Mr. P was one of the most influential teachers I encountered at Ingleside / Arcadia. He inspires his students to be passionate about literature and is the type of high-caliber teacher that a school like Arcadia is lucky to have
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Isabella Gonzales
11 years ago
I always heard wonderful things about him while I was a student at Arcadia High School. I wish him the best!
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Rose Diax
11 years ago
I don't know Mr. Peterson, but from one educator to another, I don't see why he is being accused when he is just challenging the minds of his students.
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Melissa Barber
11 years ago
Mr. P has the unique and rare ability AND willingness as a teacher to not only relate to high school students in the way he teaches, but also to excite them about what it is they are learning and ignite a passion for literature that is dangerously close to being forgotten in the digital age we are living in. Any teacher who can accomplish these things deserves praise and most definitely to keep his or her job, because they are few and far between. Mr. P was one of my favorite teachers throughout high school and instilled in me the value of story. Yes, some of what we read contained challenging content. But the reality of a high school student can often be far more challenging. Mr. P was only ever trying to meet us where we were at and teach us to think critically at an early age. Two things he should not be punished for.
David Peterson is one of the most humane people I know, which I can only imagine translates to the classroom. Compelling literature often is challenging, and yes, even controversial. What good teachers like David do is give context and ask questions to help students negotiate this terrain; some of the hardest books can be the most rewarding. What good teachers -- and good schools -- don't do is censor.
M
Matt Cooley
11 years ago
Making a meaningful and lasting connection with students is one of the most important characteristics in a teacher, especially considering how hard it is to be a teenager. Mr. P is great for the school.
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Anastasia Henry
11 years ago
As the first English teacher that I had in high school, he made me love English! I still have papers I wrote from his class just because he had the best constructive criticism ever. He teaches like a college professor!
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Ami Lotka
11 years ago
Dave Peterson is the kind of teacher who inspires students to learn. We need more teachers like him not fewer.
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Elizabeth Paffenbarger
11 years ago
I don't sign many petitions, but I hope this makes a difference and ask others to join me. Mr. Peterson was unafriad to teach something beyond the standard American literature. He ignites passions within his students around controversial topics. I grew not only as a student, but an individual in his class. The freedom of expression, interpretation and art is captured by the materials Peterson. If Petersons so called "heavy topics" are not fit for teenage students then let's also look to limiting the media, friends, home life and constant environment of young adults. By replacing or removing teachers who strive to teach others to think for themselves and grow passions in literature, you are not only adding to the ignorance and blandness of our education system, but of our future. Please support this petition if you ever were taught by someone who dared to challenge you both intellectually and personally... Which in my opinion is rare.
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Alana Kuhlman
11 years ago
Though it has been about 20 years, Mr. Peterson continues to be an inspiration to me. I teach college writing and strive to be as effective and motivating to my students as Mr. Peterson was to me. He is a true mentor and role model who teaches his students not only writing and critical thinking (perhaps incorporating controversial, but effective literature), but to find and discover their unique talents and self worth during a tumultuos time in many of their lives. Mr. Peterson was a gift to me, as well as to his thousands of other students and future students should not be robbed of this great teacher.
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Emma batrick
11 years ago
I've just finished reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Woa, by Junot Díaz. Treasure this teacher.
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Emma batrick
11 years ago
I've just finished reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Woa, by Junot Díaz. Treasure this teacher.
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Stacy Fettkether
11 years ago
Mr. P was one of my favorite teachers! He made learning fun. Losing him as a teacher would be wrong!
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BOB GREEN
11 years ago
I never had him as a teacher but I was always jealous to hear how much fun my peers had in his class.
B
BOB GREEN
11 years ago
I never had him as a teacher but I was always jealous to hear how much fun my peers had in his class.
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Cameron (Ballinger) Rupprecht
11 years ago
Mr. Peterson is a teacher that every student will remember. He is creative and passionate. Peterson makes an impact, which is exactly what we need in our teaching community. He encourages his students to dig deep, think outside the box, and broaden their perspective. Asking him to leave the school would be a tremendous mistake. He should be cherished for his work.
posse up!
Mr. P was one of the most influential teachers I encountered at Ingleside / Arcadia. He inspires his students to be passionate about literature and is the type of high-caliber teacher that a school like Arcadia is lucky to have
I always heard wonderful things about him while I was a student at Arcadia High School. I wish him the best!
I don't know Mr. Peterson, but from one educator to another, I don't see why he is being accused when he is just challenging the minds of his students.
Mr. P has the unique and rare ability AND willingness as a teacher to not only relate to high school students in the way he teaches, but also to excite them about what it is they are learning and ignite a passion for literature that is dangerously close to being forgotten in the digital age we are living in. Any teacher who can accomplish these things deserves praise and most definitely to keep his or her job, because they are few and far between. Mr. P was one of my favorite teachers throughout high school and instilled in me the value of story. Yes, some of what we read contained challenging content. But the reality of a high school student can often be far more challenging. Mr. P was only ever trying to meet us where we were at and teach us to think critically at an early age. Two things he should not be punished for.
[email protected]
He was the best teacher I had at Arcadia.
David Peterson is one of the most humane people I know, which I can only imagine translates to the classroom. Compelling literature often is challenging, and yes, even controversial. What good teachers like David do is give context and ask questions to help students negotiate this terrain; some of the hardest books can be the most rewarding. What good teachers -- and good schools -- don't do is censor.
Making a meaningful and lasting connection with students is one of the most important characteristics in a teacher, especially considering how hard it is to be a teenager. Mr. P is great for the school.
As the first English teacher that I had in high school, he made me love English! I still have papers I wrote from his class just because he had the best constructive criticism ever. He teaches like a college professor!
Dave Peterson is the kind of teacher who inspires students to learn. We need more teachers like him not fewer.
I don't sign many petitions, but I hope this makes a difference and ask others to join me. Mr. Peterson was unafriad to teach something beyond the standard American literature. He ignites passions within his students around controversial topics. I grew not only as a student, but an individual in his class. The freedom of expression, interpretation and art is captured by the materials Peterson. If Petersons so called "heavy topics" are not fit for teenage students then let's also look to limiting the media, friends, home life and constant environment of young adults. By replacing or removing teachers who strive to teach others to think for themselves and grow passions in literature, you are not only adding to the ignorance and blandness of our education system, but of our future. Please support this petition if you ever were taught by someone who dared to challenge you both intellectually and personally... Which in my opinion is rare.
Though it has been about 20 years, Mr. Peterson continues to be an inspiration to me. I teach college writing and strive to be as effective and motivating to my students as Mr. Peterson was to me. He is a true mentor and role model who teaches his students not only writing and critical thinking (perhaps incorporating controversial, but effective literature), but to find and discover their unique talents and self worth during a tumultuos time in many of their lives. Mr. Peterson was a gift to me, as well as to his thousands of other students and future students should not be robbed of this great teacher.
I've just finished reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Woa, by Junot Díaz. Treasure this teacher.
I've just finished reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Woa, by Junot Díaz. Treasure this teacher.
Mr. P was one of my favorite teachers! He made learning fun. Losing him as a teacher would be wrong!
I never had him as a teacher but I was always jealous to hear how much fun my peers had in his class.
I never had him as a teacher but I was always jealous to hear how much fun my peers had in his class.
Mr. Peterson is a teacher that every student will remember. He is creative and passionate. Peterson makes an impact, which is exactly what we need in our teaching community. He encourages his students to dig deep, think outside the box, and broaden their perspective. Asking him to leave the school would be a tremendous mistake. He should be cherished for his work.
Still my favorite teacher.