Social-Emotional Learning vs Character Education: Are You Teaching the Right One?

The debate regarding the implementation of character education versus social-emotional learning (SEL) has been reignited recently in light of Florida's new Resiliency Education Standards. Character education emphasizes the development of specific virtues, such as respect, responsibility, and citizenship. Proponents of character education argue that these virtues can be taught in a structured way, and that this approach leads to better academic and social outcomes for students.On the other hand, social-emotional learning (SEL) focuses on the development of emotional intelligence, including skills like self-awareness, self-management, and relationship-building. Advocates of SEL argue that these skills are essential for success in school and in life, and that they can be taught through explicit instruction and experiential learning.So, which approach is best for students? The answer isn’t simple, as both character education and SEL have their strengths and weaknesses. We break it all down in this episode. *********************Our goal at School for School Counselors is to help school counselors stay on fire, make huge impacts for students, and catalyze change for our roles through grassroots advocacy and collaboration. Listen to get to know more about us and our mission, feel empowered and inspired, and set yourself up for success in the wonderful world of school counseling.Hang out in our Facebook groupJump in, ask questions, share your ideas and become a part of the most empowering school counseling group on the planet! (Join us to see if we're right.) Join the School for School Counselors MastermindThe Mastermind is packed with all the things your grad program never taught you IN ADDITION TO unparalleled support and consultation. No more feeling alone, invisible, unappreciated, or like you just don't know what to do next. We've got you!Did someone share this podcast with you? Be sure to subscribe for all the new episodes!!Connect --> schoolforschoolcounselors.com This work is part of the School for School Counselors body of work developed by Steph Johnson, LPC, CSC, which centers role authority over role drift, consultative practice over fix-it culture, adult-designed systems and environments as primary drivers of student behavior, clinical judgment over compliance, and school counselor identity as leadership within complex systems.