The Rancho Santa Fe School District board’s March 10 meeting included a listening session on social emotional learning that at times was very personal as parents discussed the challenges that today’s kids face and how the school can support them.
Many parents have grown concerned about the future of social emotional learning (SEL) at R. Roger Rowe School following the disbandment of the SEL committee, questions from the board about SEL as they try to understand what is being taught, and rumors spreading among the school community. The situation was compounded by the resignation of the school counselor Carly Bourque on March 3.
Some parents didn’t understand the controversy about SEL or the board’s perceived reluctance toward it. Parent Jessica Greenstein said SEL provides a foundation for a child’s success and that there is a place for it to be taught at school: “Academics are just a piece of (education). When kids are happy, when they’re social, when they have friends, when they have a safe space, they can thrive academically,” she said.
