Anoka-Hennepin School Board Tables Vote on Social-Emotional Learning
Elected officials at Minnesota’s largest school district are deciding the fate of a controversial school curriculum.
The Anoka-Hennepin School Board is considering changes to the social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum for the district’s elementary and middle schools.
Social-emotional learning “is broadly understood as a process through which people build awareness and skills in managing emotions, setting goals, establishing relationships and making responsible decisions that supports their success in school and in life,” according to the Minnesota Department of Education.
However, some right-leaning circles have come to view the teaching style as pushing progressive or “woke” ideas on children.
“I personally consider what’s behind these programs to be poison to our kids,” said Board Member Matt Audette.
It’s been a sticking point for the Anoka-Hennepin School Board, a six-member body that’s often split evenly on ideological lines.
With contracts for existing SEL curriculum expiring soon, the district could either keep its existing curriculum, modify it, or draft a new program in-house.
Several board members support a new in-house curriculum.
“I’ll never vote for any of these programs, aside from the one that we create here because we can keep an eye on it,” said Audette.
However, Superintendent Cory McIntyre said the district may not have the staff or time to get it done before the next school year. Likewise, shopping the program development out to an independent contract may prove expensive.
Board Member Kacy Deschene, meanwhile, said that “this idea of developing our own option [while it] might be nice to have, is a solution kind of in search of a problem.”
The board ultimately tabled the decision. A vote on the matter is expected on May 19.
