His syllabus indicates these kids are lucky to have him as a teacher.
S
Scott Montgomery
11 years ago
Please do the right thing.
A
Angela Barton
11 years ago
I can't believe this is going on in 2014.
E
Eric Howerton
11 years ago
High school students are mature enough to read adult literature. Stop underestimating their intelligence under the guise that you're protecting and sheltering them.
Extraordinary Teachers inspire, please stand behind Mr. David Peterson.
S
Sandi Wisenberg
11 years ago
I believe in teaching the questions.
L
Laurel Fantauzzo
11 years ago
Good teachers offer challenging materials to their students, to give them an opportunity to approach such material with an open, critical mind. Keep this teacher.
A
Alice Hays
11 years ago
Teachers who can inspire students to want to read should be rewarded and encouraged. Life isn't all sunshine and roses, and these very books are the ones that can help students grapple with those difficult life events in a SAFE way! Why would anyone not want that for their child? Please, do the right thing, and drop this asinine move of censorship.
R
Robin Hemley
11 years ago
It's sad that school boards bow to pressure groups who don't understand the value of literature in the lives of young people. Mr. Peterson should be valued and supported, not made to feel as though he's done something wrong.
R
Robert Isenberg
11 years ago
There are certainly great novels inappropriate for adolescent students ("Naked Lunch," "Tropic of Cancer," etc.) but these books are not among them.
L
Liz Frankland
11 years ago
I have known Dave since college. I live in Michigan, but I would consider my daughter extremely fortunate if she were able to have Mr Peterson as her teacher. He inspires and motivates students to believe in their abilities and then contribute to society as adults. He is the kind of a teacher parents wish for their children. The comments here are proof of the fruits of Dave's work.
E
Elizabeth Triano
11 years ago
Support good teachers
D
Diane Arieff
11 years ago
I met Dave Peterson when we were both enrolled in a Masters of Fine Arts program for writers, about ten years ago. I remember how enthusiastically he spoke about fiction, teaching and his students. Those of us who come across such teachers in our lives or those of our children consider ourselves lucky. The challenging, contemporary fiction Dave teaches, written by some of our greatest writers, should spark a lifelong conversation with books and other readers, not censorship or termination.
M
Maria Kitkowski
11 years ago
Mr. Peterson is by far one of the best teachers I have ever encountered. I am very disappointed in the Scottsdale Unified School District for letting this become an issue.
C
Connie rose-Kamprath
11 years ago
2 of my children took Mr. Peterson. They came our with a love for literature and higher level of thinking... Thank you Mr. Peterson!
C
Cynthia C Sample
11 years ago
reading makes souls. Please reconsider your analysis of this situation. The writers you are labeling dangerous are some of the finest that our culture has to offer. God has no fear; why should we?
S
Sydney Kirsch
11 years ago
I've never had him but I always wish I had. My friends only had good things to say!
N
Nickalus Rupert
11 years ago
Scottsdale United School District administrators: please crawl out of your caves and be sensible. High School should be a place where controversial ideas ARE ENCOURAGED, not stifled.
This is insanity.
His syllabus indicates these kids are lucky to have him as a teacher.
Please do the right thing.
I can't believe this is going on in 2014.
High school students are mature enough to read adult literature. Stop underestimating their intelligence under the guise that you're protecting and sheltering them.
[email protected]
Extraordinary Teachers inspire, please stand behind Mr. David Peterson.
I believe in teaching the questions.
Good teachers offer challenging materials to their students, to give them an opportunity to approach such material with an open, critical mind. Keep this teacher.
Teachers who can inspire students to want to read should be rewarded and encouraged. Life isn't all sunshine and roses, and these very books are the ones that can help students grapple with those difficult life events in a SAFE way! Why would anyone not want that for their child? Please, do the right thing, and drop this asinine move of censorship.
It's sad that school boards bow to pressure groups who don't understand the value of literature in the lives of young people. Mr. Peterson should be valued and supported, not made to feel as though he's done something wrong.
There are certainly great novels inappropriate for adolescent students ("Naked Lunch," "Tropic of Cancer," etc.) but these books are not among them.
I have known Dave since college. I live in Michigan, but I would consider my daughter extremely fortunate if she were able to have Mr Peterson as her teacher. He inspires and motivates students to believe in their abilities and then contribute to society as adults. He is the kind of a teacher parents wish for their children. The comments here are proof of the fruits of Dave's work.
Support good teachers
I met Dave Peterson when we were both enrolled in a Masters of Fine Arts program for writers, about ten years ago. I remember how enthusiastically he spoke about fiction, teaching and his students. Those of us who come across such teachers in our lives or those of our children consider ourselves lucky. The challenging, contemporary fiction Dave teaches, written by some of our greatest writers, should spark a lifelong conversation with books and other readers, not censorship or termination.
Mr. Peterson is by far one of the best teachers I have ever encountered. I am very disappointed in the Scottsdale Unified School District for letting this become an issue.
2 of my children took Mr. Peterson. They came our with a love for literature and higher level of thinking... Thank you Mr. Peterson!
reading makes souls. Please reconsider your analysis of this situation. The writers you are labeling dangerous are some of the finest that our culture has to offer. God has no fear; why should we?
I've never had him but I always wish I had. My friends only had good things to say!
Scottsdale United School District administrators: please crawl out of your caves and be sensible. High School should be a place where controversial ideas ARE ENCOURAGED, not stifled.