ESTEE:  The state of South Carolina’s children

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Today, March 27, is International Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Day.  This piece by Al Estee outlines the challenges faced by the state’s children. 

By Al Estee, special to Statehouse Report  |  At a time when we’re seeing a growing increase in the number of incidences of weapons being brought to schools and a 43 percent increase in suicide attempts for 10 to 24 year-olds, the General Assembly has spent the better part of this legislative session debating education bills that have omitted any recommended solutions to these and other critical mental health issues.

Our young people need our help. We must provide adequate support for those who are currently facing problems while simultaneously integrating social and emotional skills in academics to prevent future problems.

Growing up is tough. Growing up without the resources and the support you need is even tougher. State and national data show our children are engaging in unhealthy behaviors and our students, our teachers, and our schools need our help. 

According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey of S.C. high school students:

• 25 percent were currently drinking alcohol; 58 percent had tried alcohol.
• 19 percent were currently using marijuana.
• 15 percent had taken pain pills without a doctor’s prescription.
• 26 percent were offered, sold or given illegal drugs on school property.
• 39 percent had sex;  91 percent were unprotected .
• 18 percent had carried a weapon.       
• 24 percent had been in a physical fight.
• 21 percent had been bullied on school property.
• 33 percent felt sad or hopeless.
• 19 percent considered suicide; 11 percent attempted  suicide 
•  250,000 S.C. children live in poverty, a known indicator of trauma,

Our students are suffering and our schools are faced with discipline problems. Yet neither House Bill 3759 nor Senate Bill S419 has addressed the underlying problem.

We KNOW what works. For the sake of our kids, teachers, schools, future employers, our communities and our state, we must insist that we DO what works. Prevention is imperative.

Two hundred thirteen rigorous studies of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in schools demonstrated that students receiving quality SEL instruction had:

• Fewer negative behaviors: Decreased disruptive class behavior, non-compliance, aggression, delinquent acts, and disciplinary referrals.
• Reduced emotional distress: Fewer reports of student depression, anxiety, stress and social withdrawal 
• Improved attitudes and behaviors: Greater motivation to learn, deeper commitment to          school, increased time devoted to schoolwork and better classroom behavior.
• Better academic performance: Achievement scores on average of 11 percent higher than students who did not receive SEL instruction.
• Evidence demonstrates that SEL improves mental health, social skills, behavior, academic achievement, and college and career readiness.

Proven effective SEL programs help students learn compromise, conflict resolution and problem-solving, and build empathy to help PREVENT school discipline problems, suicide, gun violence and bullying. EVERY CHILD needs these skills to succeed in school, form healthy relationships, and eventually excel in the workplace.  Students with strong social-emotional skills are better able to cope with every-day challenges and will benefit academically, professionally and socially.

The General Assembly must act to ensure prevention measures are in place. Even though we know what works, we also know SEL programs are not available to all children in every grade and we know all programs are not equally as effective. To ensure every child, regardless of their zip code, has equal access to high quality social emotional development, the S.C. Department of Education must develop SEL standards and ensure SEL is implemented in all schools. 

Social emotional learning that is integrated into academics is a cost-effective solution to a myriad of problems our young people and our teachers are facing.  Our state can’t afford to wait for our students to get the help they need.  

Al Estee is the founder and president of SEL4SC, which is housed at the Riley Center for Livable Communities at the College of Charleston.