Social emotional learning is behind Florida math books bans. But what is SEL?
In 2021 DeSantis banned the teaching of critical race theory. On March 25 of this year, he approved bill HB1467, requiring transparency from school districts in the selection of instructional materials.
This would require materials be listed in a public online database. Legislation also aims to preserve parental rights to make decisions about the materials their children are exposed to in school. Some of those books were rejected, in part, because of pages that included examples using social emotional learning.
Social emotional learning centers on self-awareness, social awareness and social skills among other components. Some of the lesson objectives in the textbooks in question that were not approved by the Education Department aim to build student proficiency with social awareness and practice empathizing with classmates.
A news release from the Florida Department of Education said that 41% of all the books submitted for approval failed to meet Florida’s criteria – the most in state history. Many of the rejected books included social emotional learning (SEL), which includes concepts such as empathy and managing one's feelings.
During a news conference Monday, April 18 in Jacksonville, Gov. Ron DeSantis said, “Math is about getting the right answer. We want kids to learn to think so they get the right answer. It’s not about how you feel about the problem or to introduce some of these other things.”
Here are some things to know about social emotional learning.
Where did social emotional learning come from?
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning was founded in 1994 by a group of researchers, educators, practitioners and child advocates with a goal of establishing a high quality, evidence-based SEL. From this, CASEL aims to make SEL an essential part of education from preschool to high school and now leads a nationwide effort to provide emotional teaching support to all students.
Read the list of unapproved textbooks: List of math textbooks tossed by Florida for CRT, social emotional learning or failing state standards
Textbook examples: Photo examples of some of the math textbooks Florida says it found 'problematic' in K-12
'We're scrambling': Florida schools searching for solutions after state rejects math textbooks
What is social emotional learning?
According to the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for Massachusetts, social emotional learning is a process and educational method through which children and adults acquire and apply knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.
According to an article by Alexis Clark on Understood.org, SEL is also referred to as "socio-emotional learning," "social and emotional learning" or "social-emotional literacy." The article maintains that people with strong socio-emotional skills are better equipped to manage daily challenges, build positive relationships, and make informed decisions. SEL helps students and adults thrive in school and in life.
In common practice, SEL emphasizes social and emotional skills to the same degree as other subjects, such as math, science and reading.
Some math textbooks deemed 'impermissible.' What does that mean?
In its news release late Friday, April 18, the state of Florida did not approve 54 math textbooks with officials claiming that the books didn't meet Florida's Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking Standards, backed by DeSantis, and/or they referred to critical race theory or social emotional learning. The Florida Department of Education called some elements within the unapproved textbooks "problematic."
The list of the 54 unapproved books was provided, but the big question was still, Why. Rep. Anna V. Eskamani asked in a tweet, "I wonder if these math books highlighted statistics of racial disparities & that's what they don't like? If those statistics make you uncomfortable maybe do something about it instead of erase them?"
Why did math textbook authors include SEL in the content?
Some speculate that the education department rejected the books for political reasons. But why did the authors include Social emotional learning in the books?
In a New York Times article, Stephanie M. Jones, a developmental psychologist and expert on social-emotional learning at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, gave some insight on how some rejected math textbooks used SEL.
In one math textbook, students are encouraged to write a "math biography" reflecting on their feelings about math. “A math biography is a way of helping kids,” Professor Jones said, adding that teachers could read the biographies to learn which students needed extra support.
Annette Jones is a digital producer for the USA TODAY Network's South Florida region.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Department of Education cites SEL as criteria for textbook bans
