[aisle] Dr. Seuss Controversy

Todd Freer TFreer at zion6.org
Thu Mar 4 20:02:32 CST 2021


Thank you.



[https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4RT4FoXjm6uC6_P4xPBkIy31tIL6OGugmbw0plnozXKHogbOAIRQCMT6Fs567MuXqKt3Qh2QTRsZMpN2AyUz-gC8EYu8HTz2aePhlakZLp5PZQqN3zJtDLtjTkcPYVPteQ0BobW2]

Todd Freer

Library Media Specialist

East Elementary School
2913 Elim Avenue, Zion, IL, 60099

847.379.0156 • 847.872.8130 (fax)

www.zion6.org<http://www.zion6.org/>

Currently reading:
Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses: A Practical Workbook for Integrating Themes, Ideas, and Inspiration into Your Class by Sage Roundtree
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
________________________________
From: AISLE <aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> on behalf of Honkoski, Trisha via AISLE <aisle at list.railslibraries.info>
Sent: Thursday, March 4, 2021 1:24 PM
To: johnh at ncplibrary.org <johnh at ncplibrary.org>
Cc: Honkoski, Trisha <thonkoski at district146.org>; AISLE-Share: Association of Illinois School Library Educators discussion list <aisle at list.railslibraries.info>
Subject: Re: [aisle] Dr. Seuss Controversy


You’ve clearly not read any of the conversations, citations, or the infographic we have shared here – most of which pertain to school libraries. This is, after all, a community of school librarians.



You may choose willful ignorance, but this is not censorship or cancel culture. Book go out of print all of the time and maintenance of our collections is a part of our responsibility (as outlined in ALA’s  Weeding Guidelines).



And, being against LGBTQ, or asserting that lives of Black people matter are not positions a person serving the public should take. How unfortunate. But, of course, you absolutely should acquire books on topics and with accurate representation to suit the diverse community members you serve – and to inform those who may not understand – to have a more accepting populace. Having these in your collection does not harm, but actually serves all. I am sorry that you cannot see the difference.



As a children’s librarian, I believe the seminal essay by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.readingrockets.org%2fsites%2fdefault%2ffiles%2fMirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf&c=E,1,DV43_4H-v2E__OwGHpNOdHUX8aGND_0wWY2uLQ7BF3VRCkO9yj0CyGdcg4AzgLbJj2XuP0Ep-SZvDto6_tCw4YSaKduoWMeLQsEoWevpNkRzaRxOHSu6zcuKUcv4&typo=1> may be of benefit, if only you’d read it. “When children cannot see themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society for which they are a part.”



From: AISLE <aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> On Behalf Of John Heideman via AISLE
Sent: Thursday, March 4, 2021 12:47 PM
To: AISLE-Share: Association of Illinois School Library Educators discussion list <aisle at list.railslibraries.info>
Cc: John Heideman <johnh at ncplibrary.org>
Subject: Re: [aisle] Dr. Seuss Controversy



This is censorship cancelling Dr. Seuss books.If we take out all the books we don't agree with  we will have a very small collection.I don't agree with LGBT, Black Lives Matter , Street Literature and other books but I still order them and don't take them out of my collection. Let the parents and readers decide what books they will read.

Mr. Heideman Children's Librarian North Chicago Public Library



On Thu, Mar 4, 2021 at 11:38 AM Buell, Carla via AISLE <aisle at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle at list.railslibraries.info>> wrote:

Nicely written Trisha.







Carla Buell



[cid:image002.png at 01D710F9.A0DD5580]



Book a time with Mrs. Buell <https://calendar.google.com/calendar/selfsched?sstoken=UUQwdFd6RG16YWRXfGRlZmF1bHR8ZTY5YTdjNTUwNDVkZGZiOGNjN2RiYzM5MjVmYjhmOGU>

School Library Information Specialist

Fearn Elementary and Schneider Elementary



Twitter:@Fearn129Lmc<https://twitter.com/Fearn129Lmc>

YouTube Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Ab7jdLGFznv1YH-0DIYDg





Our Mission: "To inspire curiosity, a strong sense of community, and a vibrant connection to curriculum."



