Educational Success: Stories of Innovation from the Utne Library

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Standardized tests are supposed to measure what students know about subjects like math and science, though more often than not they just tell us how well students have been “taught the tests.” What they definitely don’t measure is what psychologist Daniel Goleman calls emotional intelligence—social and emotional skills like empathy, self-awareness, and the ability to manage stress. But studies show that these skills can play a crucial role in students’ success. Writing for Greater Good, Goleman argues for implementing more school programs that develop these crucial life skills, especially for “at-risk” kids. “It sounds warm and fuzzy, but it’s a trend backed up by hard data,” writes Goleman. “[W]hen schools offer students programs in social and emotional learning, their achievement scores gain around 11 percentage points.” Researchers look to brain science to explain why. According to University of Wisconsin neuroscientist Richard Davidson, data shows that activating the brain’s distress centers can hinder other areas of the brain responsible for memory, attention, and learning. “In other words,” writes Goleman, “because of the way our brains are wired, our emotions can either enhance or inhibit our ability to learn.”

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