Editing Openai/69616eb7-3c90-8012-8ab0-322ad22b0b2d (section)

==== Major Criticisms of SEL ====

===== 1. Vague Definitions & Soft Metrics =====
* SEL covers broad ideas (self-awareness, empathy, relationship skills) that are hard to define precisely.
* Outcomes are often measured via self-report surveys, which are subjective and easy to game.
* Critics argue this makes SEL unscientific or unfalsifiable in practice.

Bottom line: Hard to know what actually works.

===== 2. Ideological & Political Bias =====
* Some SEL frameworks embed normative values (views on identity, power, social justice) rather than neutral skills.
* Parents and critics argue schools shouldn’t be shaping children’s moral or political beliefs.
* Lack of transparency about curriculum content fuels distrust.

Bottom line: Feels like values education without consent.

===== 3. Time Tradeoff with Academics =====
* SEL often displaces: - Reading instruction - Math practice - Knowledge-rich curricula
* Evidence shows content knowledge strongly predicts long-term success, especially for disadvantaged students.

Bottom line: Opportunity cost may outweigh benefits.

===== 4. Over-Therapeutic Approach =====
* Encourages constant emotional introspection (“How does this make you feel?”).
* Can unintentionally: - Reduce resilience - Encourage rumination - Pathologize normal discomfort or failure

Bottom line: Life skills ≠ therapy.

===== 5. Weak Long-Term Evidence =====
* Short-term gains often fade.
* Meta-analyses show small to modest effects, especially when scaled.
* Results vary wildly depending on implementation quality.

Bottom line: Promising, but overstated.