Instead of banning Dr. Seuss books seen as insensitive, use them as teaching tools -- Plain Dealer

submitted by Nemacolin from cleveland.com

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[–]Nemacolin[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Nobody banned these books.

Regarding the March 3 article on six Dr. Seuss books no longer being published because of “racist images” (”Now, what SHOULD we do? Well, what would YOU do?”): As a retired librarian, the words “banned books” are anathema to me. I have a better solution. Some of these titles were written in the ’40s and ’50s, but are being judged in 2021. What a great opportunity for a teaching moment. Just add a suggestion on the cover of each title that the subject matter or illustrations might be a perfect opportunity for discussion -- an awareness of differences, of prejudices, of acceptance, etc. Wow!! Look how productive this could be one-on-one, or in a classroom?

I once was on a class trip with fifth-graders, where the lecturer was being treated rudely by the class, so he got up, said he was through and walked out! I was stunned, but then the magnificent teacher of that class asked the students, “What just happened?” She then gave a tongue-lashing -- love that expression -- and the students learned about civility and respect. It was a teaching moment.

Dr. Seuss -- what better instrument to do the same? No banning of books; they are tools!

Iris November,

Beachwood