2018 School Spending Survey Report
NEA Focuses Read Across America on Diversity Not Dr. Seuss
With more emphasis being placed on diverse children's books and scholars pointing to racist illustrations and characters in Dr. Seuss' work, the national reading celebration is moving away from the Seuss canon to highlighting different authors and diverse and contemporary titles.
Read Across America (RAA) and Dr. Seuss have always been linked. RAA events typically involve children in red-and-white striped hats, listening to a Dr. Seuss classic.
In past years at the premier event in Washington, DC, local elementary students have heard Michelle Obama read The Cat in the Hat and the National Education Association (NEA) president recite Green Eggs and Ham. This year, however, they will listen to author Jesse Holland read an excerpt from his novel Black Panther: Who is the Black Panther?
The 2018 Read Across America theme is “Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers” and the NEA press release notes that the hundreds of fourth graders in attendance on Thursday March 1 will be 
wearing “a rainbow of colors.” NEA president Lily Eskelsen Garcia will be joined at the event by three authors of color–Holland, Kwame Alexander (The Crossover) and Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese).
Along with Holland reading the excerpt from his book, Alexander and Yang will help the students develop their own haiku. The event is “to kick off” Read Across America Day, which is March 2. Eskelsen Garcia and the authors will also participate in a Facebook Live event at 1 p.m.
“It’s critical that all students see themselves represented in the popular culture,” Eskelsen García said in a statement. “During this year’s Read Across America and National Reading Month, our theme is ‘Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers,’ and we are emphasizing the importance of books that are telling children of color that they belong in the world and the world belongs to them. It can be a scary place out there right now for our students, but a book can transport them to a world that is safe, a world they feel they belong in, and a world in which they believe they can make a difference.”
The first Read Across America Day was March 2, 1998. It is no coincidence that date also happens to be Theodor Geisel’s birthday. When the NEA wanted to create a day to encourage children to read, it only made sense to pick the day Dr. Seuss was born. But a connection to the legendary children’s author no longer comes without criticism.
Allegations that The Cat in the Hat and other Seuss books and illustrations are racist have created an emotional debate around the author and RAA. A September 2017 SLJ article “Is the Cat in the Hat Racist? Read Across America Shifts Away From Dr. Seuss and Toward Diverse Books” highlighted scholars who have analyzed Seuss’ books and political cartoons and identified racism in his illustrations and character development.
Read Across America is a year-long program, but the highlight is Read Across America Week, which is typically centered around Dr. Seuss and his stories. It culminates with millions of students celebrating his March 2 birthday and Read Across America Day at elementary schools around the country.
This year is likely a turning point for the program and its annual events. The NEA has a contract with Seuss Enterprises through August 2018. They have not said if they will continue to use the images or connect the program to Dr. Seuss after that.
“This is really going to be a transitional year for us,” Steven Grant, an NEA spokesperson, who has managed the Read Across America program since 2005, told SLJ in that September 2017 story. “We’re going to be trying different things and moving in some different directions to see if that works.”
It may prove to be a difficult transition for educators who have had their popular Seuss-centric Read Across America week activities set for years. “The goal is to encourage the educator, because we can’t force him or her to do anything,” Grant said
Colleen C. Yarnell says
I wish the NEA would keep their Read Across America website updated. Every year I plan a couple months in advance yet cant find things like current resources or themes. Its is very frustrating. Also your survey is too simplistic. I didnt ditch Dr Seuss. He and his books are still there. I just encourage students to use any book that interests them
Susie Harkey says
I think that it is very sad that school librarians would ditch Dr. Seuss who changed how children learned to read! How quickly we forget Dick and Jane, the white suburban children with their perfect mother and father who lived happily together with their dog Spot, were a beginning reader’s only choice for so long. How many families looked like that? I’ve used The Sneeches and The Lorax to teach about inclusion as well as social justice and responsibility for years. Seuss’s characters In these books, like many others he wrote, are not even people. I see them as any man; all different colors shapes and sizes. To purposely leave out Dr. Seuss feels a lot like banning books and promoting our personal opinions to me, something we as professionals have always been against. If the NEA wants to create some other celebration of diverse books fine; but let’s face it - a celebration of reading was created around the man’s birthday, leaving him out of the celebration is just wrong. Let’s look at history for what it so often is, painful to remember and important to understand and learn from, but certainly not something to erase and forget! While Geisel’s opinions at a particular point in time are unimaginable to us today, it is part of our history in America. Do we erase George Washington from President’s Day Celebrations in schools because he practiced the abhorrent act of owning slaves? Of course not! Do we vilify him as a murderous traitor against his country, which technically one could argue? No, we accept historical figures as being subject to the times and circumstances surrounding them. Measuring their actions with today’s moral compass doesn’t make sense, so we don’t do it. After 22 years in education, Washington is still the first president my students name when we talk about President’s Day. Likewise, Dr. Seuss is an historical figure in American children’s literature. He is the first author many children can remember by name, as well as his by his unique style of writing and his distinctive illustrations. That is STILL something profoundly positive and his contributions should be recognized when we celebrate reading with children.
