by Legislative Liaison Carolyn Martin

SEL: Shaping of Student’s Attitudes and Values

An ever-growing movement within the education system called Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is being treated as the holy grail when it comes to solving a myriad of issues blamed on mental health. SEL seeks to strengthen five competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Sounds good, right? But back up a minute and ask yourself: Through what worldview lens are these character skills being taught? Is it the proper role of the state to teach these things? How will they measure success in these skills?

Due to the increased rates of suicide among our youth and the increased violence in our schools, the state feels compelled to take on an increased role as parent. SEL’s goal is the molding of children’s character through the development of their attitudes, mindsets, behavior, and values. Take for instance “social awareness.” Part of how they define social awareness is “the ability to understand social and ethical norms for behavior.” Don’t be fooled. They are using SEL to push their relativistic and progressive ideology. Nowhere is the Christian idea of morality more disparaged and seen as antithetical to society than the public school. Children are constantly bombarded with messages of equality and tolerance for immoral behavior. Not only that, but their attitudes and values are surveyed, recorded, and tracked over time. All, of course, without the knowledge of parents.

We know that God designed the family as the place where children are discipled by their parents. The public school system is working hard to disciple as many children as possible in the way they want them to go. If you are participating in a part-time public school program, be careful. SEL is infiltrating many of these programs. 

Request: If you are using a part-time public school enrichment program and they are teaching anything but academics, could you please send me any information about the program? 

Update on Immunization Exemption Form

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has delayed presenting a rule change, due to your overwhelming response to their draft rule change proposal that would illegally force the use of a standardized department form for non-medical exemptions. We will continue to follow this issue. Thank you for your efforts!

Please Pray!

Last legislative session we saw the state take away a parent’s right to direct the mental health care of their children through several means, and it is likely to continue next session. A homeschool bill to further regulate homeschooling is not out of the question in the future, nor is another bill restricting exemptions for immunizations. Pray for God’s continued provision and protection for homeschoolers in Colorado.

Finally, please consider joining the Colorado Homeschool Freedom Team! Prayer at the Capitol has resumed and our next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 10th from 11 am to 1 pm in room 351.

Trusting in the mighty power and grace of Jesus,
Carolyn Martin, CHEC Legislative Liaison
carolyn@chec.org

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About the Author: Carolyn Martin

Carolyn Martin serves as CHEC’s Homeschool Legislative Liaison, working for you and other liberty-loving families to protect homeschool freedom, parental rights, and religious liberty at the state capitol. Subscribe to the CHEC blog for Carolyn’s regular updates here, learn more about legal issues in Colorado here, and donate to support Homeschool Freedom here. Contact Carolyn directly at carolyn@chec.org.