Some of his WWII cartoons have particular relevance today.
Posted on 03/01/2005 11:42:00 AM PST by mlmr
Tomorrow is Dr Seuss’s birthday, the highest holiday of the elementary public school calendar. The close second is the 100th Day of School. This is our first year in the government’s education clutches…my 7 year old came home so gleeful…Mommy, I have to wear my cat costume today….it is Doctor Seuss’s Birthday!
Now I am not going to argue the merits of Seuss…but if I ever read Hop on Pop again I will self-destruct. I have four children all, thank God, well past the Green Eggs and Ham stage.
My daughter never came home to tell me that she had to dress up as Washington, or Betsy Ross, or as a Johnny Reb, or as a WWII WAC, or as one of the hundreds of heroes of American history. Yes, she did have some tasks to perform during Black History Month. However, Blacks are not the only ones with history in this country, not by a long shot.
If the teachers at our local elementary school put half the effort into history and other subjects that they do into such a non-event as a mediocre children’s author’s birthday…then perhaps we wouldn’t have as much cultural idiocy and failing grades... To tell you the truth all this focus on this “nothing event” is embarrassing. That I pay for it with my tax dollars and time out of my daughter’s life, is infuriating.
What is behind this focus on nothing? My daughter told me that her class was not permitted to talk about Christmas. That is the birthday of someone whose philosophy altered the course of Western Civilization. However, there is not even a cultural acknowledgment. Washington and Lincoln? Forget it… not even a story at story time. Jefferson? Franklin, Daniel Boone? What kind of culture erases its history?
Pol Pot’s? Stalin’s?.
Where on earth are we heading?
Green Eggs & Ham is not a commercial catch phrase, it’s classic American literature for children. Actually though “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing” is a classic in it’s own right. I’m sure it’s sometimes discussed in graduate level marketing classes, and rightly so. Never heard that Pepsi one. When the topic is literature, and the audience is children, who can top Seuss? Tell me you don’t get just a little warm and fuzzy inside every time the Grinch himself carves the roast beast. The fact that millions upon millions have felt that same warm fuzziness every December for decades on end indicates greatness, not mediocrity.
My point is that at least in my daugher's school, Betsy and the rest dont get any attention. The entire school day appears to be a diversion...and history is getting a short short handle.
I’m the last one to apologize for the retched state of government schools, but wrote that you daughter is seven. The basics of grammar and arithmetic are what count now. You still got 10 or 11 years for Appomattox. If you’re still seeing nothing by fifth grade, perhaps you need to open your check book and escape to private a private school.
Not yet. If the American ppl sit back and do nothing however...
A good way to determine how far we've sunk is to look at Europe and Canada. We are not there yet. But if we are, we have a problem.
Some of his WWII cartoons have particular relevance today.
No. I'm too busy admiring the Tasmanian Devil tie I'm wearing today.... ;-)
Seriously, though... I don't see a Dr. Suess celebration as "supplanting history" in the curriculum. It's a silly thing over which to get your panties in a twist.
I will certainly agree that history seems to have fallen by the wayside in schools, to be replaced by crap. That's a serious problem.
But for heaven's sake: I can't think of a better way for you to marginalize yourself than by going on the warpath about Dr. Suess. If you want to get upset about a bad history curriculum, get upset about it directly, rather than venting your wrath over something that's fun for the kids.
The primary grades, one and two, are for the basics...reading, writing, basic math, spelling, etc. History, social studies, etc., come into study during fourth grade and continue thru high school.
I wouldn't get too upset with your school or your daughter's teacher for celebrating Dr. Suess's birthday...or the 100th day of school. With the younger, elementary kids special days generate excitement...they look forward to these 'events.' Tomorrow, I am one of the moms going into my son's second grade room to read a selected Dr. Suess book. Two weeks ago, I took off work to volunteer at my 5th grader's 'Colonial Day's' celebration (public schools really do study history...and occasionally try to make that fun as well). My best (practiced) advice...if at all possible volunteer in your kids school (be it public or porochial). You get to see what is going on first hand, and you really come away with a sense of what goes on in their classrooms each day.
I have homeschooled for ten years and have a indepth knowledge of curiculum. I know what second and third graders should know and should be studying and the lack of the basic history is there... at least in the school my daughter attends. I sat and read the textbooks the classes are using at elementary levels...they are appalling...particularly for one who is used to well written and well organized homeschool texts. Are you familiar with Hirsh's What every First Grader Should Know? It is a series that covers K-6 grade.
I recommend it.
I saw this one a while back.
But for heaven's sake: I can't think of a better way for you to marginalize yourself than by going on the warpath about Dr. Suess. If you want to get upset about a bad history curriculum, get upset about it directly, rather than venting your wrath over something that's fun for the kids.
There is no place to punch in "the Blob" . I dont actually think I will have an effect.
Reread "Horton hears a Who."
It is perhaps the most complete moral fable ever created. It takes on prejudice, gossip while extolling the virtues of loyalty and the importance of even a single person.
After that read the "The Lorax."
You are wrong about the good Doctor. He was a writer par excellance.
Ugh! Don't get me started on "Blue's Clues". I remember the first episode abou t 10 years ago. It was a clever show. Then they switched hosts and became very dumbed down all around. Yes, I know Steve's character wasn't very smart, but at least he tried to figure out the clues. Now they have the clues figuring themselves out and Blue goes into her special room to talk.
Tomorrow is Texas Independence Day, marking the 169th anniversary of the signing of our declaration of independence from Mexico at Washington-on-the-Brazos. The seige of the Alamo was taking place in San Antonio, and four days later, the Alamo fell and all its courageous defenders died. But emboldened by their sacrifice and the damage their inflicted on the Mexican army, Sam Houston was able to rout Gen. Santa Anna in the battle of San Jacinto on April 21.
That's what Texas school children will be celebrating tomorrow if the teacher is worth his/her salt.
My favorite as well...
I have read them both.
I have reread them both.
That's what Texas school children will be celebrating tomorrow if the teacher is worth his/her salt
it would be interesting to see how many children are actually learning and celebrating this fine piece of Texas history.
I have I have
I read them all
I read them leaning
against a wall
I like them so
I like them loose
I like to read
my Dr. Suess
:)
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!
lol
I burst out laughing when I read this. Very funny. Thanks for the humor, Corin!
Char :)
Well, okay. But I'm serious about the tie. :-)
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