Hunter
01/31/23
The Iowa Senate is considering the advancing a bill out of subcommittee today that would remove social emotional learning, or SEL, from public schools.
The bill was introduced by Republican state senator Sandy Salmon of Black Hawk and Bremer counties last week. It seeks to ban the display on the State Department of Education’s website or other dissemination of references or materials related to social and emotional learning, or use material as a framework for social and emotional learning.
According to the state Department of Education’s website, SEL is considered an integral part of education and human development, allowing young people to acquire and apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions, show empathy for others, and make responsible and caring decisions. It goes on to say that SEL can empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy and just communities.
Sarah Trone Garriott, newly-elected Democrat from Waukee, tweeted, “What do the bill authors have against students being able to manage emotions, empathy and making responsible and caring decisions?”
The bill also seeks to require school boards to get parental permission to allow any student to take part in any survey that asks about issues like political affiliations, mental or psychological problems in the family, sexual behavior, orientation or attitudes, and religious beliefs.
The subcommittee is holding a public hearing this morning on the matter. Details on the proposed bill and the opportunity to provide comments are available by clicking on a link under this story at 1630 KCJJ dot com.