During World War II, everyone played a part.
Everyone…including Dr. Seuss.
Before Theodore Giesel gained worldwide prominence as a childrens’ book author, he was the chief editorial cartoonist for the New York magazine PM. Between 1941 and 1943, Geisel drew over 400 cartoons for the magazine, and also for other publications.
It is a rare moment when an iconic figure shows his political colors–and a unique website allows us access to this part of his career.
The Dr. Seuss collection at the Mandeville Special Collections Library at the University of California, San Diego houses all the original drawings and cartoons by the famous author. About 200 of these cartoons were reproduced in the 1999 book Dr. Seuss Goes to War.
UCSD has digitized its entire collection and provided it for general use at its website Dr. Seuss Went to War. All his wartime cartoons for PM have been categorized by year, battle, geographic area and personality covered by Seuss.
It provides an excellent resource for teachers making connections between the complexities of war and a beloved childrens’ author. Seuss was always political, and these cartoons show the political mind that would later create such controversial works as The Lorax and The Butter Battle Book.
As exemplars of political cartoons, this database is second to none. The obviously excellent artwork provides hours of analysis, critical thinking and classroom discussion. Because they were made as events occurred, the Seuss cartoons have an immediacy that is often overlooked by students today.
Finally, as a historical artifact, the Seuss cartoons allow students to see the war as readers at home saw it–through the eyes and pens of the writers and artists of the press.
Enjoy these cartoons and please let us know how you used them.
Mr. D's Neighborhood 
Petition to keep the Global History and Geography Regents as a Graduation Requirement
World map – Produced in Amsterdam First edition : 1689. Original size : 48.3 x 56.0 cm. Produced using copper engraving. Extremely rare set of maps, only known in one other example in the Amsterdam University. No copies in American libraries. In original hand color. Français : Carte du monde – Créée à Amsterdam Première édition : 1689. Taille originale : 48,3 x 56,0 cm. Eau forte. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I’m so late to this party that it isn’t fashionable anymore.Yet some parties are so important it’s just as important to just show up.
As it broke in April, The New York State Board of Regents is considering a measure to make the Global History and Geography Regents examination optional for graduation with a state-endorsed diploma. Instead, students would opt to take another math or science course or another vocational course.
However, you still have to take the global history course…because it makes so much sense to take a class but not the final exam (cough, cough).
Never mind the obvious age-old agendas of gutting social studies to create automatons proficient enough in math, science and literacy to be submissive cogs in the corporate machine, yet ignorant of the workings of government, history, economics and geography so that they will be ill-equipped to participate fully in American democracy.
The motives for this one are both sinister and silly.
It is done under the guise of offering more educational options—more options at the expense of the hardest exam in the Regents system. The Global exam had a passing rate of about 60%, the lowest in the state.
So the move is less about well-rounded educational options and more about artificially boosting graduation rates.
Even more incredible, the test is mostly a test of reading comprehension, and less of a trivia contest. The low passing rates have little to do with the content. It has everything to do with students with subpar reading skills—often at or below 6th grade level for 10th graders.
The irresponsibility, deviousness and outright stupidity of this move is so self evident, I won’t waste any more words on it.
Below is a petition from Change.org to try to reverse the decision. The Board of Regents will make their final decision at their June meeting, so it’s important to sign soon.
The link is here. Make sure your voice is heard. Also, be sure to read Alan Singer’s column on the matter in the Huffington Post.
It’s bad enough our kids can’t find where they live on a map. Let’s at least teach them where the rest of the world is located.
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