A Note from Mr. Archer
Minnehaha Family:
December is upon us! Wow the days are flying by. We will soon be at Holiday break. We are still waiting for our first big snow. Remember, once snow is on the ground. Minnehaha students need snow pants in order to go outside during recess.
Our construction project is drawing to a close and the last 2 classrooms should be completed by mid December. Soon we'll be setting a date for a ribbon cutting celebration. We look forward to inviting everyone to celebrate with us.
Here is a fascinating must read for parents: The book called The Anxious Generation. by Jonathan Haidt tells two stories. The first is about the decline of the play-based childhood, which began in the 1980s and accelerated in the 1990s. The second story is about the rise of the phone-based childhood, which began in the late 2000s and accelerated in the early 2010s. The confluence of these two stories in the years between 2010 and 2015 is what he calls the “Great Rewiring of Childhood.” Few people understood what was happening in children’s virtual worlds and they lacked the knowledge to protect them from tech companies that had designed their products to be addictive.
The book is split into four parts:
The Tidal Wave: In this section, he shows the basic statistics on the mental health of young people.
The Decline of the Play-Based Childhood: In this section, he discusses the nature of childhood and how we messed it up by depriving children of play and role-models, damaging attachment systems, and erasing any clear path from childhood to adulthood.
The Rise of the Phone-Based Childhood: In this section, he discusses the harms that result from the new phone-based childhood, with a chapter devoted to harms to girls, a chapter on harm to boys, and a chapter on the “spiritual degradation” that is happening to all of us––including adults––from our new phone-based lives.
Collective Actions for Better Childhood: In this final section, he explains what we must do to reverse the damage. He explains how parents, schools, governments, tech companies, and young people are trapped in “collective action problems” and how these can be resolved when individuals organize and act together.
This is a fascinating read and provides needed insight for parents.
December Staff Spotlight~Alexis Stainbrook~Title 1 Teacher
Tell us a little bit about yourself: I am originally from St. Cloud, Minnesota. I attended St. Cloud State University for Elementary Education. After college, I built out a van and traveled the west coast before moving to Duluth where I have now lived for the last five years. Some of my hobbies are camping, hiking, downhill skiing, cooking and yoga.
Why did you choose teaching as a career? I chose teaching as a career because I like making connections and a positive impact on students’ lives. I enjoy watching students grow in their learning and creativity and experiencing the joy of seeing them grasp new concepts. Teaching is a very rewarding job, it keeps me on my toes and motivates me to be better everyday.
What do you like about the Minnehaha? I have liked many things about Minnehaha so far but one of the things I enjoy the most is the generosity of the staff.
About Us
Minnehaha Elementary strives to ensure high levels of learning for all students while building respectful, responsible and safe community members.
Email: barcher@isd381.org
Website: https://www.isd381.k12.mn.us/minnehaha/
Location: Minnehaha Elementary School, 7th Street, Two Harbors, MN, USA
Phone: 218-834-8221
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Minnehaha-Elementary-Lake-Superior-School-District-103493627983228