>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> WE HAVE SEEN A COMPLETE FLIP OF WHAT CHILDREN ARE COMING INTO THE HOSPITALS FOR.

>> HOSPITALS ARE INUNDATED WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE SUICIDAL AND SUFFERING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

>> THERE IS A SUBSET OF KIDS THAT LOOK OK ON THE OUTSIDE.

THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE STILL MATCH.

IT WOULD APPEAR AS IF THINGS ARE OK BUT ON THE INSIDE.

>> I DON'T THINK DR. SEUSS HAS BEEN CANCELED, IT IS MORE ABOUT LOOKING CRITICALLY AND CHOOSING NEW TITLES.

>> WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT ALL DR. SEUSS BOOKS.

GREEN EGGS AND HAM'S IS STILL OK .

ONE FISH, TWO FISH, REDFISH, BLUEFISH TO LOCATE.

>> CAP THE HAT, SOME PEOPLE DON'T FIND OK. >> I THINK SOMETIMES, THESE DEBATES CAN BE A DISTRACTION.

THERE ARE LARGER ISSUES THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO FOCUS ON.

BUT IN GENERAL, WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE PEOPLE LEARNING?

THAT'S THE QUESTION.

♪ MICHELLE: GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH A LOOK AT THE MARK THE COVID-19 CRISIS IS LESS THAN ALL OF US.

MENTAL HEALTH PER SE -- MENTAL EXPERTS SAY THEY HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE WHAT THEY ARE SEEING NOW.

MORE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ARE STRUGGLING WITH PSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS.

THE PANDEMIC HAS DISRUPTED TEENAGERS DAILY LIVES.

IT HAS ROBBED THEM OF MILESTONES , INCLUDING GRADUATION, PROM AND SCHOOL TRIPS.

CHRONIC SOCIAL ISOLATION, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION ARE LEAVING MANY CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS EMOTIONALLY RATTLED.

YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES SILENTLY STRUGGLING.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAYS THE PANDEMIC HAS INCREASED DEMAND FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WORLDWIDE.

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SAY NOW, MORE THAN EVER, PARENTS NEED TO CHECK IN ON THEIR CHILDREN'S EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

>> IT FEELS LIKE WAKING UP EVERY SINGLE DAY LIKE THE SAME THING, DEJA VU.

IT IS VERY EXHAUSTING.

REPEATING, REPEATING, NOTHING NEW GOING ABOUT YOUR DAY.

MICHELLE: 15-YEAR-OLD -- THIS 15-YEAR-OLD IS A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS PAST YEAR SHE SAYS HAS BEEN A LONELY ONE.

ATTENDING CLASSES REMOTELY.

>> SOMETIMES I WOULD COME OUT OF MY ROOM FOR AROUND EIGHT HOURS.

I COME OUT OF MY ROOM SOMETIMES AND I SEE MY SISTERS AND MY FAMILY LIKE WOW, I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN THE LONGEST.

MICHELLE: NOT ONLY HAS SHE THOUGHT ISOLATED DURING THE PANDEMIC, SHE SAYS SHE FEELS EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED AFTER A CHALLENGING, TUMULTUOUS YEAR.

SHE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ADVOCATING FOR THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.

SHE ALSO FELT A GREAT DEAL OF SELF-IMPOSED PRESSURE TO GRADUATE MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH STRAIGHT A'S AND SHE DID.

MICHELLE: I'M SURE YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WALKING ON THAT STAGE SEE IT YOUR DIPLOMA WHEN YOU GRADUATED.

DIDN'T DO TO DO THAT.

>> IT WAS DIFFICULT, LIKE THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST YEARS, MAYBE THE ONLY YEARS I ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.

AND, I DID NOT GET THE CHANCE TO CELEBRATE IT.

MICHELLE: LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, SHE MISSED OUT ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE MILESTONES AND FULLY MOURN THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE.

HER GRANDFATHER DIED OF COVID-19 EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME BECAUSE I DID NOT GET TO SAY GOODBYE.

