The Dr Suess Foundation's decision earlier this month 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 society that has become far too politically correct.

Education Review spoke to Associate Professor of Language and Literacy Education at the University of Melbourne Larissa McLean Davies  about this issues and she is supportive of the change. She also emphasises that racial and hurtful overtones found in many of the books collection has long been of interest to scholars around the world.

Two of the key decisions McLean Davies supports is that children's books can affect their "sense of what it means to be in the world", whether that be one of power and privilege,  or one of marginalisation and being the 'other'. She also believes the six books identified fall short in promoting "positive ways of understanding diversity".

Finally, and most importantly, McLean Davies believes the Dr Seuss furore should encourage teachers, parents and children to to begin discovering the rich literary offerings about Australia, about our multicultural societies and about our own  unique experiences.

The Dr Suess Foundation's decision earlier this month 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 society that has become far too politically correct. Education Review spoke to Associate Professor of Language and Literacy Education at the University of Melbourne Larissa McLean Davies about this issues and she is supportive of the change. She also emphasises that racial and hurtful overtones found in many of the books collection has long been of interest to scholars around the world. Two of the key decisions McLean Davies supports is that children's books can affect their "sense of what it means to be in the world", whether that be one of power and privilege, or one of marginalisation and being the 'other'. She also believes the six books identified fall short in promoting "positive ways of understanding diversity". Finally, and most importantly, McLean Davies believes the Dr Seuss furore should encourage teachers, parents and children to to begin discovering the rich literary offerings about Australia, about our multicultural societies and about our own unique experiences.

Education Review

The Dr Suess Foundation's decision earlier this m…

Advertisement