SEL
Different PATHS
Will PATHS
implement social and emotional regulation
programs have been assembled by the
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and
Emotional Learning (CASEL) in Chicago.
SEAL: A government-sponsored
lead to the
program in the UK
Aware of the strength of the evidence
emerging from the U.S., the UK government
invested in a program called SEAL (Social and
Emotional Aspects of Learning). SEAL has
been offered to all elementary schools in the
fourth “R”?
UK and is now being tried with older students.
Visiting a school that has implemented
SEAL properly can be a rewarding
experience, as well as serving as a reminder
of the range of challenges teachers face;
and, in many respects, SEAL is system ready,
Birmingham, the UK’s largest local authority, has begun
having established itself among a much
larger proportion of UK schools than the
trials of a U.S.-developed, evidence-based social and
equivalent effort in the U.S.
emotional learning program called PATHS. Michael Little and
But SEAL cannot claim to be an evidence-
based program. There is science in the
Cheryl Hopkins explain why
method, but it has not been rigorously
evaluated; furthermore, limited testing
DEPENDING ON WHO IS SPEAKING about had been well implemented and were what sponsored by the UK government has
it and why, the demand that schools should we are learning to call “system ready.” By suggested negligible impact on student
deliver the three “Rs” may sound like either no means do all of the many social and well-being.
the worst platitude or a timely expression emotional learning programs in circulation Here the waters are very muddied. The
of educational principles. Either way, match those criteria. To sustain the poor results are as likely to be the product
the attachment to “reading, ’riting, and argument in favor of the fourth “R,” we need of the methods used to evaluate SEAL as
’rithmetic” is likely to indicate strongly held to understand the vital signs. the program itself, and, by any estimate, the
ideological views. The development of an evidence-based quality of implementation has been variable.
And there will be a fourth “R” to program will have been guided by good Perhaps this inconsistency is inevitable
add – standing for “regulation” and science and then evaluated to establish when a single government-sponsored
representing the convergence inside whether the predicted effects on children’s program is promoted – some would say
schools of educational and developmental health and development actually occur. imposed – on every elementary school in
concerns. To what extent should schools Among the dozens of fourth “R” programs, the UK. Whatever the reason, there are
take responsibility for children’s social around 20 have passed this fi rst test. inconsistencies at every turn.
and emotional regulation? What should be
the place of social and emotional learning The development of an evidence-based program will have
programs in an education system?
been guided by good science and then evaluated to establish
If they are willing to acknowledge the
concept at all, some ideologues will argue
whether the predicted effects on children’s health and
that promoting children’s social and
development actually occur
emotional well-being is not the business
of education and that it merely dilutes and The evidence pointing to the importance And in such circumstances, when a major
distracts. of good implementation is overwhelming. national initiative produces at best uneven
The generally accepted term for what is results and everywhere there are irresistible
Understanding the evidence required is “fi delity.” Implementing only demands for public spending cuts, it is
A systematic review published in 2008 by part of an evidence-based program will not hardly surprising that the campaign for a
clinical psychologist Joseph Durlak and produce good results in direct proportion. It return to the rudimentary three “Rs” should
colleagues at Loyola University, Chicago, is as likely to produce no result at all. appear to be gaining ground in the UK.
demonstrated convincingly that wherever Being system ready means that the product
social and emotional regulation was part of can meet the demands of mainstream PATHS: An alternative approach?
the school curriculum, children tended to children’s services, schools included. It must A potential alternative route has been
be happier, better behaved, and performed make sense to teachers, be acceptable to signposted by Birmingham, the UK’s largest
better academically. students, and fi t the existing curriculum. local authority. Birmingham is unusual
Their fi ndings are compelling – but with Effective social and emotional regulation in that it has put a single plan in place
this important proviso: in their review of programs generally require about one lesson to improve the health, well-being, and
studies touching on the progress of around length of teaching time a week. educational progress of all of its 260,000
300,000 children, they focused on the In the U.S., the resources to help teachers, children. The strategy is underpinned by
results of evidence-based programs that school leaders, and local government local and international evidence and by an
8 Better: Evidence-based Education winter 2010
Better(US)Win10 pp08-09 PATHs.indd 8 23/2/10 17:00:04
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