“Social-Emotional Learning” Is a Dangerous Fad. In North Carolina and elsewhere, the source is university schools of education.

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | May 15, 2023 | Daniel Buck

[karpov]

Last year’s “CRT” is this year’s “SEL.” For those normal folks who don’t obsessively follow education news, “social-emotional learning” (SEL) is the latest progressive fad in schools to ignite the culture war. An analysis of not just SEL’s faults but also the source from which it springs—university schools of education—does much to elucidate the cause of many American educational woes. SEL may be one fad, but it’s representative of systemic flaws in the overall system.

At its best, SEL is something of a secular character education stripped of virtue. No longer do students learn of prudence, temperance, and courage but open-mindedness and acceptance. No longer do students apply an objective ethics to their lives but choose their own subjective values. No longer do students learn self-control because it is right and proper but because it’s valuable for securing a job in the future. In this form, SEL is not particularly politicized, but neither is it effective.

Even in its benign form, however, SEL warrants skepticism. Is a teacher’s role to play therapist and psychoanalyst with students? What must schools push out of the curriculum to make room for social and emotional learning? Are a few mini-lessons and classroom posters declaring that “kind is cool” going to effect any meaningful change?

At its worst, SEL is a means to slip progressive politics into the classroom. Social and emotional learning is difficult to define but euphonious. Who would oppose teaching children basic emotional skills? As such, it acts as something of a rubber stamp, justifying whatever dream-list progressive educators want. Everything from eliminating math and traditional grading to providing lessons on gender identity and privilege comes under the banner of SEL.

[trebb]

Now they’re taking classes on how to become emotionally crippled social misfits...

[Westbrook]

YARTS
Yet another reason to homeschool.

[Lake Living]

There is a great teaching called Most Christians Don’t Know This About Babylon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7J_NGncv5s

It’s aimed at young people but adults would do well to listen. I wish the title was a little different as he really lays out what we are up against and why. Soooo timely.
Starts out a little slow but gets really good.

[bgill]

SELling students up the river.

Notice how many more idiotic “required” courses are getting added to the degree plan. The more the university can add, the more tuition and the longer it takes to graduate. Follow the money.

[Honest Nigerian]

The public education system is age-segregated and peer-dependent. How is that different from something called “social emotional learning”?
I am NOT advocating for public education. I thoroughly oppose that folly.