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Carol Jago
former National Council of Teachers of English President
What Peter Kahn accomplished with Oak Park River Forest High School students was transformational — for individual kids, for the school, for the community. Spoken Word Club became a vehicle for voices that in traditional spaces often go unheard.
Testimonials & Feedback
Terrance Hayes
National Book Award winner and MacArthur Genius recipient
Peter Kahn is the kind of reader of poetry, teacher of poetry, and poet who makes the world easier for other readers, teachers and poets.
Raymond Antrobus
Ted Hughes Award winner and The Guardian Poetry Book of the Year
There is no hyperbole here: Peter Kahn has saved many young lives, including my own. As a mentor, father-figure and teacher-poet, Kahn showed me how not to separate the identity of a teacher from the identity as a poet.
Langston Kerman
OPRFHS class of 2005, MFA in Creative Writing-Boston University, comedian/writer/actor–lead writer for HBO’s PAUSE with Sam Jay, nominated for a WGA award, appears on Insecure, South Side, The Boys, Bless This Mess and Bust Down.
The introduction to poetry via Mr. Kahn was single-handedly the most transformative moment in my life because it taught me to begin to seek out purpose in all forms of study.
By the Numbers
After completing the week-long Respect the Mic poetry cafe unit in Columbus City Schools, we’re happy to share some insightful stats:
10th-11th Graders:
6th Graders:
10th-11th Graders:
Columbus, Ohio Student Feedback
“The respect the mic unit was inspirational and moving.”
“Poetry week is an awesome week that allows you to explore your inner poet.
”The first time I learned to write poetry I thought it was boring, stupid, and unneeded but, I was wrong…. it was a love language i found out i had and i love it. It helps me through tough times.”
“Everyone has something that is digging at them that they want to say but poetry provided a way for them to express it.”
“Poetry was a fun experience that gets people to express themselves more. Plus when you get to present your poem it is very scary but it helps you get over your fear.”
“I was capable of doing something that I thought i would never be good at.”
“I learned that I can share things with people and not be judged because of it.”
“I learned to be vulnerable through my writing and that poetry can help you through so much."
Columbus, Ohio Teacher Feedback
‘When is Peter coming back?’ This is the question that never ended despite telling them exact dates he would be back for Poetry Cafe Session Two. This question alone was nice because my students tend to shy away from all strangers that come into the building but here they were wanting to know when the “cool poet” was returning. For some students he left such an impression that they would write poetry in their free time and leave it on my desk to read….” -Linden-McKinley High School
“It is the most engagement and participation I have seen all year, and I am getting some really thoughtful work from them. Thank you!” -Northland High School
“After transitioning forward into the ‘new normal,’ we have struggled to surmount the unprecedented task of healing a fractured school community and maintaining behavioral boundaries/expectations… Peter created an opportunity for my colleagues and I to show our students what Fort Hayes is supposed to look like, and invite them to rise up and exceed that expectation.” -Ft. Hayes Academy
“...this program was very valuable to the academic and social-emotional development of my students.” -Independence High School
“....Students have been showing more respect toward one another, and have shown great kindness toward me the past few days, all due to the poetry unit and what we have gone through together as a class….” -Arts and College Prep Academy
