Candidates for APA President
What is the greatest single challenge facing the practice of psychology?
Illustrating to all psychologists--academic, research and practicing--the personal benefits of joining, actively supporting and participating in the educational and advocacy activities of both APA and their state or provincial association. The most effective means of involving nonmembers is personal contact. Each of us who have benefited from our membership in our SPA must invite and if possible pay for the registration fee of a nonmember colleague to attend and participate in the educational programs at our state or provincial convention. Let them experience this enthusiastic and contagious interaction with colleagues. There is no substitute for individual action.
In the past, psychology has had little influence on K-12 education. How can psychology (in all of its applications) be brought to bear to improve how children are educated?
Practically, we must back the programs and initiatives of Div. 16 again and again, and yet again. Those of us who are not school psychologists are often confronted with clinical situations that illustrate the need for doctorally trained licensed school psychologists within the public schools. Poorly equipped classrooms and large class sizes as well as dropouts, gangs, teen pregnancy, violence, suicide and STDs, are all amenable to research and intervention using well-established psychological principles applied within the framework of the school and community. Organized psychology must speak out forcefully to assure the provision of the resources necessary to accomplish change.
