Dr. Seuss deemed too political for B.C. school

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

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 and Other Stories, 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.

We feel very censored here right now. JOANNA LARSON