It was disheartening that only 2 parents attended the ORR district rollout of Social Emotional Learning for K - 8 grades. 

 

This matters. Public education is under attack , right here , right now. As SEL is being weaponized, it’s critical to understand how and why.

 

SEL supports the overall emotional , social and physical health of our children . It’s wholesome ; “ wholesome “ being defined as “ good for one’s health and well being “. It’s WHOLE child education .

 

The national group , Protecting Our Kids ( POK.org ) , attacks SEL as “a carefully designed delivery system for Marxist inspired CRT( Critical Race Theory ) .” They oppose counselors, gym , even nurses in schools . They want a very limited curriculum of only math , reading , and writing . Teaching just the basics , however , is short sighted if we are to prepare our children for a modern world. Yet they want all children limited, not just their own . They want to make the decision for yours. 

 

But public education is the common property of everyone . They have the freedom and right to opt their children out of any reading or curriculum they deem inappropriate. They don’t have the right to limit other people’s children’s education and futures. 

 

If left up to them , empathy, respect for others and self control wouldn’t be taught . Yet the evidence is clear , SEL leads not only to civil discourse and respect , it increases literacy , language and math . The very things they claim to support . It’s a fully wholesome curriculum for the whole child. 

 

Khahil Greene once wrote , “ … education is not political - it’s personal “ . And John Lewis wrote , “ A child is born into a world in which we are their only hope and guide “ . Let’s be that . Let’s be their hope and their guides . Let’s show up for an amazing school district . Let’s support school committee members who are pro SEL / whole child education . After all it’s personal for our children and should be for us too .