NOTHING LIKE THAT.

I REMEMBER GETTING A CALL THAT MY GRANDPA PASSED.

IT WAS DIFFICULT.

>> A LOT OF KIDS ARE SUFFERING.

I THINK A LOT OF THEM ARE SOCIALLY ISOLATED.

THEY MISS THEIR ROUTINES, THEY MISS PLAYING WITH THEIR FRIENDS.

THEIR KIDS ARE EXPERIENCING A LOT OF LOSS RIGHT NOW.

MICHELLE: THIS IS THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT BRADLEY HOSPITAL, PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN IN EAST PROVIDENCE.

>> WE HAVE SEEN INCREASING RATES OF EXACTLY, DEPRESSION, AND SOME TRENDS TOWARDS HAVING INCREASED SUICIDES IN CERTAIN POPULATIONS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

MICHELLE: SHE SAYS THE PANDEMIC HAS ONLY EXACERBATED THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AMONG CHILDREN.

>> WE SAW PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN DOING WELL WHO NEEDED TO COME BACK FOR TREATMENT.

MAYBE YOU HAVE A PATIENT I WAS SEEING EVERY TWO MONTHS, EVERY THREE MONTHS.

WHO, NOW I AM EVERY OTHER WEEK.

SOME PATIENTS WERE STABLE THAT NOW NEED MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK TO TRY TO KEEP THEM FROM THE COMPENSATING AND NEEDING MORE SERVICES.

MICHELLE: MANY CHILDREN WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ARE SHOWING UP AT HASBRO CHILDRENS HOSPITAL.

>> THIS YEAR WE HAVE SEEN A COMPLETE FLIP OF WHAT CHILDREN ARE COMING INTO THE HOSPITAL FOR.

WHEREAS, PREVIOUSLY, WE WOULD SEE CHILDREN WITH INFLUENZA, A TYPE OF VIRUS, AND OTHER CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE FEVER, GET THEM SICK.

WE ARE NOW SEEING, WE WERE INUNDATED WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS DIRECTLY AS A RESULT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.

SCHOOL CLOSURE AND SOCIALIZE ISOLATION.

MICHELLE: THIS IS THE DIRECTOR OF PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL METH -- HOSPITAL MEDICINE AT HASBRO CHILDRENS HOSPITAL.

HE SAYS THEY ARE OVERWHELMED WITH ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE SUICIDAL.

>> SCHOOLS WERE SUCH A ROBUST WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER KIDS WERE HAVING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

SCHOOL NURSES WERE OUR ANTENNA, AND OUR WAY OF KEEPING TABS ON THESE CHILDREN.

VIRTUAL LEARNING IS TAKING KIDS OUT OF THE SETTING.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IS IS DETERIORATING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE HURTING THEMSELVES.

AND, THERE SWALLOWING PILLS, HURTING THEMSELVES IN SOME WAY.

OR DECOMPENSATED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE LASHING OUT TO FAMILY, FRIENDS AND BROUGHT INTO THE EMERGENCY.

MICHELLE: THE SCENARIO IS NOT UNIQUE.

ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR STARTING IN APRIL OF 2020, THE NUMBER OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS RELATED TO CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH INCREASED AND REMAINED ELEVATED THROUGH LAST OCTOBER, COMPARED TO 2019.

THE CDC SAYS ERS ARE OFTEN THE FIRST POINT OF CARE FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES.

>> WE LOOK AT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR WE HAD OF THE ROUGHLY 3000 PATIENTS, ROUGHLY NINE OF -- ROUGHLY 900 OF THEM HAVE BEEN CHILDREN WHO DO NOT HAVE A STRICT, MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS AND ARE PURELY THERE FOR PSYCHIATRIC REASONS.

SO, ROUGHLY A QUARTER, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT IS GOING ON.

MICHELLE: HE SAYS MANY CHILDREN WHO COME TO HASBRO CHILDRENS HOSPITAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS ARE OFTEN LEFT WAITING FOR THE NECESSARY CARE BECAUSE THE INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC MEDS ARE USUALLY AT CAPACITY.

