I want to talk about something that has been on my heart and mind lately – the real and dark dangers of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). I know that as parents, we all want the best for our children, and we want them to grow, learn and thrive. But, I also know that SEL is not what it seems to be, it is evil. Although it’s often presented as a program that helps children cope with the difficulties of learning, in reality, it’s a dangerous tool used to indoctrinate our children with values that don’t align with our Christian beliefs. We have to be aware of the dangers of Social-Emotional Learning in our schools.
Recently, I listened to an episode of the New Discourses Podcast that covered the topic of SEL. The host, James Lindsay, went into great detail about the dangers of this program and the far-reaching implications of its implementation. I highly recommend you listen to it to understand why we need to block/remove SEL from our schools and hold those responsible for implementing it accountable.
Contents
- 1 Awakening to the Dangers of Social-Emotional Learning
- 2 The Enemy is Deceiving our Children with SEL
- 3 Dangers of Social-Emotional Learning in Schools
- 3.1 It can prioritize feelings over truth.
- 3.2 It can promote a secular worldview.
- 3.3 It can undermine parental authority.
- 3.4 It can be used to push a political agenda.
- 3.5 It can distract from academics.
- 3.6 It can be overemphasized at the expense of character development.
- 3.7 It can be implemented in ways that undermine biblical teaching.
- 3.8 It can perpetuate a victim mentality.
- 3.9 It can undermine the authority of Scripture.
Awakening to the Dangers of Social-Emotional Learning
As Christian Moms, we know the importance of our children’s emotional well-being. However, we also know that true emotional well-being comes from a relationship with God, and NOT from any program that the state wants to implement. We should be the ones teaching our children about emotional regulation, empathy, and compassion, not the state. We need to protect our children’s hearts and minds from the dangerous ideology of Social-Emotional Learning. The only thing I want the schools to teach my kids is the core subjects needed to graduate.
We can no longer pretend that this is not a REAL danger to our kids! Let’s come together to pray for our schools, teachers, and leaders, that they may see the truth and do what is right for our kids. Prayer is powerful, especially when all of our voices are lifted in unison. We need to battle against this in the spirit and to teach our children the truth and raise them to be strong, confident, and compassionate Christians who stand up for what is right. When God was taken out of our schools in the 60’s, a door was open to the enemy. The enemy now has an open flow into our schools and has slowly changed the way our kids are taught.
The Enemy is Deceiving our Children with SEL
We know that being a kid or teenager is tough enough. Our kids are still trying to figure out who they are. The enemy knows this all too well and knows that this is the perfect time to come steal, kill and destroy or kids. One of the most troubling aspects and dangers of Social-Emotional Learning is the way that it tries to manipulate our children’s emotions. By encouraging children to be vulnerable and share their feelings, SEL programs can be incredibly alluring.
However, we need to recognize that this isn’t just about helping kids feel good about themselves, and mental health awareness. It’s about creating a culture of emotional dependence and encouraging children to look to the state for emotional support, rather than to God, or their parents. It is no doubt, a form of brainwashing and manipulation. It slowly creates a divide and makes the parents the enemy. It deceives our kids to believe that we don’t understand them.
SEL promotes values and beliefs that are in opposition to our Christian faith. For example, some SEL programs encourage children to question traditional, God-given gender roles and promote the LGBTQ+ agenda. As I said before, the enemy knows exactly when to come in, target and confuse our kids to question everything that God created them to be. As Christian Moms, we need to be aware of these underlying ideologies and work to protect our children from being exposed to them. Our kids are literally under attack.
It can be overwhelming to think about the magnitude of this issue, but we cannot afford to ignore it. We must stand together and demand that children are educated in a way that aligns with our faith and values. We don’t expect them to be taught the Bible or anything in the school, just not secretly taught a demonic curriculum under the guise of mental health and social awareness. We can pray for our leaders and educators to be revealed the truth and make the right decisions for our children. Remember, the majority of these teachers are just a vessel for the enemy, the teachers are unaware and actually think they are helping our kids. The underlying purpose from the enemy of this is absolutely nefarious and meant to destroy our kids.
Dangers of Social-Emotional Learning in Schools
It can prioritize feelings over truth.
While emotions are certainly an important aspect of who we are, they shouldn’t be the only factor in decision-making. As Christians, we believe in absolute truth that comes from God’s word. And sometimes, that truth might conflict with our feelings or the feelings of those around us. If we prioritize emotions over truth, we risk making decisions that go against our faith and values.
It can promote a secular worldview.
Many SEL programs are developed by secular organizations, so they will most likely promote ideas or values that go against our Christian beliefs. For example, some programs might teach that gender is a social construct or that traditional family structures are outdated. As parents, we need to be aware of the messages our children are receiving and ensure that they align with our faith.
