Missouri Board of Education Mulls Over Social-Emotional Learning Guidelines
– Missouri’s board of education looks towards implementing social emotional learning standards for K-12 students.
– The potential guidelines have been praised as teaching elements of basic humanity.
– But the proposal has also drawn negative feedback, with 1,800 public comments submitted.
– A decision will be made about implementing the program on Tuesday.
A Crucial Decision on Education Looms
Missouri’s board of education is on the brink of a critical decision that could have far-reaching effects on the mental wellbeing of its K-12 students. The board, on Tuesday, will decide whether to implement guidelines designed to provide a social and emotional learning standard for K-12 students.
These potential regulations have been praised as instructing “the basics of what it means to be human”. In an August meeting, the proposed guidelines received considerable commendations. However, like anything that involves change, it’s created an adversarial environment. Despite its good intentions, many have fought against the guidelines. The education board has received as many as 1,800 public comments, many of them peppered with harsh criticisms and blatant disapproval for the idea.
The Breezy Take
In a perfect world, educating kids beyond textbooks could ideally reap several positive outcomes. These proposed guidelines have all the ores to mold our future generation into empathetic, emotionally healthy individuals. Still, like bitter medicine, the controversy it’s sparking shows that it’s not going down smoothly with everyone. Perhaps the question isn’t whether to infuse emotional learning into the curriculum but how it needs to be done, to meet educational objectives without stirring up a tempest in the teapot. Missouri’s Board of Education, come Tuesday, has a tough decision to make. Let’s hope the pros outweigh the cons for the wellbeing of future generations.
Original article: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/16/missouri-education-board-set-to-discuss-social-emotional-learning-standards/