Just reading through the weighty and fascinating report from the Marcelion Botin Foundation Social and Emotional Education: An International Analysis. The stated principle objective of the Foundation is to develop and implement initiatives to promote a fairer, freer, more efficient and more responsible society. The Foundation describes this report as the first stage on the road to creating a Joint international Platform to operate in the field of Social and Emotional Education.
The report includes an overview of the educational situation Re SEL and key developments from the USA and in 5 European countries including the UK. It concludes with reviews of the scientific literature of the effects of school-based Social and Emotional Education Programmes. These are sometimes labelled Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Skills for Life (SFL) or Life Skills (LS).
The overall conclusion from the reviews is described as 'crystal clear'. That systematic programmatic
attention to the teaching of social-emotional skills into the school system has worldwide significance. It promotes the overall development of children and youngsters, prevents developmental problems and promotes academic achievement.
I have been involved with help to design and evaluate a large life skills project in Sierra Leone and there have been some amazing results. More on this in my March 2008 news page. Sign up for a reminder!
Please share your thoughts and views on SEL or Life Skills education with me and download my Lifeskills Handbook from here!