SEL programs often teach children to look to their own emotions and experiences as the ultimate authority on what’s right or wrong. This can lead to a sense of entitlement or rebellion against parental authority. As parents, we need to maintain our role as the primary authority in our children’s lives, while also teaching them to respect and understand their own emotions. We also need to train them to not be led by feelings and emotions.
It can be used to push a political agenda.
SEL has become a hot-button political issue in some circles. Some organizations and activists use SEL as a way to push their own political agenda, rather than focusing on the well-being of children. As parents, we need to be aware of the agendas behind the programs our kids are involved in.
It can distract from academics.
SEL is unnecessary in education. We need to remember that our primary goal is to provide a strong academic foundation. If we spend time focusing on SEL, we risk neglecting other important subjects like math, science, and history.
Now, I’m not saying that we should completely ignore the social and emotional needs of our children. But I do think that we need to approach Social-Emotional Learning with caution and a critical eye. As always, we need to prayerfully consider our choices and ensure that they align with our faith and values.
It can be overemphasized at the expense of character development.
While SEL can help children learn to manage their emotions and build healthy relationships, it’s important to remember that character development goes beyond these skills. As Christian parents, we want to instill values like honesty, kindness, and selflessness in our children. These character traits should be prioritized over simply improving social and emotional competencies.
It can be implemented in ways that undermine biblical teaching.
As with any educational program, there’s a risk that SEL could be implemented in ways that contradict biblical teachings. For example, some programs may emphasize self-esteem over humility, or teach children to rely on their own inner wisdom rather than seeking guidance from God. It’s important for parents to evaluate any SEL program they’re considering using to ensure that it aligns with their faith.
It can perpetuate a victim mentality.
Some SEL programs focus heavily on identifying and coping with emotions like anxiety, fear, and sadness. While it’s important to address these issues, there’s a risk that children could become too focused on their negative emotions and begin to see themselves as victims. As Christians, we want to teach our children to have a hopeful and grateful attitude, even in difficult circumstances. We focus on the God in us, not on our own problems.
As Christians, we believe that the Bible is the ultimate authority on matters of faith and morals. However, some SEL programs may present alternative sources of authority, such as popular psychology or secular social norms. This can undermine the authority of Scripture and lead children to question or reject biblical teachings.
We need to recognize that SEL is not what it seems to be. It has the enemies DNA all over it. It may look on the outside to some as an amazing thing for kids, but it is tainted and only seeks to devour and confuse them. We must be vigilant and protect our children from being indoctrinated by this program. There are many dangers of Social-Emotional Learning. As Christian Moms, we need to take a stand, speak out, and demand that our children are educated in a way that does not seek to secretly destroy them.
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Forest Rose is a God Loving, Blessed Wife, & Mama to 3 girls. She’s passionate about lifting moms out of the trenches that are discouraged, overwhelmed, or feeling alone or isolated. Her hope is to point them to Christ and equip them to rise up with a newfound hope and joy within, that He alone can provide. Besides blogging, she also loves to create printables!
I am a teacher in public education and I really appreciate what you have to say on this topic. Most people are afraid to speak such truth because others assume it means we don’t have love for our children if we aren’t buying into every mental health and social craze. It has been on my heart to home school for a long time but I still feel that God is calling me to be in the classroom. I truly believe that Christian’s can still make an impact in public education despite constant interference from the state. I have had very similar thoughts about SEL for a long time now. I see the dependency and victim hood it is instilling in America’s youth on a daily basis. I also feel that it instructs children to turn to medical health professionals, meditation, self-love, and medication instead of to God – the only one who can truly heal our hearts. I also feel that the growing emphasis on emotions and feelings only causes children to ruminate on these things, and to be very inwardly focused. I know plenty of Christians who believe in SEL but I think this comes from the old saying, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. The more we focus on mental health, the more of a so-called crisis we drive ourselves into. I wish we could focus more on spiritual health, faith and hope. I believe we emphasize happiness for our children far more than holiness, and the constant pressure to be happy is not only unhealthy, it is impossible. This causes more emotional stress and darkness. Anyways – I am writing because I am wondering if you could recommend any scholarly sources that you have encountered on this subject that support this side of the argument. It is such a polarizing and political issue that while I have come across a few excellent books written by credible authors, I still struggle to find many sources bold enough to call it out for what it is – dangerous and misguided.
Hello my name is Mitch Karpp. I enjoyed reading your article. I agree in many ways but I have a different experience. I am developing SEL curriculum based on biblical verses would you like to see?
Thanks for getting in touch and sharing your idea on combining biblical verses with an SEL curriculum. It’s an interesting approach, but at the moment, I’m not looking to explore any SEL programs. I really appreciate the offer, though, and I hope your project goes well and brings a lot of good, in line with God’s glory. Blessings to you!
