Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

A Hill for Children to Die On

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by

sherlockj
in ,

Virginia Education Secretary Qarni

by James C. Sherlock

I was asked by Dick Sizemore:

“As for social emotional learning (SEL), what specifically in that statement do you disagree with?”

A serious question from a serious man. The answer is quoted from Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL):

Find the definition of the “process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes.”

A process is a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end.

The SEL “process” is defined by CASEL as:

There are four key elements that guide SEL implementation and sustainability, with different activities at each level:

1. Build foundational support and plan by establishing a collective vision and plan for SEL, and ensuring aligned resources and ongoing commitment.

2. Strengthen adult SEL competencies and capacity by cultivating a trusting community that enhances adults’ professional, social, emotional, and cultural competencies and their capacity to promote SEL for students.

3. Promote SEL for students by developing a coordinated approach across classrooms, schools, homes, and communities that ensures consistent, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate opportunities for all students to enhance and apply social and emotional competencies to daily tasks and challenges.

4. Reflect on data for continuous improvement by establishing an ongoing process to collect and use implementation and outcome data to inform decisions and drive improvements.

There is no intention on the part of the Left to confine SEL by objectively defining it, so absolutely anything will fit in that definition if you “feel” it strongly enough.

The “reflect on data” part means the advocates are winging it, and if 100,000 students fall through the voluminous cracks, they will try to adjust.

And there are never any objective metrics. Ever. Just feelings.

Never objectively measure anything, and nothing can fail.

Truly a hill for children to die on.

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Comments

13 responses to “A Hill for Children to Die On”

  1. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
    Dick Hall-Sizemore

    In your prior post, you lamented the absence of leadership on the part of President Ryan. How do you objectively measure “leadership”?

    1. James C. Sherlock Avatar
      James C. Sherlock

      Results.

    2. James C. Sherlock Avatar
      James C. Sherlock

      Results.

    3. Nancy Naive Avatar
      Nancy Naive

      … and he determines the results.

  2. Howard Bergman Avatar
    Howard Bergman

    I have no idea what SEL is in practice or how it’s taught. Could someone provide some concrete examples? Thanks!

  3. Stephen Haner Avatar
    Stephen Haner

    These are worthless pedagogues who have given up on teaching actual knowledge, skills or abilities. Those who cannot teach or teach others to teach….”Social Emotional Learning” is just culture by a gold plated and meaning-hidden name. I suspect their goal is to overwhelm and bury whatever culture students may have already absorbed from unqualified (in the minds of worthless pedagogues) sources such as parents, religious traditions, historical example or personal reflection.

    1. Nancy Naive Avatar
      Nancy Naive

      I would argue that “pedagogues” is exactly wrong. They are not strict educators. They’re fluid and faced with more information than man has ever faced. If anything they’re too fluid and looking for a new paradigm.

      It’ll sort out.

  4. Irene Leech Avatar
    Irene Leech

    . Reflect on data for continuous improvement by establishing an ongoing
    process to collect and use implementation and outcome data to inform
    decisions and drive improvements.

    To me this says that data are collected. I assume objective data as well as subjective. This says feedback and improve; evaluate.

    I think you’re interpreting these words differently than they are meant.

    1. WayneS Avatar
      WayneS

      “I think you’re interpreting these words differently than they are meant.”

      Well then perhaps they should say what they mean. English can be a very precise language when it needs to be, and when discussing the collection and use of data it needs to be.

      In much the same way that “feel” is not a synonym for “think”, “reflect on” is not the same as “analyze” – and no amount of reinterpretation is going to change that.

      1. Nancy Naive Avatar
        Nancy Naive

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYIGy1dyd8

  5. WayneS Avatar
    WayneS

    Here is the part I dislike the most: “…developing a coordinated approach across classrooms, schools, homes, and communities that ensures consistent, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate opportunities for all students to enhance and apply social and emotional competencies…” [Emphasis mine]

    Following are my questions for those who wish to implement “Social and Emotional Learning” (SEL) within our schools:

    1) Who defines “social and emotional” competencies?

    2) Who defines “cultural competency”?

    3) How will the “coordinated approach” of SEL be spread across the homes and communities of this country without investing the Department of Education with vast, far-reaching governmental powers that no sane person would put in the hands of unelected bureaucrats?

    4) Assuming our elected officials are insane enough to invest these far-reaching governmental powers in the DOE , how will the “coordinated approach” be enforced within the homes and communities of this country without repealing the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th, 13th and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution?

    5) Is “reflecting on data” part of the scientific process?

    6) Seriously, though, what the hell, is wrong with you?

    1. James A. Bacon Avatar
      James A. Bacon

      Excellent summary of key questions.

  6. energyNOW_Fan Avatar
    energyNOW_Fan

    I was amazed early in the pandemic when Fairfax supervisor chair McKay said 45% of Fairfax residents do not speak English in the home. I was recently looking at the FCPS web page and they have option to translate the content into about 10 different languages.

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