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 British Columbia, Canada, were told that they could not, should not quote Dr. Seuss because they're considered political messages:

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.

Gemma Karstens-Smith of Postmedia News wrote the story: Link


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As a BC citizen this sort of makes me sick.

If you wouldn't Ban the reading of the book, how can you ban the understanding of the book? THat's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

And if you're going to ban kids from reading Dr Seuss, take a good fucking look at yourself, government.
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I never had a teacher who wore clothes with words on anything but the label. Are teachers allowed to wear t-shirts and track pants n class now?
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I get it. They are not out there burning the books they are against them being used like a union slogan. For that I am inclined to agree with them. Taken in the context of union negations it is a little manipulative to be displaying to children that the teachers just don't have any rights and basically comparing the Canadian government to Hitler.
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