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Dr. Seuss banned from B.C. classroom

By: Gemma Karstens-Smith

Posted: 04/26/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Lorax, voiced by Danny Devito (left) and Once-ler, voiced by Ed Helms in Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. The Lorax, a classic tale of the horrors of environmental degradation, reignited controversy when it was released as a movie in March, prompting some to declare it was "too liberal." (UNIVERSAL PICTURES)

They cannot, they must not quote Dr. Seuss. Not in the school. Not in the hall. Not in B.C. No, not at all.

With relations between the teachers union and the provincial government frosty, teachers in a small British Columbia town have been told they can't display Dr. Seuss quotes because they are considered political messaging.

B.C. teachers are upset with Bill 22, which came into effect last month, ending their strike and bringing in a mediator. In Prince Rupert, teachers have been displaying their disappointment on T-shirts, signs and bumper stickers.

Now, a Grade 1 teacher at a Prince Rupert elementary school has been told by the school district she could be disciplined for having the quote "I know, up on the top you are seeing great sights, but down here at the bottom we, too, should have rights" on her clothing or in her vehicle while on school property.

The quote comes from Dr. Seuss's book Yertle the Turtle, in which Yertle orders the other turtles to stack up on one another so he can climb to the top and see all there is to see.

In all, eight teachers in the district have received letters letting them know they could face discipline for displaying political messages.

Joanna Larson, president of the Prince Rupert District Teachers' Union, said the administration doesn't want students to see the messages.

"We feel very censored here right now. We have feelings that our rights to freedom of expression have been violated," Larson said.

Teachers with anti-Bill 22 bumper stickers have decided to park off school property to avoid receiving the letters. However, they've also begun to fill their vehicles with "all kinds of messages" -- including several Dr. Seuss quotes.

"If they try to use a heavy-handed approach, we just have more people trying to exercise civil disobedience," Larson said.

Dr. Seuss' books have been mined for their messages for decades. Horton Hears a Who is said to tackle prejudice, while The Butter Battle Book is seen as a critique of the Cold War.

The Lorax, a classic tale of the horrors of environmental degradation, reignited controversy when it was released as a movie in March, prompting some to declare it was "too liberal." Fox News has said the kids movie was trying to "indoctrinate our children" with its "anti-industry message."

Meanwhile, Larson said Dr. Seuss books are available in school libraries and often taught in elementary classrooms. She said banning the Yertle the Turtle quote is "very upsetting" to teachers.

"And it's the ridiculous nature of it that makes it almost unbelievable," she said.

Larson believes the teachers' conflict with the administration embodies the "ridiculous human nature" Dr. Seuss wrote about.

"This is why he did what he did," she said. "I think he would think it's absurd."

-- Postmedia News

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 26, 2012 A2

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