SO, IS THE PSYCHIATRIC UNIT HASBRO.

>> BECAUSE THERE IS NOWHERE ELSE TO TAKE THEM, THEY COME TO OUR HOSPITAL.

AND THEY ARE HOUSED IN A ROOM WHERE THEY ARE GETTING SOME PSYCHIATRIC CARE, AS MUCH AS WE CAN DO.

BUT THEY ARE NOT GETTING DEFINITIVE CARE BECAUSE WE ARE A MENTAL HOSPITAL, AND LESS THEY HAPPEN TO GET A PSYCHIATRIC BED.

THAT, IN AND OF ITSELF IS REALLY SAD.

THEY ARE THERE FOR THEIR PSYCHIATRIC CONCERNS.

THE CRUSH IS SO SEVERE ON ALL OF THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS IN OUR STATE.

THAT SOME CHILDREN HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEIR TURN.

MICHELLE: A WEIGHT CAN RANGE FROM HOW MANY DAYS?

>> IT CAN BE WE PLAN TO ADMIT YOU AND HAVE A LAST-MINUTE OF BED OPEN UP, UP TO I HAVE SEEN TWO DAYS.

MICHELLE: DR. HORWITZ IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT HOW LONG CHILDREN ARE WAITING.

>> EACH DAY THEY WAIT IS VERY CHALLENGING FOR THE CHILD, FAMILY, TREATMENT TEAMS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A FULL COMPLEMENT OF TREATMENT THAT WE CAN PROVIDE IN A PSYCHIATRIC BED.

MICHELLE: PART OF THE CHALLENGE SHE SAYS IS THERE IS A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF CHILD PSYCHIATRISTS AND CHILD THERAPIST.

>> COVID, AND ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL STRESSES TO CHILDREN, FAMILIES HAS MADE THAT SHORTAGE EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED.

AND, UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN AS THE VACCINE COMES AND, HOPEFULLY WE GET HURT IMMUNITY, AND THINGS CAN OPEN UP MORE.

I THINK, THE FALLOUT FROM THIS MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IS GOING TO BE WITH US FOR SOME TIME.

MICHELLE: AT BRADLEY HOSPITAL, PSYCHIATRISTS ARE TREATING MORE CHILDREN WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.

EXPERTS SAY PARENTS SHOULD CONSIDER SUICIDE PROOFING THEIR HOMES BY LOCKING UP WEAPONS AND MEDICATIONS.

DR. HORWITZ AS IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT PARENTS WATCH FOR SIGNS THAT THEIR CHILDREN MIGHT BE STRUGGLING.

IT COULD BE A CHANGE IN THEIR CHILDREN SLEEP PATTERN.

THEIR APPETITE, THEIR MOOD.

THEY COULD ALSO HAVE PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS LIKE HEADACHES AND BODY ACHES.

>> LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN, WATCH THEM.

THERE IS A SUBSET OF KIDS THAT LOOK OK ON THE OUTSIDE BUT THEIR INSIDES AND OUTSIDE SNOWMASS.

IT CAN APPEAR AS IF THINGS ARE OK. MICHELLE: SHE RECOGNIZES THE TOLL THE PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN ON HER.

SHE DECIDED TO START SEEING A THERAPIST AFTER SHE SAID SHE WAS STRUGGLING WITH MAKING AND KEEPING FRIENDS.

>> YOU CAN SHOW YOUR EMOTIONS, SO WHEN YOU TELL THEM THAT YOU DID THIS AND THIS BOTHERED ME, IT'S LIKE THEY AUTOMATICALLY THINK THAT YOU ARE MAD AT THEM OR YOU ARE SENDING AN ATTITUDE TOWARDS THEM.

MICHELLE: DONNA WORKS WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AS A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER FOR COMMUNITY CARE LINES.

A NONPROFIT.

SHE SAYS PROVIDING CARE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY IS CRITICAL AT THIS TIME.

