An Olentangy student

Did something

Imprudent

He read a book that had a certain hook.

Which was about divisiveness,

Seusserainity, incisiveness;

The Star Chamber took a second look.

.

Olentangy Students, Parents Protest Recent Halting of Dr. Seuss Reading on NPR Podcast
Columbus Dispatch | January 13, 2023 | Meghan Henry

Seventh grader Thomas Bornman read Dr. Seuss’ “The Sneetches” to roughly a dozen students and parents Monday in front of Olentangy Local School’s administrative building — more than a week after a podcast aired where a communications official stopped a teacher from finishing the book in class.

“It’s important to send the school district a message that it’s OK for students to ask questions and talk about race,” said the 14-year-old Olentangy Hyatts Middle School student.

The read-in was part of a peaceful protest by a group of concerned parents that was organized Monday in response to Amanda Beeman, the assistant director of communications for Olentangy Schools, stopping a Shale Meadows third-grade teacher from finishing a reading of “The Sneetches” after a student commented, “It’s almost like what happened back then, how people were treated … Like, white people disrespected Black people.”

The teacher, Mandy Robek, was reading “The Sneetches” to her class on Dec. 13 as part of NPR’s Jan. 6 episode of “Planet Money” on the economic lessons in children’s books. The book was one of six agreed upon by NPR and the district.

NPR reporter Erika Beras spent the day in the classroom and politics was an off-limits topic, per stipulations by the district. Six books were selected ahead of time by Beras and the district, including “The Sneetches.”

Olentangy Johnson is right! It’s just a book with a nice message.

There are two types of people: those who capitalize “Black,” and those who don’t. I suppose those who do, get a star on their belly and stick their nose up in the air.