Sean Kaufman Responds "FAKE NEWS" to Concerned Local Parent
Stephanie Meredith voiced concerns about the impact of removing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) from school curriculum
Early this month the Cherokee Tribune published a letter to the editor from a local named Stephanie Meredith, written out of concern that the “4 Can Do More” candidates are running on an agenda that includes removing (or heavily reducing) Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs in our schools. In her letter, Ms. Meredith explains that her son was born with Down’s Syndrome but graduated and thrived as a young adult thanks to the kinds of educational programs that Sean Kaufman and his fellow candidates hope to end.
There has been a nationwide conservative backlash against SEL programs in schools, claiming it’s the current favorite GOP boogeyman — Critical Race Theory — in disguise. According to NBC News:
Many of the school programs under attack fall under the umbrella of social emotional learning, or SEL, a teaching philosophy popularized in recent years that aims to help children manage their feelings and show empathy for others. Conservative groups argue that social emotional learning has become a “Trojan horse” for critical race theory, a separate academic concept that examines how systemic racism is embedded in society. They point to SEL lessons that encourage children to celebrate diversity, sometimes introducing students to conversations about race, gender and sexuality.
Social Emotional Learning programs are especially important for students with special needs. Many classrooms in our school district include SPED students and there cannot always be a specialist available to help. SEL programs are essential for giving these children the support they need inside the class framework and help prevent them falling hopelessly behind.
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) explains five widely-used competencies for understanding and teaching SEL:
Self-Awareness: recognizing and understanding one’s own strengths and limitations, emotions, thoughts, and values with a “growth mindset.”
Self-Management: how one sets and works towards goals, manages stress, motivates oneself, and regulates emotions.
Social Awareness: empathizing with and respecting others, understanding social norms, and appreciating diversity.
Relationship Skills: the ability to make and maintain healthy relationships with others, communicate with others, handle conflict, and ask for help.
Responsible Decision-Making: safe, constructive problem solving with an understanding of consequences and respect for others.
Ms. Meredith explains in her letter how these programs help students relate to those who are different and can reduce problems including bullying:
This is at the core of CCSD Cares and SEL, which is also promoted by Special Olympics. CCSD Cares teaches about how to be kind and accepting, which helps kids with disabilities feel loved and valued. These are not lessons that seek to divide us as claimed by #4candomore; they are lessons to promote understanding and friendship.
Sean Kaufman had two familiar words for this thoughtful letter from a concerned potential constituent: “FAKE NEWS.”
Like the other candidates in his coalition, he is quick to call people liars or call information fake without directly addressing concerns or even attempting to prove his case. One can only imagine how Mr. Kaufman would engage with his constituents if actually elected to office.
I chatted with one Cherokee County school district high school teacher who relies on these programs to help with students with special needs, who put it bluntly:
Update
5/13/2022 1:45 PM: Someone contacted me via Facebook to point out that Mr. Kaufman did engage with Ms. Meredith and offered her a more detailed response to her concerns than “FAKE NEWS.”
While I will give him credit for actually responding to her respectfully (this time) in my opinion he wrote a lot of words to say that he wants to eliminate certain programs and has no policy proposals to replace them or otherwise address student needs that led to programs like CCSD Cares in the first place.