*This post is sponsored by The Class Documentary.
High school counselors are almost exclusively portrayed in a negative light in the media… often the old-fashioned “guidance counselor” of the past who stirs up drama, gives poor advice, and adds to the chaos instead of aiding.
When I opened up the PBS app to watch a new docuseries called The Class, I held my breath hoping counselors would be represented well with the qualities that I know them to have: care, empathy, love, curiosity, and attentiveness.
Spoiler alert: I was NOT let down.
I’d be hard-pressed to find a docuseries that showcases a counselor’s pride in their students’ achievements as a trope that I didn’t go “all-in” on.
Since I think the best way to hear about new shows, podcasts, and books is from others who have watched them, consider this my raving review for The Class on PBS. I watched it and loved it, so I needed to tell all high school counselors about it!
From a counselor’s perspective, this show elevates the part we LOVE about our jobs—knowing and helping students!
What Is The Class PBS Docuseries About?
The show opens with the current high school counselor introducing us to her counterpart, a college adviser named Mr. Cam, who returned to his alma mater in Antioch, California to help students reach their own post-secondary goals.
When you see another passionate counselor doing good work somewhere else, you suddenly feel less alone in the good work you’re doing. His large caseload was a rallying cry for change; his high student to counselor ratio was a reminder that so many of us are fighting to make a big impact in schools with highly limited resources even across the country from each other.
The show is set as the Covid-19 pandemic enters the scene, so we see Mr. Cam meeting with students on Zoom. I immediately had flashbacks to the challenges that 2020 presented to us. The 6 episodes of “The Class” feature the stories of 6 students with different personalities, family situations, academic and athletic resumes, and dreams. We get to know these students through Mr. Cam’s regular meetings with them.
Why Do High School Counselors Need to Watch The Class?
I was afraid my own flashbacks to 2020 would resurface and make me shudder; however, it made me PROUD to be a high school counselor who could pivot and still find ways to connect with and serve students in unique ways.
As uncertain and unpredictable as the 2020 and 2021 school years were, I am reminded of how incredibly resilient our students, high school counselors, college counselors, and educators were during this time.
This series doesn’t just lay the pandemic dilemma in your lap and make you figure out what to do with it. On their website, there are free, follow-up lesson plans, reflection activities, and mental health resources that would incorporate seamlessly into your classroom lessons or advisory groups this year.
(Need more help getting into classrooms to start making this happen? Here’s a free podcast playlist to help you with classroom lessons!)
How Does The Class Docuseries Honor Educators?
The directors and producers of The Class did their due diligence to tell an authentic story that captures both the struggles and successes of high school students at Deer Valley High School; I’m confident that you’ll find these stories to permeate through to the lives of so many of our high school students in our own offices.
I’m reminded of the impact counselors make and the mutual struggles we all share as we’re committed to keeping students at the center.
If you’re looking for your next binge-worthy show that speaks to the heart of the school counseling profession, The Class is it.
You can stream all episodes of The Class on PBS.org or the PBS app.
Watch The Class for free on PBS, and help me celebrate the unsung impact of educators everywhere.
