*NEW DATE* Hampton School District Invites Community Members to Join Community Read Program

The November reading session has been rescheduled for Nov. 19.

HAMPTON — Superintendent Dr. Lois Costa would like to invite members of the Hampton school community to join a Community Read program hosted by the District in partnership with Lane Memorial Library.

The Community Read program offers a space where community members, parents and guardians of Hampton students can gather to discuss the importance of childhood and development. Program participants will read “The Anxious Generation” by social psychologist Jonathon Haidt. 

In “The Anxious Generation,” Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. His work investigates the nature of childhood, and how the “great rewiring of childhood” has interfered with children’s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. 

Four discussion sessions will be held throughout the year at Hampton Academy, 29 Academy Ave. Participants are encouraged to arrive at each session having read the assigned pages so discussion can flow freely during the allotted time. 

The reading schedule is as follows:

• Tuesday, Oct. 1, from 7-8 p.m.: Part I, pp. 1-45: Introduction: Growing Up on Mars, A Tidal Wave
• Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 7-8 p.m.: Part II, pp. 49-110: The Back Story: The Decline of Play-Based Childhood
• Tuesday, Jan. 7, from 7-8 p.m.: Part III, pp. 113-218: The Great Rewiring: The Rise of the Phone-Based Childhood
• Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 7-8 p.m.: Part IV, pp. 222-295: Collective Action for Healthier Childhood

The first 25 people who sign up will receive a copy of the book. Additional copies will be available upon request. 

This program is free and open to all Hampton School District parents and community members.

Those interested are asked to sign up by Sept. 20 by contacting Superintendent Dr. Lois Costa at lcosta@sau90.org or Community Experience Librarian Cameron Rees at crees@hampton.lib.nh.us.

“We are excited to be partnering with the Lane Memorial Library to offer this program, as we believe this topic is relevant to students, parents, and the community at large,” said Dr. Costa. “All Hampton parents and community members are encouraged to register; we hope to see you at our first session!”