Promoting Social and Emotional Development Is an Essential Part of Students' Education

摘要

The disappointing educational outcomes achieved in many of our nation's schools have been the focus of much attention, but usually from a negative perspective. That is, some point the finger at students who do not seem motivated and do not put in enough effort, others blame teachers for not getting the most out of their students, and others criticize parents for their lack of involvement and support. Sometimes, school leaders decry ever-changing state and federal policies and standards that impede any consistency or innovation in pedagogical curricula. Still others point to taxpayers' frequent failure to back proposals for adequate and equitable school funding. Yet, the focus on problems and who's to blame for them has failed to solve the current predicament that too many students either do not graduate, or finish school unprepared for becoming successful adult citizens. Here we describe findings from a large-scale research review that concludes that promoting students' social and emotional development can have broad implications for student learning, achievement and behavior [Durlak, Weissberg, Dymnicki, Taylor, & Schellinger, 2011].