State Rep. Butler, Moms for Liberty push effort to ban 'extremely dangerous' SEL in public schools
Social-emotional learning (SEL) programs have gained popularity in public schools since the COVID-19 pandemic, but critics argue they are a Trojan horse to smuggle in woke ideologies. That's why State Rep. Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City) has introduced legislation to ban SEL programs and training, similar to Alabama's ban on diversity, equity and inclusion and other divisive concepts.
"SEL was initially packaged as a tool to help students manage emotions and build relationships. It evolved into something far beyond that, and it has no place in our state's education system," Butler told 1819 News. "[It] can divert critical time and resources away from core academic subjects, and this is a time when Alabama students could be struggling with proficiency, so we should be allowing them to work on literacy and numeracy and not introducing unproven emotional programming."
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, defines SEL as "the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions."
According to the CASEL website, SEL promotes "equity and excellence" to students across "race, ethnicity, family income levels, learning abilities, home language, immigration status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other factors."
"SEL is controversial because it has concepts tied to sexual identity and political ideologies, and they should be discussed at home, not imposed by a public school system," Butler said. "I feel, as an Alabama State Representative, that Alabama parents deserve the right to raise their children without interference from state-sponsored values that might not align with their beliefs."
Butler added that, through "invasive" questioning, SEL assessments collect data about students' family life and personal identity, which could be shared with third parties without consent.
House Bill 582 would prevent this by prohibiting SEL instruction and programming in public K-12 schools. It would also require parental consent before a student participates in certain informative surveys and consider violations a "neglect of duty," subject to disciplinary action. The legislature would receive an annual summary of violations.
This proposed legislation is not about ignoring student well-being. It's about returning our schools to their proper purpose and empowering parents to shape their children's emotional development," Butler continued. "I hope my colleagues in the legislature will support this Bill, stand with Alabama families, and keep our classrooms focused on education, not indoctrination. Instead of SEL, I support the reintegration of timeless principles that have long guided generations of Americans with clarity and strength. That includes allowing voluntary prayer in schools and the public display of the Ten Commandments in our classrooms. These are our foundational values that reflect the moral fabric upon which this nation was built: respect for authority, honesty, accountability, and reverence for life and liberty."
Emily Jones, the chair of Madison County Moms for Liberty, has long warned about the dangers of SEL programs. She told 1819 News she was happy to help Butler draft his bill and was "extremely pleased" to see it filed.
"I'm extremely pleased to see legislation filed that prohibits the use of social emotional learning in our public schools, as well as prohibitions against organizations that push this ideology. SEL is extremely dangerous to the development of children's emotions and behaviors, and unfortunately, it is being pushed in every single grade in our public schools," Jones told 1819 News.