New MCPS Social Emotional Learning Curriculum

[Anonymous]

Wait. The Equity Initiatives Unit chose the SEL curriculum, and not counseling or psychological services? Does MCPS not see the problem with this??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait. The Equity Initiatives Unit chose the SEL curriculum, and not counseling or psychological services? Does MCPS not see the problem with this??

There was a work group that reviewed different programs and from what I heard, this was not the number one product in the eyes of the work group. Not sure what happened. The Equity office would not endorse this archaic program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jennifer Gonzalez (Cult of Pedagogy) wrote a great takedown article about The Leader in Me. Aside from the 50K price tag, here is some of what she wrote:
“Some see the program as culturally biased. We are implementing it in incredibly culturally diverse schools largely without regard to the fact that these concepts and this language will run contrary to the backgrounds of many of the students. A student from a tribal culture may generally be uncomfortable with the concept of ‘leading’ in the western sense of the word, and is it our job to try to make them comfortable with it?...The question of efficacy. Another objection is the lack of third-party research about the program’s effectiveness. The results of this program have never been tested and proven scientifically...Finally, some concern has surfaced that the program has religious roots. Without a doubt it is an indoctrination of our children with Stephen Covey’s Mormon faith teachings. While the habits seem innocuous by themselves, when you start studying Covey’s work you find the deep religious aspect hidden in the habits.”

Link to full article: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/problems-with-leader-in-me/

This should bother everyone.

That MCPS is willing to pay big money and go full force into this nonsense that has zero research behind it. Ridiculous.

I've been in the system a long time and seen one flop after the next ...Curriculum 2.0 (disaster), Benchmark ELA curriculum (disaster) but I do think adopting Covey as the SEL curriculum truly takes the cake. My co-workers and I taught lessons from Sanford Harmony and found them to be much better than this Leader in Me crap.

Really? I thought it was wonderful

Said no one ever… you really drank that koolaid? Yikes

I think advocating for social and emotional growth is important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jennifer Gonzalez (Cult of Pedagogy) wrote a great takedown article about The Leader in Me. Aside from the 50K price tag, here is some of what she wrote:
“Some see the program as culturally biased. We are implementing it in incredibly culturally diverse schools largely without regard to the fact that these concepts and this language will run contrary to the backgrounds of many of the students. A student from a tribal culture may generally be uncomfortable with the concept of ‘leading’ in the western sense of the word, and is it our job to try to make them comfortable with it?...The question of efficacy. Another objection is the lack of third-party research about the program’s effectiveness. The results of this program have never been tested and proven scientifically...Finally, some concern has surfaced that the program has religious roots. Without a doubt it is an indoctrination of our children with Stephen Covey’s Mormon faith teachings. While the habits seem innocuous by themselves, when you start studying Covey’s work you find the deep religious aspect hidden in the habits.”

Link to full article: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/problems-with-leader-in-me/

This should bother everyone.

That MCPS is willing to pay big money and go full force into this nonsense that has zero research behind it. Ridiculous.

I've been in the system a long time and seen one flop after the next ...Curriculum 2.0 (disaster), Benchmark ELA curriculum (disaster) but I do think adopting Covey as the SEL curriculum truly takes the cake. My co-workers and I taught lessons from Sanford Harmony and found them to be much better than this Leader in Me crap.

Really? I thought it was wonderful

Said no one ever… you really drank that koolaid? Yikes

I think advocating for social and emotional growth is important.

Yeah… with programs that aren’t cult garbage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jennifer Gonzalez (Cult of Pedagogy) wrote a great takedown article about The Leader in Me. Aside from the 50K price tag, here is some of what she wrote:
“Some see the program as culturally biased. We are implementing it in incredibly culturally diverse schools largely without regard to the fact that these concepts and this language will run contrary to the backgrounds of many of the students. A student from a tribal culture may generally be uncomfortable with the concept of ‘leading’ in the western sense of the word, and is it our job to try to make them comfortable with it?...The question of efficacy. Another objection is the lack of third-party research about the program’s effectiveness. The results of this program have never been tested and proven scientifically...Finally, some concern has surfaced that the program has religious roots. Without a doubt it is an indoctrination of our children with Stephen Covey’s Mormon faith teachings. While the habits seem innocuous by themselves, when you start studying Covey’s work you find the deep religious aspect hidden in the habits.”

Link to full article: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/problems-with-leader-in-me/

This should bother everyone.

That MCPS is willing to pay big money and go full force into this nonsense that has zero research behind it. Ridiculous.

I've been in the system a long time and seen one flop after the next ...Curriculum 2.0 (disaster), Benchmark ELA curriculum (disaster) but I do think adopting Covey as the SEL curriculum truly takes the cake. My co-workers and I taught lessons from Sanford Harmony and found them to be much better than this Leader in Me crap.

Really? I thought it was wonderful

Said no one ever… you really drank that koolaid? Yikes

I think advocating for social and emotional growth is important.

Yeah… with programs that aren’t cult garbage.

100%. That training was something else! It's almost as if the writers of the program had never been in a real school before. I can't believe any amount of money was spent on this stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait. The Equity Initiatives Unit chose the SEL curriculum, and not counseling or psychological services? Does MCPS not see the problem with this??

