What Is Social and Emotional Learning, and Why Is It Becoming Problematic?

Hubpages ^ | 05/09/2021 | Tamara Wilhite

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Is SEL Being Used in Our Schools?

The answer is yes, and it is taught alongside reading, writing and arithmetic. And, in general, that’s not a problem. Improved social skills in theory will reduce tantrums, fights, explosions of anger and overall drama in the classroom. Children do better when they learn proper etiquette and other forms of “social lubricant”, too.

What’s the problem? It is the injection of critical race theory and similar political theories into the SEL program and thus bring it into the classroom.

Imagine a lecture to elementary school about the gender unicorn and gender as a social construct, years before the kids have taken health class.

Imagine classes on critical race theory teaching kids that they’re all either victims or oppressors, and it is only a degree. That your identity is based only on factors like race, sex, family status, income and not who you are. This doesn’t just undermine Martin Luther King’s vision of judging people by the content of their character instead of their outward appearance. It violates children’s privacy. After all, you’re making them publicly identify these characteristics.

In these assignments, they almost always must share them with teachers and fellow students. This results in children talking about everything from broken homes to sexual confusion with teachers who cannot help them. This only does harm.

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What Is Social and Emotional Learning, and Why Is It Becoming Problematic?
https://hubpages.com/education/What-Is-Social-and-Emotional-Learning-and-Why-Is-It-Becoming-Problematic

[lee martell]

Cue that Radar character from Seinfeld asking:
“Why must there always be a ‘problem’??”