These students see worse things on their own time. He has a purpose and is trying to reach these students.
S
Salem Joseph
11 years ago
You are all probably to young to remember when The Wizard of Oz was banned in some schools for "Promoting Satanism"
R
Rodney Jarvis
11 years ago
Dave Peterson is a rare treasure. I have to believe that the AHS and SUSD administrators must know what a great teacher he is. His influence has been so positive and he has so many fans among parents and students, current and former, that this cannot have escaped notice. I wholeheartedly support him. I would only request that he be my son's English literature teacher for the next three years.
J
Jerry Rose
11 years ago
It is my understanding that this "objectionable" material is optional, not mandatory. If people don't want their kids to read "objectionable" material then it is up to them as parents not the district, or school. I seriously doubt that this material is anything but classical literature. I suspect there is stuff available on the internet that is much much worse. Is it the district's job to prevent that from kids too? How would you do that? enable web blocks on every kid's home? No, it is ridiculous, political correctness run amuk that is threatening a good teacher's livelihood. It's time to tell these litegeous morons to pound sand.
K
Kevin Campbell
11 years ago
He's a great teacher and only benefits the kids and families of our community. This would be a mistake.
M
Monika Cassel
11 years ago
As an English teacher, I know that choosing inspiring and relevant material is important for teaching students to love literature; some materials have challenging themes and content, but they are better encountered in the classroom with an experienced teacher for discussion than by students on their own, as so often occurs now in our society. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet alone contains a great deal of content that might be contested in today's climate for its content and themes if it were written in more accessible language, but R&J is routinely found in ninth grade textbooks. Please support your passionate and dedicated educators and your students, who need to be inspired by excellent and engaged teachers.
A
Andrea Young
11 years ago
As one who teaches challenging literature to teenagers, I fully support Mr. Peterson's choice to expose students to good literature and to give them enough credit to read it critically.
N
Nick brady
11 years ago
great teacher
K
Kristin Mathus
11 years ago
I had the pleasure of having Mr Peterson in middle school an high school. Never have I ha a teacher that inspired and touched the lives of so many students. My son now goes to Arcadia and I tried to get him in his class but the roster was too full. Shame on those students and shame on Arcadia for discouraging such a brilliant educator. This must stop.
S
Susan Lilley
11 years ago
Academic freedom is more crucial than ever. As a Florida AP Literature teacher, I send Dave Peterson my heartfelt support.
S
Steve Almond
11 years ago
Trust your students
T
Tina Neyer
11 years ago
Silencing teachers equates to silencing children. Do we really want to teach our children to be silent?
J
James Caran
11 years ago
attacking a teacher's job because they teach a couple books that you personally dont like is not a valid reason to strip him of his job. I support this teacher whose students present and former clearly respect him
C
Cheyenne Eller Meneses
11 years ago
One of the best teachers that will ever be at Arcadia high school.
L
Leah Sharaby
11 years ago
Mr. Peterson was my absolute favorite teacher in high school, and really inspired me to further explore literature, including the pieces that we read in class. I am a better student and a more well-rounded reader because of Mr. Peterson and his class.
J
Judy McCan
11 years ago
This is again a case of parents and administrators censoring schools because they underestimate students. How can we prepare students to become critical, well-informed adults if we try to deny access to critical, challenging books? Please, do not dumb down the school with a short-sighted termination! Most mainstream television is more sexualized and offensive than the books taught by Mr.Peterson!
D
Daniel Iannaccone
11 years ago
Oh captain, my captain!
K
Kim Addonizio
11 years ago
I am saddened to hear that a clearly committed educator is being targeted in this way. America is about freedom of expression. It's the purpose of art--and critical thinking--to examine the difficult and even sometimes "offensive" areas of life, so that everyone, especially the young, can make the world a more humane place for all of us. Don't let this country become one which stifles young minds, but one that frees them to make us a better nation.
