In his recent update of the Needham High School Improvement plan, Mr. Sicotte underscored his personal focus on social-emotional learning (known by all the cool kids as SEL) in NHS’s curriculum. What does a focus on SEL mean? According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, SEL is “the process through which children, adolescents, and adults learn skills to support healthy development and relationships…(It) include(s) self awareness, self management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.” According to Mr. Sicotte, however, SEL means, “If you need that mental health day, take it.”
I would have made this article longer, but I decided to take a mental health day instead.