Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

What Social Emotional Learning?

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the delivery system for DEI, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. To understand SEL, one must first decode the language that is used because the proponents of SEL often use words that we think have one meaning, but the proponents have a different meaning in mind. In other words, they use our words but not our dictionary. Once you dig down and inspect the roots of SEL, you can understand why this language manipulation is by design.

Looking at the root organizations and philosophies behind the drivers of SEL, Catholic parents see red flags all over the place. Their concerns are justified.

What is CASEL?

Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning - CASEL

The biggest driver of SEL is an organization called the Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). SEL required a systemic transformation that has significantly altered the teaching practices, discipline policies, counseling services, and school culture. The ultimate goal of SEL is to shift the values, beliefs, attitudes, and worldviews of students. The goal is to psychologically manipulate students to accept the progressive ideology that supports gender fluidity, sexual preference exploration, and systemic oppression.

Study the CASEL Wheel below (print PDF if desired), to learn about the 5 "Competencies" that are the basis for SEL . To get to the root, and the real agenda behind SEL, you must be able to decode the language.

View the PDF

IS SEL IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS?

If you send your kids to a Catholic school, you might think that they are protected from the SEL programs and the invasive SEL testing and data collection taking place in many public schools today. Sadly, Catholic schools are not immune as many Catholic school use textbooks and curriculum that have embedded SEL pedagogy.

PARENTS MUST ENGAGE

Parents cannot assume their children are not being exposed to SEL just because they attend a Catholic school. They must become much more involved by reviewing their school’s educational programs and curricula. Don’t be afraid to confront your school’s administrators if you suspect SEL has infiltrated your school. Contact your school’s headmaster to schedule a discussion. You should also reach-out to Dr. Jason Slattery (until Fall of 2026), Director of Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He can be reached at 651.291.4494 or at slatteryj@archspm.org.

Consider the example set by two Catholic parents in Florida who sued their Catholic school to rescind a $1.35 million gift after discovering students were being indoctrinated in CRT. Parents must be courageous and make their voices heard. After all, its our children’s immortal souls that hang in the balance.

Social Emotional Learning

- Catholic Parents Online

Mindfulness: The Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Spiritual Craze

Summary of SEL

Videos on SEL

Articles

Resources

Child Protection League (CPL)
Federal Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)
SEL Surveys - Courage is a Habit
Language Contamination - Courage is a Habit
Decoder Series: explains confusing K-12 indoctrination programs - Courage is a Habit

Minnesota Public School Examples

THE MINNESOTA STUDENT SURVEY INVADES STUDENT AND FAMILY PRIVACY

The Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) is produced by the MN Department of Education in collaboration with the MN Departments of Health, Public Safety, and Human Services. These state agencies manage the survey preparation, data analytics, and reporting of student and family data obtained by the survey. The Minnesota Student Survey is offered every three years to students in 5th, 8th, 9th , and 11th grades. The most recent surveys were conducted in 2019 and 2022 and 2025.

The State of Minnesota has been using the Minnesota Student Survey to profile and data mine Minnesota students since 1989. Students are profiled by many demographic categories including age, grade, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, socio-economic status, and disability. The MSS includes questions about students’ physical and mental health, as well as questions about their activities, opinions, behaviors and thoughts on many sensitive and personal topics including tobacco, alcohol, and drug use; personal and family relationships; gambling; bullying; and physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. High School students are asked explicit questions about sexual activity and more extensive questions in regard to substance use and abuse and mental health issues like depression and suicide. Student and family data obtained by the survey is used by State Agencies, Social Service agencies, Schools, and various NGO's and "non-profit" groups to apply for State and Federal Grants and funding for state-wide (radical) initiatives that often conflict with our Catholic moral values. For example, questions on sexual activity and gender identity may be used generate funding for LBGTQ++ programs to influence our children in their classrooms.

Many of the intrusive questions on the Minnesota Student Survey fall into federally protected areas of student and family privacy. The federal Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) requires schools to notify parents prior to giving the Minnesota Student Survey. PPRA requires schools to notify parents prior to the administration of any survey that concerns PROTECTED AREAS OF STUDENT AND FAMILY PRIVACY. The PPRA also requires schools to inform parents of their right to review the survey and parental rights to opt their child out of participation.

Many parents have been complacent and unaware of the extensive government and third-party data mining and the profiling of our children that has been taking place in our schools for years. Almost every private and intimate detail of our children’s lives and personal relationships are subject to scrutiny by questions in the Minnesota Student Survey. The majority of sensitive issues surveyed by the MSS are topics that should be addressed in the home by parents and families and not by our public schools.

We as parents have the God given right and responsibility to raise our children and instill our Catholic faith and moral values. As parents, we must protect our children from harm, guard their innocence, and teach them to set healthy boundaries. Just as we teach our young children that no one has the right to violate their bodies or touch their “private” parts, we must also teach our older children to protect their personal privacy in regard to when, how, and with whom they share private, intimate and personal information.

As Catholic parents, we must take the time and effort to be vigilant, know what is going on in our children's classrooms, and protect our children from harmful content and invasive surveys in our schools.

Please take the time to review information on the Minnesota Student Surveys listed below.