>> I THINK PARENTS ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS TO BECAUSE EITHER THEY CAN'T GO TO WORK BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE TO HOMESCHOOL THEIR KIDS OR SOME OF THEM ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS.

BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT FAMILY MEMBERS GETTING COVID.

MICHELLE: SO PARENTS AND CHILDREN ARE FEEDING OFF OF EACH OTHER'S STRESS.

>> YES, IN MANY WAYS, AND THEY ARE NOT A LOT OF OUTETS FOR THEM TO GO TO.

MICHELLE: BEFORE COVID-19, THIS WOMAN WOULD VISIT HER FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES A FEW TIMES A WEEK.

THE CORONAVIRUS CHANGED ALL OF THAT.

>> IF WE FEEL COMFORTABLE, WE MIGHT GO AND MEET DIFFERENT KIDS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE MIGHT TAKE A WALK.

NEAR WHERE THEY LIVE.

WE MIGHT GO TO A PARK.

SO, WE HAVE DEFINITELY GOTTEN CREATIVE ABOUT HOW WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICE.

MICHELLE: SHE SAYS THERE ARE SIMPLE STEPS PARENTS CAN TAKE IT HOME TO HELP CHILDREN MANAGE THEIR EMOTIONS.

>> WHAT THEY DO IS WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE GOING TO DO.

SO, IF YOU GO FOR A WALK TO CALM YOURSELF DOWN, YOU'RE GOING TO TEACH YOUR CHILD THAT IS A GOOD, SOOTHING TECHNIQUE.

IF YOU THROW THINGS ACROSS THE ROOM, THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO LEARN, TOO.

I ALWAYS OPPRESS UPON MODELING AS REALLY IMPORTANT.

MICHELLE: AS MORE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED AND REEMERGING TO SOCIETY, SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET PROCESSED THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF COVID-19.

>> LOT OF THE FAMILIES WE WORK WITH HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH TRAUMA THAT I FOUND THEY WERE COMPLACENT ABOUT THEIR TRAUMA HAPPENING.

LIKE ANOTHER DAY IN THE WORLD OF OUR LIFE.

NOW THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO START TO CALM DOWN IN THE WORLD AND THINGS GET BACK TO NORMAL, I THINK THIS IS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THE NEED.

IT'S LIKE THE STORM IS COME NOW AND THEY ARE REALIZING WHICH IS HAPPENED.

MICHELLE: DR. ALVERSON IS OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS WAVE OF MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS WILL SLOW DOWN ONCE CHILDREN ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> REAL SCHOOLS AND FIND WAYS FOR KIDS TO SOCIALIZE, EVEN THOUGH THEY WILL NOT GIVE VACCINATED UNTIL THE FALL PROBABLY.

WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO GET KIDS TOGETHER SO WE CAN START TO TAMP DOWN THIS EXPLOSION ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

MICHELLE: SHE DOESN'T THINK SHE WOULD BE SEEING A THERAPIST IF NOT FOR THE PANDEMIC BUT, SHE DOESN'T REGRET IT.

AND YOU HAVE BEEN GOING TO TREATMENT SIX OCTOBER AND YOU FEEL BETTER BECAUSE OF IT?

>> DEFINITELY.

IT FEELS BETTER TO TALK TO SOMEONE AND HAVE SOMEONE NOT JUDGE YOU, HAVE SOMEONE, AND KNOWING THE FACT THEY WILL GO IN TELL OTHERS.

HAVING THE TRUST.

MICHELLE: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THIS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN FEELING LIKE THEMSELVES DURING COVID?

MAYBE ARE HESITANT TO ASK FOR HELP?

>> I WOULD SAY TO GO FOR IT, KEEP PUSHING LIKE YOU HAVE A PURPOSE IN LIFE.

YOU MIGHT NOT BE DOING WELL IN SCHOOL BUT THAT IS INDETERMINATE.

MICHELLE: UP NEXT, WE TEACH OUR KIDS TO READ TO SPARK THEIR IMAGINATION, ENCOURAGE THEM TO THINK, PREPARE THEM FOR LIFE.

