As a parent, grandparent, and retired school psychologist, I am in support of Virginia’s proposed social/emotional standards. Reading the comments against the standards is disheartening. Being aware of oneself and one’s behavior on others, managing one’s emotions, knowing how to relate to and treat others, and knowing ways to make mentally and physically healthy decisions are essential life skills. They are not political, and I am having difficulty understanding why these skills are opposed. Having these skills promotes growth in academic skills, behavior, and mental health and are essential in the workplace and in society in general. Some comments I have read suggest a basic misunderstanding of social/emotional learning. Many of these skills are already being incorporated into the school day, and students are benefiting. Some parents have commented that they prefer to teach these skills themselves. Unfortunately, my experience in the schools, especially in recent years, suggested that many parents are not teaching these skills at home. For those who do, it would be beneficial to reinforce those skills at school to indicate that we’re all “on the same page” and that are certain expectations for being a human and living together in our world. I fully support the VDOE Social/Emotional Standards.