Different Points of View on SEL

Different Point of Views on SEL 

By Layna Smith

For the 2024-2025 school year, students and staff have both been affected by Social Emotional Learning (SEL) assignments. These assignments are mandatory for staff to teach the students on Tuesdays during Academic Center.

There are both positive and negative discussions among staff and students when it comes to SEL. “Sometimes they’re displayed as not super useful or engaging, but I think the root meaning of it is valuable,” explains Ms. Tenhove. A senior at Sand Creek, Hayden Keech, says, “I think they’re good things to be doing in school.” When it comes to negative discussion, a junior, Ivan Wilkinson says, “I don’t like them. They’re boring and a waste of time in my opinion. I could be doing homework instead.” 

While there are people saying it’s good and people saying it’s a waste of time, there are other students who feel in between about the assignments. “I don’t mind them. I just feel like we shouldn’t have to do them every week,” explains Kellen Bailey, a sophomore. A government teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson,  adds a new perspective to the topic when she says, “I think it would be more helpful to have SEL on Monday when students are less likely to have homework to work on, so I would switch SEL and the passing day.” 

Most of the students who dislike SEL argue that they don’t like the SEL lessons because they take up class time that could be used for doing homework. “I think they’re reasonable, but I think it’s taking up our AC. I get that we should do that but I want AC time,” says Macie Smith, an eighth grader. “Tuesday is just a day that it’s always busier. I would rather have them on a Thursday,” stated Emerson Walsh, a seventh grader. 

No matter how they feel about the SEL assignments, both staff members and students can both see why they are needed in school. “It’s making students grab what we are trying to accomplish here at Sand Creek, and they’re getting a more deeper dive into it,” shared the middle school history teacher, Mr. Oberheim. “People are actually learning how to respect each other,” added Kellen Bailey.