Along with Marquette University’s Law School’s Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Engagement, the College of Education co-hosted a conference entitled What K–12 Students Need: Striking a Balance Between Social-Emotional and Academic Learning on Wednesday, November 29. Two noted national experts on education, Andre Perry, David M. Rubinstein Fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program of the Brookings Institution in Washington, and Chester E. Finn, Jr., distinguished senior fellow and president emeritus of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute in Washington, D.C., and also a senior fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, joined in conversation with Marquette Law School’s Alan Borsuk and Mike Gousha. The speakers were followed by a panel of four Wisconsin-based educators moderated by Dr. Cynthia Ellwood: Karen Stoiber, professor of educational psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Beth Herman, project coordinator for Safe Schools Healthy Students, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction; Kim Merath, social and emotional learning supervisor, Milwaukee Public Schools; and Suzanne Breslow, culture dean, for Milwaukee College Prep schools.

With an audience of more than 200 and others watching online, the speakers, Perry and Finn first shared their insights individually then discussed the topic together (moderated in each instance by individuals from Marquette Law). Focusing on the needs of students and how to best meet them, the discussion covered topics such as race, class, and socioeconomic impact. While the two primary speakers differed in their overall perspectives with Perry emphasizing the importance of social-emotional learning and Finn exhibiting more skepticism. The full event can be viewed through Marquette University Law School Media.

A full listing of the Law School’s upcoming events can be found on their website. The College of Education and Marquette University’s Law School remain committed to furthering dialogue on such important issues facing Milwaukee today.

Speakers Differ at Lubar Center Program on Whether Success in School Can Increase Social Mobility by Alan Borsuk