Home » Education & Career » Emotional Intelligence » Finding the root of social and emotional issues

Finding the root of social and emotional issues

© Marilyn Robb

I was born and raised in the Caribbean. Although my country was originally “owned” by the British before we became independent about 40 years ago, we still have been greatly influenced by North American culture. Out education system was designed after the British system. We have primary school from age 4 – 11, and then secondary school following the 11+ or Common Entrance,( as it used to be called), exam. At the end of the five years of secondary school students are required to sit another national exam. Caribbean based exams have replaced the British exams. Students then have the option of another two years of high school (Advanced Levels), which mainly is a preparation for university. Although the curriculum, textbooks and methods of teaching have originated from England, many of the influences in society- music, TV, movies, etc., have come to us from the US. Thus it could be said that we have a clash of influences in our schools.

Since severing most of our connections with England we have been turning more to North America for examples, resources and material for our teaching. North America seems more accessible to us financially and geographically.

I have been looking at the programmes for Social and Emotional Learning developed in other countries. One of my goals still is to develop a programme that is relevant to our Caribbean society. In order to do this I have had to take into consideration, a) what are the basic tenets of SEL programmes, b) what are the social and emotional issues that must be addressed in the schools and therefore how to apply a) to b). My interests in the social and emotional issues to be addressed has been stimulated by my interaction with teachers all over the world. What has struck me is the similarities of the issues. One of the questions I ask at my workshops is –‘what is a concern you have about teaching, school or education?, or ‘what is an issue you would like to have addressed?’ I can summarise in a few points the responses I have received no matter where in the world I ask these questions, no matter what type of school it is (public school, private school, religion-based school), no matter what level ( elementary or primary, secondary or high school, and even kindergarten). There seems to be no obvious distinction based on class background, ethnic background, gender differences, cultural difference.