Dr. Seuss can teach you about politics, too

A new seminar is being offered at MHCC about the political issues and themes embedded in the children’s books written by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel).

“Politics through Dr. Seuss” will be held during fall term at 3 to 3:50 p.m. on Tuesdays in Room AC1609 on the Gresham campus. The class began on Oct. 2 and will run for nine weeks. MHCC political science instructor Janet Campbell will run the seminar.

“All are welcome to attend for fun, extra credit or one credit,” said Campbell. (Today is the deadline for students to register to earn one elective course credit.) Students who are just curious about how “Cat in The Hat” is considered political or interested about the subject may attend and participate in the seminar without receiving credit.

Those who have read the best-selling author’s books might question how he may have channeled the future generation through his imaginative places and characters. But, this aspect of Dr. Seuss’ work has been discussed in the documentary released in 2004 (the year Geisel would have turned 100), “The Political Lens of Dr. Seuss,” featured on PBS’s Independent Lens. According to DiscoveryNews.com, the documentary explored how he subliminally taught kids to be better people and readers by embedding political themes within his books, dealing with democracy, consumerism, environmental awareness, prejudice, power and diversity.

In Campbell’s class, students will explore these issues through Seuss books such as “The Butter Battle Book,” which references the Soviet Union and the United States and the arms race; “The Sneetches,” which addresses racism and discrimination; “The Lorax,” which angles against monopolies; and, “Yurtle the Turtle,” said to have been modeled after once-powerful dictator Adolf Hitler.

New, relatable material will be drawn from books “Cat in The Hat” and “Green Eggs and Ham,” and for the final project, students will write a children’s story of their own.