[cid:image004.png at 01D710F9.A0DD5580]



Currently listening to: Lavender Blue Murder by Laura Childs

Currently Reading: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty





________________________________

From: AISLE <aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info>> on behalf of Honkoski, Trisha via AISLE <aisle at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle at list.railslibraries.info>>
Sent: Thursday, March 4, 2021 11:36 AM
To: AISLE-Share: Association of Illinois School Library Educators discussion list <aisle at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle at list.railslibraries.info>>
Cc: Honkoski, Trisha <thonkoski at district146.org<mailto:thonkoski at district146.org>>
Subject: Re: [aisle] Dr. Seuss Controversy



Thank you, Jennifer.



I think it is also important to note CREW weeding method, endorsed by the ALA, which explicitly recommends removing “Material that contains biased, racist, or sexist terminology or views.” This is not a call to remove all of Seuss, and it not censorship. The CREW method for children’s books “Weed books that reflect racial and gender bias. Consider moving classics that may be used by children’s literature classes to the adult 800s.”

http://www.ala.org/tools/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet15<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ala.org%2ftools%2flibfactsheets%2falalibraryfactsheet15&c=E,1,HFff2xiFgKVt5T4sucTaE8bpfr642BeRQHVHqLaIsalcOG5i0YYthRidN945AQDOZLTDXRmXaEhI8TO7BJm0efBKMDxAGPbv9_YWLtRt&typo=1>



I understand this is a complex issue.



If you are considering it as a lesson to help them understand why the books will no longer be in print, fine. But please consider the students this may harm in such a “lesson”.  To that end, this may be worth your while.<https://www.al.com/life/2021/03/alabama-professor-on-dr-seuss-discontinuing-racist-books-isnt-cancel-culture.html>



Please also consider - there are so many other books to discuss racism and have these critical conversations written by BIPoC authors and illustrators. There is no reason to center Dr. Seuss in teaching this, especially if we are going to use it to frame conversations as “the way things were” and to shrug it off.  If you insist on this route, consider allies of his time, like John Steinbeck.<https://www.mercurynews.com/2013/11/09/forgotten-documents-reveal-views-on-return-of-japanese-internees-to-monterey-peninsula/>

I appreciate Grace Lin’s thoughts here<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.nepm.org%2fpost%2fdr-seuss-museum-should-honor-fact-he-outgrew-his-racist-past%23stream%2f0&c=E,1,y9Qmltm11IIX7Eg7bKNzAAnbyAk6YD0U1_VP1R--KYBrgd0KMOedT-8C4DCjXPZT3mFumUnnHNmACc8XUfwDK15jUulWXd4CuCdMkWVLMWw,&typo=1>, for those of us who never noticed or cannot understand because you are not among those harmed. She shares her appreciation for his work and the amends he sought.





  *   Mrs. Trisha Honkoski [cid:image007.jpg at 01D710F7.16014EF0]



From: AISLE <aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info>> On Behalf Of JENNIFER BRADY via AISLE
Sent: Thursday, March 4, 2021 10:41 AM
To: AISLE-Share: Association of Illinois School Library Educators discussion list <aisle at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle at list.railslibraries.info>>
Cc: JENNIFER BRADY <JENNIFER.BRADY at PSD150.ORG<mailto:JENNIFER.BRADY at PSD150.ORG>>
Subject: Re: [aisle] Dr. Seuss Controversy



saw this tweet this morning, helpful https://twitter.com/michaelharriot/status/1367331101446922249?s=21<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fmichaelharriot%2Fstatus%2F1367331101446922249%3Fs%3D21&data=04%7C01%7Cjennifer.brady%40psd150.org%7C7827915af01747133f7a08d8df0ab5f8%7C90592b52d760466fbb253098a7cf80e0%7C0%7C0%7C637504584385536521%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=oi%2FP56NX%2BshIbxpuLqrPPWGxRrX6CiAI93jz4FZq4Kk%3D&reserved=0>



Jennifer Brady

Library Manager

Whittier Primary School

1619 W. Fredonia Ave.

Peoria, Illinois 61606

309-672-6569



Currently Reading: I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown



________________________________

From: AISLE <aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info>> on behalf of Andrea Ross via AISLE <aisle at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle at list.railslibraries.info>>
Sent: Thursday, March 4, 2021 10:30 AM
To: AISLE-Share: Association of Illinois School Library Educators discussion list <aisle at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle at list.railslibraries.info>>
Cc: Andrea Ross <alross at saltcreek48.org<mailto:alross at saltcreek48.org>>; Pres Elect <preselect at aisled.org<mailto:preselect at aisled.org>>
Subject: Re: [aisle] Dr. Seuss Controversy



Please be cautious: This email was sent from outside of our district.

