I have a problem with any school employee who does not encourage a child to follow a dream (obviously becoming a bank robber is not on that list). More specifically, this year my son started 9th grade. Guidance counselor has already informed him that his future goal of becoming a dancer will only find himself "washed up" by age 25 and that he has wasted his time over the last 7 years with dance classes (he still has 4 more to go). Unless he plans to immediately go to college upon graduation, life is not worth living and they act as if his diploma will instantly poof into dust with no record of his high school transcript for future college plans.
Forgive me for viewing this differently, but the last time I checked, it was the guidance counselors job to "guide" someone to a path which leads them to college after graduation. Not bully a child into another path and belittle them for their chosen path after years of hard work. My son has been through enough crap because of his talent and chosen career path. Not only has he dealt with other students, but also teachers (yes, more than 1) who encouraged kids to tease him. The last thing I need is to deal with a counselor who voices opinion such as this. So much for self esteem. Luckily, I taught my son at an early age how to ignore those people.