Anthropology, Sociology and Political Science all point to the need for social learning.

The United States is one of the first societies in the history of the world that is both truly free and very diverse. For this combination to work, its members need to share a core set of social skills.

Freedom vs. Diversity

In the past, a good number of societies have been free, but not diverse, without major social problems. The Scandinavian countries are an example. Other societies have been diverse, but not free, and been able to repress social conflict. The former Yugoslavia is an example. But when the lid comes off in either direction, social conflict is inevitable. War zones all across the globe are examples.

Empathy, Conflict Resolution, Assertiveness

If everyone has similar experiences, understanding others is simple and empathy is not necessary.

If a society is tightly controlled and decisions made from on high, then expression of will is a risk factor, not a success factor; there is no observable conflict to be resolved; and, assertiveness is as likely to land you in jail as in the board room.

But in a free and diverse society people need empathy, assertiveness and conflict resolution skills to manage effectively.

• People who are both free and diverse need the ability to identify with others, so that others' interests become self interest - and productive collaboration is encouraged.
• People who are both free and diverse need the ability to negotiate, compromise and find consensus among people with different views - or workplaces and schools will devolve into chronic conflict or chaos.
• People who are both free and diverse need the ability to exercise rights and stand up for beliefs - or they'll get walked on at school and at work.

Tomorrow's leaders will find these key social-emotional abilities as indispensable to the survival of democracy as constitutional principles are. They will find them as indispensable to wide scale academic success, as the three R's. They will find them as indispensable to the bottom line as any production efficiency.

These are the same qualities they need to avoid becoming perpetrators - or victims - of violence.

But Can They Be Taught?

More and more, the importance of social emotional abilities is a given. The remaining major question has been, "Can these things be taught?"