in the classroom
Reading revision
Is removing six Dr Seuss texts justified , or an overreaction ?
Larissa McLean Davies interviewed by Wade Zaglas
The Dr Seuss Foundation ’ s recent decision to cease publishing six books in the collection has been applauded by many but also derided by others , who see this latest move as a result of a society that has become far too politically correct .
Associate Professor of Language and Literacy Education at the University of Melbourne , Larissa McLean Davies , says she is supportive of the change . She also emphasises that racial and hurtful images found in much of the collection has long been of interest to scholars around the world .
ER : While the six books have been labelled hurtful , harmful and racist , do they nevertheless constitute a cultural product of their times and provide some teachable moments ? LMD : I think the Dr Seuss Foundation ’ s decision should be acknowledged and affirmed . The Foundation is responding to some years of scholarship and mounting public pressure to take some of
There ’ s been a lot of criticism in scholarship around these texts for some time .
the texts out of circulation because they do not represent the views that are important for young children to be hearing and being exposed to .
And they have been acknowledged as presenting stereotypes of people of colour that are just not appropriate , and not the things that we would be wanting to share with our students . I think we need to be really careful in reflecting that we ’ re just talking about six of many texts and many textbooks will still be in circulation .
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