Social-emotional learning (SEL) has become a hotly debated topic in Christian education. While many educators appreciate its focus on relationships and emotional health, others are concerned about the secular worldview that often accompanies it.
In this episode, Roger Erdvig and Maggie Pope welcome Tyler Groves, Head of School at Woodfield Academy and co-author of Growing With One Another, to explore whether Christian educators should reject SEL altogether—or reclaim it through a thoroughly biblical worldview.
Together, they discuss God’s design for human flourishing, why Scripture provides a richer vision for social and emotional development than secular frameworks, and how Christian educators can cultivate Christlike character without simply adopting the latest educational trend.
Whether you’re a classroom teacher, administrator, counselor, or school leader, this conversation will help you think more deeply about what it truly means to help students become who God created them to be. In This Episode:
*Why social-emotional learning has become such a controversial topic in Christian education
*The difference between secular SEL and a biblical understanding of human flourishing
*Why the Bible provides a richer framework for social and emotional development
*How the Biblical Meta-Narrative reshapes our understanding of identity and flourishing
*Why the goal isn’t becoming the “best version of yourself,” but becoming more like Christ
*How Christian educators can model biblical social and emotional maturity every day
*The importance of Scripture, the “one another” passages, and Psalm 139 in developing true self-awareness
*Why apologizing, extending forgiveness, and honoring image bearers are essential classroom practices
*Practical ways teachers can cultivate biblical social and emotional growth without adding another program to their workload
*Why worldview formation begins with educators before it reaches students
Books Mentioned
*Growing With One Another—Dr. Tyler Groves & Dr. Ken Coley
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If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe to the Teach Biblically Podcast and share it with another teacher, administrator, counselor, or school leader. As Christian educators, we have the opportunity not merely to teach content, but to cultivate classrooms where students learn what it means to flourish as image bearers of God.