ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — About 70 schools in several counties throughout South Carolina are participating in preventative behavioral health courses.
The Orangeburg County School District's social and emotional learning program has been extended with a partnership with the digital learning platform EVERFI and the Medical University of South Carolina to teach children about compassion.
Imani Jean is a fourth grader at Edisto Elementary School and is one of those children taking a social and emotional learning class.
"A favorite thing that I learned is whenever you see someone don't just think about saying they're okay," said Jean. "Actually, do something about it."
Students in the district from kindergarten to 12th grade take lessons on character development.
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Faith Arthur, the counseling and career services coordinator for Orangeburg County School District, said these lessons are important for childhood development.
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"They are developing adults," said Arthur. "You are who you're becoming. And so, when we teach those things and we reinforce those positive attributes that we want all of our students to have, we are looking at developing the whole child."
Orangeburg County School District has recognized Edisto Elementary School for participating in the program.