Here’s the dystopian scene: Students nationwide can’t read or do math at basic levels and don’t know elementary science or history facts, but there’s a big program to rewire their brains, massage their feelings and fix a smile on their faces.

Sound familiar?

If you’ve even heard of George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four,” it should.

Just swap Big Brother for big program, the telescreen for the iPad and the Ministry of Truth for the SEL dashboard.

It’s the brave new world of social-emotional learning, with mood controls, omnipresent surveillance, masterful manipulation and a Thought Police checking your privilege, thoughts, emotions and pronouns.

SEL is a growing industrial complex in education, nearing $10 billion this year, with powerful organizations like CASEL (Collaborative for Aca

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