VANCOUVER – “Yertle the Turtle” is no longer under ban.
“Yertle the Turtle” can gather more fans — in school districts around British Columbia.
Freedom of expression grievances have been settled between the B.C. Teachers Federation and the B.C. Public School Employers Association based on the Dr. Seuss children’s book about a turtle trying to assert its rights.
The focus of the union complaint was that some school districts were banning classroom displays of union posters, buttons and T-shirts in the middle of a teachers’ contract dispute.
In one case, an administrator vetoed a quote for classroom display in Prince Rupert from the book “Yertle the Turtle,” saying it was too political.
The complaints were settled based on a previous court case and teachers are now allowed to display or wear union posters and buttons, but they aren’t allowed to discuss political or union messaging with students during class.
