Social Emotional Learning: It’s impact on Community Mindedness
Today’s education climate is more polarizing than ever. Educators feel caught in a bind of wanting to support LGBTQ+ students and build an inclusive classroom but fear real pushback from engaging in topics some consider “controversial”.
Social Emotional Learning is built on 5 core competencies:
1) Self-Awareness – encourages students to reflect on their own biases and beliefs
2) Self-Management – assists students’ emotional regulation, stress management, and aligning their behavior with their values
3) Social Awareness – helps them comprehend and respect others’ identities and experiences
4) Relationship skills – teaches communication and conflict resolution skills which are necessary for healthy cross-identity relationships
5) Responsible decision making – supports ethical thinking, helps students choose decisions that support equity and respect
“Studies have found that students with higher SEL competencies are less likely to engage in bullying and more likely to act as upstanders when their peers are mistreated. According to GLSEN’s national school climate survey, schools with inclusive curriculum and supportive staff report significantly lower rates of harassment toward LGBTQ students. SEL provides a framework to make this possible—not by talking about LGBTQ matters in isolation, but by incorporating allyship into the emotional and social fabric of the classroom.”
Chris Tompkins is a LBGTQ+ affirming therapist in California who has taught Social Emotional Learning programs across the state and has seen the benefits firsthand. Tompkins states “Social Emotional Learning has the potential to challenge internalized bias, open doors to empathy, and nurture allyship—even in the most unlikely places.” Tompkins emphasizes the need for young people to have space where they can be themselves, feel truly heard, and explore identity without fear or judgement. The contrast between that statement and the reality of our political-social climate, especially Florida, is jarring. Tompkins is passionate about social emotional learning and conversations around these topics because “Silence, especially with regard to identity, is loud and often deafening. When we withhold from young people the experiences of entire groups of people, we send a powerful statement. When adults avoid talking about identity differences, children learn that those topics are off-limits—or, worse, shameful. SEL gives us tools for speaking honestly and age-appropriately about differences, so children don’t internalize fear or stigma. Sometimes, we think we choose to avoid having certain conversations because children are too young. If we’re honest with ourselves, it’s typically because of our own discomfort. And children are truth detectors, they sense fear. Choosing not to share something with a child because we don’t think it’s necessary versus avoiding the conversation because of fear, shame, bias, or privilege are two distinctly different reasons.” Tompkins challenges our societal standards of education, care, and conversation in a way that is good to think about and consider how it impacts our desire for action.
What can parents and educators do?
Helping your child or students explore internal belief systems can be a great way to bridge the gap! “Students participated in an exercise where we asked them to tell us what they believed about things like boys, girls, school, life, family, money, and so on. The purpose of the exercise was to uncover negative beliefs and replace them with something positive…we invited the youth to see if the results matched what they learned or heard growing up and then ask themselves these questions:” “Questions like: Does this support what I personally believe? Is this true 100% of the time?”
Parents can help build this type of environment and these thinking skills at home! Educators can incorporate these conversations when on topic in their respective areas of education. Opening up to topics such as beliefs give the opportunity for topics such as self-esteem, bullying, empathy, and the impact of their experiences to come to the surface. Transparency in these topics helps us build an environment where we encourage compassion, especially to those in minorities.
The great thing is children will learn anything we teach them- they can learn acceptance just as easily as intolerance. All it requires is creating space for conversations and a willingness to be open. If you as a parent would like more information on building a safe space for your child’s learning and encourage introspection that inspires compassion, let’s help build that communication.
Whether you are a parent, educator, or exploring personal growth, it is important to talk more about exploring one’s own identity and trying to navigate those conversations in the world. Please contact Life Enhancement Counseling Services at 407-443-8862 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced licensed mental health counselors.
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