By Doug Berg
As will be indicated in articles throughout this issue of Com-mini-cations, much has been happening in Mini-School the first couple months of 1999. Awards, trips, babies, new students- a busy time. In addition, everyone’s excited as we move toward the end of the school year as the biggest trip time of the Mini-School year is coming up.
As mentioned above, Mini-School was the recipient of a prestigious award from the National Dropout Prevention association. We got a lot of good kudos throughout the school district for this distinction which felt really good. Leah Shoberg’s article in this issue will fill in the details.
Three very successful trips- the Ely, the winter activities trip and the Michigan ski/snow board trip- took place in January and February. 24 kids participated in them and all did very well.
On February 17, 18, 19 the Minnesota Ass’n of Alternative programs held its annual conference in Rochester. Ramona attended and returned with many ideas for Mini-School. On Thursday, 2/18 Randy and I drove down after morning classes and gave a presentation on Mini-School trips to a group of 50 teachers from around the state. As usual, most teachers are in awe of Mini-School’s long history and its outstanding accomplishments.
Although Randy will write a more complete article elsewhere in this issue, I must also make mention of the death on February 10th of Norm Garneau, former MHS English teacher, SWAS teacher and Mini-School teacher. Norm was a close friend of mine, a strong yet gentle man who really loved life and lived each day to its fullest. He had a strong influence on my personal and teaching philosophy. Norm worked in Mini-School through the 80’s. A gathering in Norm’s memory on February 15th was well attended by former Mini-School students. Mini-School sends its condolences to Norm’s wife, Jane {a lady who also has strong Mini-School connections}, and his sons Tom, Tim, Eric and Joe.
I must now address an issue which I have speculated on, talked around and ridden the fence on. I am going to retire from my position of Mini-School teacher at the end of this school year. I have not come to this decision without a great deal of agonizing and soul searching. I have been deeply involved with Mini-School for more than half my life. In many ways teaching in Mini-School has been more than a job- it has been a mission, a passion, a big part of who I am. I look back on the past 29 years with a great deal of pride and satisfaction and the knowledge that what we have done and continue to do here has helped many kids. That feels good.
And I still like what I do. I get just as much of a kick out of seeing a kid show some growth, make some good decisions, chart a new path for him/herself as I did 29 years ago. I still don’t have any trouble paddling and portaging all day or carrying a backpack all day or sleeping on the ground at night. I think my skills as an educator, whether in the BWCA or the Mini-School classroom, are as strong as they have ever been.
Yet it’s time to move on, time for change. As the great English poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote long ago,
The old order changeth
Making way for the new.
And God fulfills himself in many ways,
Lest one good thing should corrupt the world.
It’s time for new leadership to emerge, new ideas to come forth. And they will. I leave Mini-School in good hands. We have a strong staff, a strong group of students who are committed to maintaining the traditions of Mini-School and establishing some of their own.
There is much that is Mini-School that I shall miss- the trips, Com-mini-cations, the kids, the staff. But most of all I will miss starting everyday with my long time friend, Randy Nelson. Randy and I have had our desks butted up against each other for 29 years. We had a big part in the conception of Mini-School and a bigger part in its development. We’ve spent countless hours, many of them in a canoe or on a hiking trail, talking about kids and developing strategies to help them succeed. We’ve thought up hundreds of wild and crazy schemes and ideas for Mini-School, some of which have bordered on educational genius, others of which have been abysmal failures. We’ve had a tremendous amount of fun together, a million laughs. We’ve also had our share of sadness and tragedies. We’ve developed a lifelong bond, a bond closer than many brothers even develop. I will miss my daily dose of Randy’s steadiness, gregariousness, generosity, kindness, concern and humor.
But there are things to look forward to- travel, x-c skiing, canoe and backpack trips without a group of kids to take care of, books to read, some writing to do, some dreams to pursue. But most of all the freedom to get up in the morning, have a cup of coffee and say “What am I going to do today.” I know also that Mini-School will not get rid of me completely for awhile. I’m sure I’ll be involved in some trips, some kids’ lives, some staff decisions. Mini-School can’t get rid of me that easily.
It’s been a great run, a good one for me. Thanks to everyone who’s been a part of it.
Alumni News:
Tony Zaun {83} Lesley, Tony’s sister {see featured alumnus article} informs us that Tony is working in Washington D.C. and will marry an Italian lady in Rome this summer.
Casey Bakken {98} Will graduate from the Invest program this spring.
Kim Colway {98} Currently attending the SHAPE program.
Mike McGinn {98} Cooking at the Marsh.
Lance Hamlin {97} Cooking at the Marsh.
Josh Day and Justin Streeter (98} Working for Streeter construction.
Brian Pengelly {85} Works in heating and air conditioning.
Jeff Jambeck {85} Lives in Arlington-Green Isle and works in air traffic control.
Tim Scott {83} Manager of all the restaurants for Dayton’s.