Mira Costa students start petition to stay in Chemistry class

By Eric Furth

Calendar Editor

Mira Costa science teacher Dan Bartlett’s zero period Chemistry class drafted a petition in late November to remain in his class rather than transfer into science teacher Ernesto Nodado’s class for the second quarter of the school year.

Nodado had to fill in for Mrs. Nielsen’s Chemistry classes while she was out for the first quarter of the school year on maternity leave, leaving his class without a teacher. Bartlett filled in for Nodado, and students have requested that they stay with Bartlett for the remainder of the year rather than go to Nodado’s class.

“I am looking forward to working with all of my students. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to start the school year with them,” Nodado said. “I was fortunate enough to have other science teachers sub for me during the first quarter while I was teaching Mrs. Nielsen’s AP Chemistry and Honors Chemistry classes.”

According to Natalie Van Norman, sophomore and author of the petition, the main issue with the switch between teachers was the differences between Nodado’s and Bartlett’s teaching styles. Bartlett’s final is open-note, while Nodado does not believe in an open-note policy.

“It was really frustrating because the switch back to Nodado is happening an entire quarter into the semester,” Van Norman said. “Everyone was just getting settled, and it was difficult to make the switch.”

The petition currently has 54 signatures, primarily from sophomores in the class or friends of other students currently enrolled in Bartlett’s zero period.

“Once you get any teacher for a while, it becomes difficult to part with them because of how well you know how they teach,” Dan Bartlett said.

Mira Costa administration currently has no plans to comply with the petition. As of now, Bartlett’s students have returned to their original Chemistry classes with Nodado.

“Now that I have my students back, we can continue their journey in exploring science using strategies that involve technology, group-work and of course, laboratory experiments,” Nodado said, “I’m certain that the transition is difficult for all students but we have tried to make it as smooth as possible.”