walk into their offices usually disclose the reasons why they act the way they do.
More often than not, a troublemaking student will have an unresolved family-related issue, the counselors said.
Kagman High School counselors Emily Camacho, Sharon San Nicolas and Sherly Nortia said it is hard to approach family issues directly, but it is often the only way to solve a problem within a family circle.
When they bring a parent in to help them communicate with the child, the counselors frequently encounter a grumpy mom or dad who will tell them that their family problems are none of the school’s business.
As a result, the issue may never be resolved properly and the child will always be the one left standing in the cold.
