We have all heard of Social Emotional Learning (SEL). In recent years, there has been a significant focus on integrating SEL into classrooms. The idea is that we are teaching a whole child. This means that children, as any human being, has prerequisites that must be met before they are able to fully participate in a learning process to their full potential.

What are your thoughts, given the statistics on depression shared here. Should well-being be something that is explicitly taught in a classroom? Do classroom teachers have a role to play in teaching students life skills and mindsets that will set them up for a successful and happy life?

If so, to what extent and to what end? Do you believe it will impact their ability to manage their behavior, to self-regulate emotions and to ultimately realize a high level of academic success?

If not, why not? Can it be ignored? If it can’t be ignored, what will happen if no one claims any responsibility? To be clear, the burden is typically placed on parents to ensure their children are cared for in this way. However, we know that many parents are not able, for various reasons, to provide the entirety of what their children need in regards to social emotional learning. We also know that children spend the majority of their days at school with peers and educators. How do these truths play into this narrative?