M
Marshall Klarfeld
11 years ago
In part, Dave Peterson's coursework, perspective, and guidance shaped me into the man I am today. He introduced us to the works of those who explored new worlds, challenged conventional thought, and illuminated the human condition. His syllabus and methods are bright and cherished memories of my time at Arcadia High School and I can only hope that these objecting parties do not rob future students of this gift.
J
Jeffrey Shuster
11 years ago
Mr. Peterson should praised for exposing his students to modern literature, not terminated from his job.
These students see worse things on their own time. He has a purpose and is trying to reach these students.
You are all probably to young to remember when The Wizard of Oz was banned in some schools for "Promoting Satanism"
Dave Peterson is a rare treasure. I have to believe that the AHS and SUSD administrators must know what a great teacher he is. His influence has been so positive and he has so many fans among parents and students, current and former, that this cannot have escaped notice. I wholeheartedly support him. I would only request that he be my son's English literature teacher for the next three years.
It is my understanding that this "objectionable" material is optional, not mandatory. If people don't want their kids to read "objectionable" material then it is up to them as parents not the district, or school. I seriously doubt that this material is anything but classical literature. I suspect there is stuff available on the internet that is much much worse. Is it the district's job to prevent that from kids too? How would you do that? enable web blocks on every kid's home? No, it is ridiculous, political correctness run amuk that is threatening a good teacher's livelihood. It's time to tell these litegeous morons to pound sand.
He's a great teacher and only benefits the kids and families of our community. This would be a mistake.
As an English teacher, I know that choosing inspiring and relevant material is important for teaching students to love literature; some materials have challenging themes and content, but they are better encountered in the classroom with an experienced teacher for discussion than by students on their own, as so often occurs now in our society. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet alone contains a great deal of content that might be contested in today's climate for its content and themes if it were written in more accessible language, but R&J is routinely found in ninth grade textbooks. Please support your passionate and dedicated educators and your students, who need to be inspired by excellent and engaged teachers.
As one who teaches challenging literature to teenagers, I fully support Mr. Peterson's choice to expose students to good literature and to give them enough credit to read it critically.
great teacher
I had the pleasure of having Mr Peterson in middle school an high school. Never have I ha a teacher that inspired and touched the lives of so many students. My son now goes to Arcadia and I tried to get him in his class but the roster was too full. Shame on those students and shame on Arcadia for discouraging such a brilliant educator. This must stop.
Academic freedom is more crucial than ever. As a Florida AP Literature teacher, I send Dave Peterson my heartfelt support.
Trust your students
Silencing teachers equates to silencing children. Do we really want to teach our children to be silent?
attacking a teacher's job because they teach a couple books that you personally dont like is not a valid reason to strip him of his job. I support this teacher whose students present and former clearly respect him
One of the best teachers that will ever be at Arcadia high school.
Mr. Peterson was my absolute favorite teacher in high school, and really inspired me to further explore literature, including the pieces that we read in class. I am a better student and a more well-rounded reader because of Mr. Peterson and his class.
This is again a case of parents and administrators censoring schools because they underestimate students. How can we prepare students to become critical, well-informed adults if we try to deny access to critical, challenging books? Please, do not dumb down the school with a short-sighted termination! Most mainstream television is more sexualized and offensive than the books taught by Mr.Peterson!
Oh captain, my captain!
I am saddened to hear that a clearly committed educator is being targeted in this way. America is about freedom of expression. It's the purpose of art--and critical thinking--to examine the difficult and even sometimes "offensive" areas of life, so that everyone, especially the young, can make the world a more humane place for all of us. Don't let this country become one which stifles young minds, but one that frees them to make us a better nation.
In part, Dave Peterson's coursework, perspective, and guidance shaped me into the man I am today. He introduced us to the works of those who explored new worlds, challenged conventional thought, and illuminated the human condition. His syllabus and methods are bright and cherished memories of my time at Arcadia High School and I can only hope that these objecting parties do not rob future students of this gift.
Mr. Peterson should praised for exposing his students to modern literature, not terminated from his job.