As a former secondary mathematics teacher and grandmother to four school aged kids I coached while schools shut down and parents went to work during pandemic, I am concerned that VDOE would propose these SEL standards for students and teachers.  Teachers are not trained social workers or mental health professionals.   I know that schools have Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS) with the goal of intervening when students need to catch up with their peers.  This would include guidance counselors and outside agencies.  I have read the Standards and believe parents are the ones who teach these essentials of life.   So what is the actual goal of this proposed set of standards?  

Teaching math, science, history, English and  any other subject is hard enough without burdening its educators with a hat of SEL.    These SEL standards are following the VMPI (Virginia Mathematics Pathway Initiative) which are just as troubling to me as a mathematics teacher.  

When I was a classroom educator, I had details in my lesson plans.  Details included example problems, grading if applicable, homework assignment  with number of problems on page number, summary of lesson or chapter and often and intro to the next topic. Details are just that- specifics!    Are there REAL details in the VDOE SEL?     

With only a brief, outlined overview of any proposal, CAVEAT EMPTOR (Buyer Beware).  Too much is missing from this Standards Proposal for a reasonable evaluation of the terms of implementation through training, instruction and materials.   Do you see the  many unknowns and undisclosed details?