There was a work group that reviewed different programs and from what I heard, this was not the number one product in the eyes of the work group. Not sure what happened. The Equity office would not endorse this archaic program.

Thank God. Then who did endorse it or override the workgroup? Maybe the BOE should follow the money because while SEL is critical, this is not evidence-based and it’s a ridiculous add-on when there are so many other things for educators to prioritize in both the SEL and counseling realms.

[Anonymous]

My understanding is that this program could be used from K-12. While the other programs didn't extend to elementary. That was one reason it was chosen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jennifer Gonzalez (Cult of Pedagogy) wrote a great takedown article about The Leader in Me. Aside from the 50K price tag, here is some of what she wrote:
“Some see the program as culturally biased. We are implementing it in incredibly culturally diverse schools largely without regard to the fact that these concepts and this language will run contrary to the backgrounds of many of the students. A student from a tribal culture may generally be uncomfortable with the concept of ‘leading’ in the western sense of the word, and is it our job to try to make them comfortable with it?...The question of efficacy. Another objection is the lack of third-party research about the program’s effectiveness. The results of this program have never been tested and proven scientifically...Finally, some concern has surfaced that the program has religious roots. Without a doubt it is an indoctrination of our children with Stephen Covey’s Mormon faith teachings. While the habits seem innocuous by themselves, when you start studying Covey’s work you find the deep religious aspect hidden in the habits.”

Link to full article: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/problems-with-leader-in-me/

Every single teacher that took that training knew it was bs. Everyone just talked sh*t in the breakout rooms.

I took my 3 days of training this past week. O...M....G.....it really felt like we were being forced to join a cult. It was very unsettling and the fact that someone in MCPS signed off on this nonsense is even more concerning. I really don't like some of the messages that are sent to kids. Like in the first week's lessons in HS, one video points out to students that if they are not EFFECTIVE, they are DEFECTIVE. WTF kind of message is that? How is that building someone's social emotional wellbeing? Unfortunately, I believe MCPS signed a three year contract with Covey.

No, it was a one-year contract with option to renew.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/C38MB35A2CE0/$file/Cont%20Apprv%20RFP%204926.1%20SEL%20Curr%20Instruct%20Materials.pdf

[Anonymous]

WHO was in the working group? It says: The associate superintendent of student and family support and engagement, Office of Teaching, Learning, and Schools, convened a Social Emotional Learning Work Group. The first meeting was held in December 2020. Work Group members developed a list of priorities when recommending an SEL curriculum; that list included the following ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WHO was in the working group? It says: The associate superintendent of student and family support and engagement, Office of Teaching, Learning, and Schools, convened a Social Emotional Learning Work Group. The first meeting was held in December 2020. Work Group members developed a list of priorities when recommending an SEL curriculum; that list included the following ...

Anyone know anyone who was part of the Social Emotional Learning Work Group? Which curriculum had they recommended?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WHO was in the working group? It says: The associate superintendent of student and family support and engagement, Office of Teaching, Learning, and Schools, convened a Social Emotional Learning Work Group. The first meeting was held in December 2020. Work Group members developed a list of priorities when recommending an SEL curriculum; that list included the following ...

Anyone know anyone who was part of the Social Emotional Learning Work Group? Which curriculum had they recommended?

I’m interested in this too.

[Anonymous]

I’m interested if any of the training is given to coaches for MCPS athletic teams. It seems that more should be done to make the athletic program align with a healthy social and emotional well-being for students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m interested if any of the training is given to coaches for MCPS athletic teams. It seems that more should be done to make the athletic program align with a healthy social and emotional well-being for students.

Every single staff member in the pilot schools (listed early in this thread) was required to attend. I don’t know much about high school structure (I teach elementary and my kids are little) but if the coach is also a teacher at the school than they should have completed the training.
I believe support staff had to complete it too. Or they may be required when school resumes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m interested if any of the training is given to coaches for MCPS athletic teams. It seems that more should be done to make the athletic program align with a healthy social and emotional well-being for students.

Every single staff member in the pilot schools (listed early in this thread) was required to attend. I don’t know much about high school structure (I teach elementary and my kids are little) but if the coach is also a teacher at the school than they should have completed the training.
I believe support staff had to complete it too. Or they may be required when school resumes.

Many coaches are not teachers. The coaches who are teachers have a better understanding of how to work with students in a positive manner because of their training and experience in the classroom. The coaches who are not teachers are the ones who need the training the most because some use negativity and cruelty thinking that is what it takes to be a coach.

It’s disappointing that MCPS doesn’t require behavior for coaches that they expect for classroom teachers. Definitely an area that should be revisited for improvement. I think coaching training to support the social emotional well-being of students would lead to positive experiences for students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have any of your schools announced that they are going to be in the first cohort of schools to implement the newly adopted SEL curriculum? My sister is a teacher at one of these schools and I have some concerns that it’s the Covey’s Leader in Me program. She said none of the training really talked about SEL and it felt like an infomercial. This blog is a little telling too - https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/problems-with-leader-in-me/

Who is picking these programs? This isn’t what our students need in 2021. They need true SEL - not some religious propaganda.

No sure what the fuss is all about but after reading about it it sounds great!