Be afraid, be very afraid...

That was the tag line from the 1986 version of the film, The Fly.

Now, it seems we need instead to be fearful of The Turtle, at least if his name is Yertle. Yep, the character from the book by Dr. Seuss. Scary, eh.

Those well-known rabble-rousers, teachers, have been warned against displaying Dr. Seuss quotes. It seems the good Dr.’s writings are just too darn political.

The person at the base of all this trouble is a Grade 1 teacher, employed in the district of Prince Rupert. The quote that’s caused the kafuffle is this: “I know, up on the top you are seeing great sights, but down here on the bottom we, too, should have rights.”

Turns out the scene in the story depicts a bunch of stacked-up turtles, all to help Yertle see better. But one little turtle who wants a peek as well pronounces the offending question.

Sounds to me like the turtles are behaving quite co-operatively. Climbing up so one can get a better view.

So hey, school district, what’re you being so paranoid about? Could it be that you’re feeling guilty about the way decisions about student learning conditions and teachers’ rights are being made in this province? Does it seem, even to you, that too many rules are being made in Victoria, all the way up there at the top?