Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is a hot topic these days, especially because of its adoption of the tenets of Critical Social Justice in K-12 schools. The mere fact that learning focused on children’s emotional development is causing an uproar may be as surprising as it is concerning. Who could be against students learning about emotions and how to handle them in both individual and social settings? No one, we hope. However, because SEL has been revised to reflect elite ideology, and given its new descriptor “Transformative,” there is a growing move to “stop SEL.” Therefore, the shift towards Transformative SEL has produced two issues worth discussing:

The education system is now at the forefront of contentious national debates, as educators and parents clash over appropriate ways to teach our children about racism, oppression, and equality. What curriculum helps students of all backgrounds see themselves in education and understand overlooked parts of history? What curriculum indoctrinates students, compelling them to accept a series of narrow, unquestioned assumptions? This is not a right- or left-wing political issue, but rather a non-partisan concern for those who believe children should be presented with an honest treatment of history that does not force-feed them any single political agenda.

Contrary to what activists seem to believe, campuses are not bastions of social injustice.

EmpowerED Pathways was established in 2017 to provide learning experiences and practices which support individual well-being and a compassionate collaborative. […] Mission: Empowering educators, youth and communities by strengthening the neural pathways to peace and resilience through mindfulness and social and emotional learning. Vision: To establish an empowered society of individuals at peace within themselves and with others.

Ian Rowe and co-host Naomi Riley look behind the headlines at the public policies and cultural agendas driving child welfare and education. In this episode, Naomi and Ian are joined by Betsy DeVos, former secretary of education and author of the new book Hostages No More.

J Wil, aka BlackDad, explores how his unschooling journey has shifted to a parenting journey where he recognized the need to find himself in order to truly help his children live purpose-filled lives.

In this podcast episode, Ankrum, cole, El-Mekki, and Stewart discuss the value of independent Black schools.

Black families are leading an exodus from public and private schools

But the real reason was to hide the state's dismal failure to educate its children

Fund Students, Not Systems: Parents know their children best and want solutions as unique as their kids. EFI exists to research, document, and report the benefits that school choice provides to students, families, and communities. We support policies that protect and promote school choice. We pursue this mission using objective data and through publishing our findings. EFI is a non-profit, non-partisan think tank dedicated to these efforts.