It has come to our attention that certain parties have called for the termination of the employment of our dear friend and mentor, Mr. Dave Peterson, from Arcadia High School on the basis that he teaches material too offensive for high school reading. We contest both the allegation and the proposed termination. We assert that Mr. Peterson teaches literature that is praiseworthy and relevant to high school students’ lives and experiences. Is the material he teaches challenging? Absolutely. But good literature is meant to be challenging, and high school students are meant to be challenged.

Mr. Peterson is an excellent and caring educator who has inspired many students to become lovers of literature and better writers, and at this time we want to demonstrate our unwavering support of him and the material he teaches.

We sincerely ask the Scottsdale Unified School District and the Arcadia High School administration to fully support Mr. Peterson in this difficult time and allow him to continue teaching the material he has so carefully selected for the edification of his students. We ask the district and the administration to stand behind this extraordinary teacher.