Karen Draper says
Thank you, Susie. Your word ring true. We should NOT judge history based on our views from today. We need to understand and stop taking offense at everything, especially when an offense is not meant. As a society, we do need to be aware, but I believe that we too often take offense rather than find the positive. Start a conversation as to what could be improved rather than just find fault. Why not try to see through the eyes of a child. They do not see racism or prejudice. They see funny, silly characters and rhyming stories that are fun to read. We can not judge Dr. Seuss based on his images done during a war that brought about a great deal of hurt from both sides. We need to stop trying to put today's values on history's errors. We need to instead remember and learn from the past to create a better future where it cannot happen again. We need to remember " A Person's a person no matter how small" I would like to add no matter what they look like!
Library Teacher says
I am guessing that you are both white? Have you had a conversation about people of color about this? Or someone who has faced racism? Discrimination? They are not 'learning from the past'. These issues still exist today.
Torri Ramos says
This is ridiculous! The author was a liberal democrat that made racists cartoons in like the 30-40's. Later he REGRETTED It, APOLOGIZED, and then changed his drawings to not be racist! He did everything he could to make his misdeeds right because he realized the error of his ways. So that stuff from his young liberal days is making him racist? Are you kidding me. Stop being Nazi's and creating something out of nothing! This is unacceptable. Idiots who hop on board this logic better be perfect and never have done anything wrong in their lives other wise it is flat hypocrisy!
Kel Waters says
I am extremely confused, we have allegations and citing but no references to the books quotes that are claimed to be. Anyone can make random connections, these are referred to as conspiracy theories until appropriate data is provided to make them a fact. I have yet to see any substantial date to support these claims. Just one article links to another uninformative article. Please provide more data to these claims as schools are now adhering to this conspiracy!
Joanne White says
jodee811@hotmail.com
Alan West says
sunbeamsvc@aol.com
Alan West says
My younger daughter learned to read at 3 years old after I read her "Green Eggs and Ham" many times. I remember the "ah-ha" moment vividly when she transitioned from rote memory to actual reading. It was thrilling in the extreme and we are doing young people a disservice by not using these invaluable resources to help young learners learn to love reading.
Joan Bartel says
Last week Mr Potato Head , this week Dr Seuss. My childhood is being dismantled.
Bob Roberts says
I have looked at many of Dr. Seuss cartoons see & understand when Lefty's & Libs see.
WELL. . . I'm at a total loss. Below is an explanation of one who read Seuss...
_"Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches continues to instruct children and adults on the universal lessons that combat hatred, prejudice, and indifference."
SO... what Lefty's & Libs need is a HEALTHY DOSE of "Common Sense and Reality" also a shrin'k wouldn't hurt either.
April Buford says
aprilbuford55@yahoo.com
April Buford says
You ask if we should vilify George Washington??? Yes, we vilified Bill Cosby..... Because you can over look men a man who committed the"Crimes" not mistakes that you stated as a good thing a part of history that should be a good thing no it is not. The acknowledgement that those men were bad, the things they did were deplorable and should not be overlooked but looked at for what it was; evil at other's lives and expenses. Maybe this is why I never could get into these books because I saw no education or anything beneficial for reality.......
Joan Freeman says
joansydellf@aol.com
Renee Ansersson says
I would like to an actual quote from from the books deemed unacceptable. I have wracked my brain and gone through the books myself and can't find anything that stands out to me. Maybe I read them and saw them for what they were, easy readers and just another tool for teaching.
Joan Freeman says
We live in a nation that has been steeped in so much racial discrimination that it will never be undone. It is far more productive to establish programs which teach and encourage positive thinking and attitudes compared to censorship. Children have proven that they learn prejudice and biases from their environment. Just provide clear messages to counter the negative and see how much change it produces.
Ronald March says
ronmarch55@aol.com
Ronald March says
shame on the school system for caving to this racial B.S,you should be ashamed.
Gerrolyn Anderson says
As a former teacher and member of the NEA I find this move to remove any of the Dr. Seuss books that have been published as ridiculous and short sided. Dr. Seuss had a gift for the imagination through words, rhyme, and cadence that children of all ages loved. Real life connections and lessens were learned in a fun and imaginative way. It is a very far stretch to assume there was an ulterior motive behind his works. However, I cannot say the same for those who decided this was a good idea.
BOB PRICHARD says
Interesting that after reading several articles that mention racism and racial overtones, that I have yet to see an example. There are those in high places (scholars as this article labels) crying racism to the point that no one knows what the definition is anymore. Everything is racism, so we don't have to think/reason anymore.
Gordon H. says
A journalist needs a scandal and will find an itch to scratch until they draw blood. If your audience is simple-minded, any mention of distinguishment of race that isn't radically reversed can be made to offend, and the lot of bored activists on Twitter then share the junk, get the journalist more views, and the cycle repeats. It's amazing someone can call an enviro-socialist like Ted Geisel a racist or assume the public is so fragile and weak-minded. Or worse, the fact that the public really is so weak-minded.
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