________________________________

I'm in a discussion group with Seuss' biographer and here's a snippet of what he says on the topic. It made me feel a little better.



"Seuss and race are complicated, to be sure. His work can be racially insensitive, even as I don't believe Seuss himself was racist. But his white privilege definitely shows--he falls way too easily for stereotypes and tropes when it comes to drawing people/animals representing the foreign or exotic. It's on par with work from others at the time, but that doesn't make it any less jarring."



Andrea Ross

Salt Creek School, Elmhurst



On Thu, Mar 4, 2021 at 9:53 AM Pres Elect via AISLE <aisle at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle at list.railslibraries.info>> wrote:

Thank You!  You have given me great examples to share with Veronica,



Thank you again!



Mary Jo





On Thu, Mar 4, 2021 at 6:59 AM Kelley Roganowicz <roganok at rps205.com<mailto:roganok at rps205.com>> wrote:

I haven't been asked to remove them. I work in a dual-language building, and his books are extremely popular. I have a display of them on top of my picture book shelves, and my kindergarten and first grade students have been checking them out all week.



Kelley Roganowicz

Teacher/Librarian

roganok at rps205.com<mailto:roganok at rps205.com>

Two-Way Language Immersion at Barbour

815-490-4100

Cisco: 22005

[cid:image008.png at 01D710F7.16014EF0]

________________________________

From: AISLE <aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info>> on behalf of Pres Elect via AISLE <aisle at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle at list.railslibraries.info>>
Sent: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 9:02 PM
To: aisle at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle at list.railslibraries.info> <aisle at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:aisle at list.railslibraries.info>>
Cc: Pres Elect <preselect at aisled.org<mailto:preselect at aisled.org>>
Subject: [aisle] Dr. Seuss Controversy



The President (Veronica Defazio )of Illinois Library Association is being interviewed about the controversy with Dr Seuss?  With six of his books not being published because of racism. Here is a

Warning! This message was sent from outside of RPS205 and we were unable to verify the sender. THIS SENDER IS UNTRUSTED!

sophospsmartbannerend

The President (Veronica Defazio )of Illinois Library Association is being interviewed about the controversy with Dr Seuss?  With six of his books not being published because of racism.



Here is a news account about the issue



https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/books/dr-seuss-mulberry-street.amp.html<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fus-east-2.protection.sophos.com%2F%3Fd%3Dnytimes.com%26u%3DaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8wMy8wMi9ib29rcy9kci1zZXVzcy1tdWxiZXJyeS1zdHJlZXQuYW1wLmh0bWw%3D%26i%3DNWJmNDJmMTFkNGQ5ZGYxNmQ1YTI0OWQy%26t%3DWENhZ2MxK2ljcVpoaWtQZTViRXlZcVRreFRuM2VTbHlOL3NoeHkvNUE4TT0%3D%26h%3D6677100c0c7d439692f1447f99754afd&data=04%7C01%7Cjennifer.brady%40psd150.org%7C3dc66a80334344761fd608d8df2adc42%7C90592b52d760466fbb253098a7cf80e0%7C0%7C0%7C637504722482826726%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=3LYMj9pofK9X23Shn5ocd0XxEew4u52hkctujkkRSGQ%3D&reserved=0>



Veronica reached out to me to get info about schools.

My question is have you been asked to remove them or anything else.

I would like to Veronica information from the school side.



Thank you



Mary Jo Matousek

President Elect AISLE

Preselect at aisled.org<mailto:Preselect at aisled.org>



--

Mary Jo Matousek

AISLE President-Elect 2020-2021

Preselect at Aisled.org<mailto:Preselect at Aisled.org>

630-254-7770

Member of REAL(Real Active Energetic Librarian) Chapter





--

Mary Jo Matousek

AISLE President-Elect 2020-2021

Preselect at Aisled.org<mailto:Preselect at Aisled.org>

630-254-7770

Member of REAL(Real Active Energetic Librarian) Chapter





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