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Romans 12:1-2
2 corinthians 10:1-6
Genesis 1 – Genesis 11
Genesis 15
Please do more research than listening to one podcast. I’m a Christian teacher who uses SEL and it has nothing to do with being anti-Christian. This is laughable. Also, it’s not a curriculum. We use it IN the curriculum to help students manage emotions and learn to communicate with others. They are not “taught” SEL, instead SEL is a tool to teach them to be good humans. Even churches use SEL. That’s precisely what a sermon is.
You’re right, it’s not labeled as a “curriculum” it’s a demonic hidden agenda within the curriculum in the guise of teaching our children to “become better humans”. My research was not just the referenced podcast, but the gift of discernment through the Holy Spirit. SEL is not what it is packaged and pushed to be. It is the enemy in disguise. Please talk to God about this and look to your spirit. Teachers need to stick to teaching the core curriculum and nothing else. Thank you for your comment.
While I understand your concerns with SEL not using scripture to lead our youth, when used correctly it is meant to inform students of their behavior choices and how they can change their responses, towards their own emotions and others. This is not a demonic practice unless the person using it has misguided intentions. I am a mother of four, teacher of special education, and a practicing Christian of 16 years. I found God waiting for me when I ran out of self induced tactics to heal. My goal has been to offer children who Do Not have parents or guidance from God. Those who need to look introspectively to find Him through their battles. Using SEL offers stategies to gain individual understanding, needs and build trust with those who have your best interests at heart. The problems in today’s public schools are because God isn’t allowed and SEL can bring opportunity to define what really matters in this life: His Character within us. Anything good can be turned into something bad when placed in the wrong hands. Making such a blanketed statement presents evidence that you do not know the teachings or evidence behind both academic success and personal competency to make moral life decisions, found within SEL. Pastors lead us astray all the time. Please look into the benefits of SEL and how they are reached, within our youth in today’s world. SEL is not anti God. Its development of a sound mind which is biblical. God Bless You.
Thanks for sharing your insights on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) from your background as a teacher, mom, and Christian. It’s great to hear from someone applying SEL with such good intentions.
However, I do have some major reservations about implementing SEL widely in schools. Its secular nature might not align with all families’ spiritual values. The role you mentioned about SEL possibly filling the absence of God in schools is an interesting point, but I worry that it might oversimplify the deep spiritual growth many of us value.
I believe topics like emotional and behavioral development are best taught at home, allowing schools to focus on academics like math and science. It’s important to keep our teachers’ roles clear and manageable.
We need to recognize that SEL is not what it’s packaged and promised to be. It has the enemies DNA all over it. It may look to be this amazing thing for our kids, but it is tainted and only seeks to devour and confuse them.
God bless you as well.
Oh my. Are you even a real person? I am baffled that you oppose emotional learning. When we do not learn emotional intelligence and worse do not demonstrate this intelligence to our children, we leave them in am open field with a blazing red flag that attracts all of the enemy’s wiles. And most significant set them up to be used by those wiles to perpetuate evils. Our children must learn how to control their emotions. I employ you to ask God to show you the truth in this matter so that you may be a better informed steward.
I’m not against emotional learning, and I definitely believe that children should know how to manage their emotions. I only oppose it being taught through a shady-government-made-secular-curriculum in public schools. While I understand the importance of emotional intelligence, I’m concerned about how SEL is actually applied in schools. It’s not really just about helping kids manage their emotions – there’s more to it, (perfectly camouflaged). From what I’ve seen, SEL often carries with it certain ideas and values that clash significantly with Christian teachings, promoting a reliance on state-defined norms OVER family and faith.
Honestly, it feels like SEL can be a trojan horse for ideologies that undermine both parental authority and Christian beliefs. As parents and Christians, shouldn’t we be the primary influence in teaching our children how to handle life’s emotional challenges? I feel it’s important for us to be the main source of guidance when it comes to values and managing emotions.
I’d encourage everyone to really look into what’s being fed to our children under the guise of “emotional learning” and their “well-being”. Thank you for your thoughts.
Thank you so much for putting this out there, shinning light upon the darkness. I have had uneasy(Godsense) that there was some hidden agenda with so called “new” teaching program. When the “light” is shown on the true nature they think up something else that sounds great and new… Prayers as you continue to be diligent and share what you and the Lord Jesus uncover. I live in North Carolina. The school system here has recently adopted SEL. As I am sure when teachers are given a cirriculum that is seemingly great for students they take their supervisors and higher ups word for it. Keep up the good fight, STAND, continue to proclaim the truth.
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement! It’s great to hear from someone who shares similar concerns about new educational programs like SEL. I agree, it’s important to stay vigilant and well-informed about what’s being introduced into our schools. I appreciate your support and prayers, and I’ll definitely keep striving to understand these issues deeply and share what I learn. Let’s both continue to stand firm and speak up for what we believe is right for our children and communities. Keep up the good fight in North Carolina!