I was fortunate to visit with education professionals in the Marshalltown Community School District to learn about how they use Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in their instruction. Sen. Jeff Edler and I visited with Superintendent Theron Schutte, Special Education Director Matt Cretsinger, Anson Principal Ronnie Manis, Anson School Counselor Ashley Chyma and Woodbury Principal Anel Garza on Friday to view their SEL in action.

Anson staff demonstrated the Responsive Classroom work they do with students every day. The goal of this work is to help students proactively be able to regulate their behaviors, problem solve solutions and manage their emotions through verbal interactions. This involves setting expectations and routines early and continuing those practices throughout the year. According to Chyma, Anson students participate in a daily morning meeting, morning greetings, community building activities and energizers to help restart their brain throughout the day. The program has grown to involve parents and students in goal setting and understanding what it means to meet these goals.

At Woodbury, we learned about another step that helps students regulate their behaviors and emotions. Garza explained the steps of Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) and demonstrated how it was used with a student having issues in his art class. CPS is built around having respectful conversations between student and adult to get to the root cause of the behavior. She shared successful data from another student who learned effective ways to manage behavior through a concentrated and continued effort of using CPS.

There are some who oppose using SEL in classrooms. I think many of their opinions are misinformed. SEL is not teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT). SEL is not grooming or indoctrinating children.

I was very impressed with the students and staff as they work collaboratively with students and families to provide the best learning opportunities for students. It is not an easy or inexpensive process to get the training and resources needed, but the district feels the time and investment is paying off with big rewards. Thank you to all who shared with us!

You can’t have it both ways

Throughout this legislative session we have heard that “Parental Choice” is a priority. This argument was used to rush the ESA/voucher bill through the legislature to be signed by Governor Reynolds last month. But now, the majority party seems to be pulling their support for “Parental Choice.”

In the past weeks, there have been Government Oversight committees of parents and school administration/board members to discuss books that some parents feel are inappropriate for students. Where does “Parental Choice” come in this argument?

I agree that every parent can decide what is appropriate for their child to read, but they do not have the right to decide what I feel is appropriate for my child to read. Legislation has been introduced that if one school district decides to remove a book, then all Iowa districts should put those books on a “parent’s permission” or restricted access list. What happened to “Parental Choice?” I appreciate that some parents want to approve what their children are reading, but they cannot decide what I want my children to read. This is a basic First Amendment right. The parents claim that these books are obscene or pornographic. But they do not meet the requirements of Iowa law for that classification. Just because you object, doesn’t mean that I object. I want my “Parental Choice.”

Another Government Oversight committee interrogated doctors from Iowa City and Unity Point Clinics about treatment for children with gender dysphoria. The doctors stated that they work with parents and child to make the best medical decisions. This takes months or even years through comprehensive work. Some Representatives asked that if this therapy is “life-saving” why don’t they do it without parental consent? The doctors responded with the importance of a supporting family for any child questioning their gender identity. Why are the majority members questioning “Parental Choice?”

The Majority Party is only using “Parental Choice” when it agrees with their philosophies. They do not want parents to be able to decide for themselves on issues that disagree with the Majority Party.

You cannot have it both ways. If you support “Parental Choice” for education, you have to support “Parental Choice” for book selections and for medical procedures. You cannot control the decisions of all!

Please contact me if you have any questions. Sue Cahill, Sue.Cahill@legis.iowa.gov.

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Sue Cahill, a Democrat from Marshalltown, represents District 52 in the Iowa House of Representatives.