Parents in Greenwich, Connecticut were outraged after their second-grade children were shown a cartoon featuring explicit content during a lesson on social and emotional learning. The animated video, titled "Alfred Jr. & Shadow: A Short Story About Being Scared," depicted a graphic image of a man with an erection standing over a sad girl. The controversial image remained on the screen for about nine seconds while discussing topics such as child abuse and traumatic experiences. Newsmax host Carl Higbie expressed his shock on Twitter, stating that the video was not appropriate for second-graders. Greenwich Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones acknowledged the inappropriateness of the video, admitting that it was meant for private therapy sessions for children who had experienced trauma. The school district notified the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and offered support services for students and parents affected by the incident. While the importance of educating children about sexual abuse is recognized, many felt that the explicit imagery was unnecessary and potentially harmful to young children. Criticism was directed towards the educator responsible for selecting and showing the video, questioning their judgment and attention to content review.

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