READING CAN ALSO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AND INTRODUCE US TO NEW IDEAS.

WHAT WE READ MATTERS, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG MINDS.

SCHOLARS, LIBRARIANS, PUBLISHERS AND PARENTS ARE TAKING A CRITICAL LOOK AT THE FIRST BOOKS WE GIVE OUR KIDS.

HOW WELL DO THEY REFLECT OUR CULTURAL VALUES?

HOW DIVERSE IS THE WORLD THEY PREVENT -- THEY PRESENT?

ONE BELOVED CHILDREN'S AUTHOR IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF THAT DEBATE IS DR. SEUSS.

HERE'S DAVID WRIGHT.

♪ >> LOOK, A CAT.

IN A HAT.

DAVID: CENTERSTAGE RIGHT NOW IN THE CULTURE WARS IS A CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR WHO HAS BEEN DEAD FOR 30 YEARS.

>> HE WOULD BE 117 YEARS OLD WERE HE ALIVE TODAY.

THANK GOD HE ISN'T.

IT WILL BE WOUNDED AND CONFUSED.

MICHELLE: CHILDREN'S -- DAVID: CHILDREN'S LITERATURE HAS BECOME A BIT OF A LIGHTNING RIDE.

>> WILL BE PUT IT THIS WAY, SOMETIMES THESE DEBATES CAN BE A DISTRACTION.

FROM SOME LARGER ISSUES.

BUT, I THINK IN GENERAL, ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION WHAT ARE WE TEACHING KIDS, WHAT KIND OF IMAGES ARE KIDS LEARNING IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION TO CONSIDER.

DAVID: THE DEBATE OVER DR. SEUSS BEGAN EARLY ON IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

THE FIRST LADY DONATED 10 OF HIS BOOKS TO LIBRARIES IN HONOR OF NATURAL -- NATIONAL READ A BOOK DAY.

>> CONGRATULATIONS, TODAY IS YOUR DAY.

DAVID: ONE LIBRARIAN IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS PUBLICLY REJECTED THE GIFT.

CLAIMING THAT HIS WORKS ARE STEEPED IN RACIST PROPAGANDA, CARICATURES AND HARMFUL STEREOTYPES.

IN MARCH, DR. SEUSS ENTERPRISES APPEARED TO VALIDATE THE CRITICS, ANNOUNCING THAT SIX DR. SEUSS TITLES WILL NO LONGER BE PUBLISHED BECAUS THESE BOOKS PORTRAY PEOPLE IN WAYS THAT ARE HURTFUL AND WRONG.

>> WHEN CHINA LOOKS AT WOKE AND THEY SEE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE IS DR. SEUSS DAVID: SENATOR TED CRUZ ACTUALLY RAISE MONEY AT CPAC THIS YEAR SIGNING COPIES OF GREEN EGGS AND HAM.

DEMOCRATS LIKE ALEXANDRIA BECAUSE JO CORTEZ HAVE MOCK THE REPUBLICANS ABOUT THEIR NEWFOUND OBSESSION WITH SEUSS THE DEBATE IS MORE NUANCED.

TO BE CLEAR WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT ALL BOOKS, GREEN EGGS AND HAM US TO LOCATE?

STILL OK?

>> THE CAT IN THE HAT, SOME PEOPLE DON'T FIND OK.

IF YOU ARE FOCUSED ON ONE BOOK, YOU CAN ALWAYS SAY THIS BOOK IS OK AND THIS ISN'T.

AND THEN, FEAR GRIPS PEOPLE WE ARE COMING FOR YOUR FAVORITE BOOK FROM CHILDHOOD.

THAT TAKES THE CONVERSATION THE WRONG WAY.

DAVID: THIS IS A CHILDREN'S BOOK OFFICER -- BOOK AUTHOR HERSELF.

>> THE LIFE OF A LIBRARIAN AND STORYTELLER.

DAVID: SHE SAYS PUBLISHERS AND LIBRARIANS ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR NEW BOOKS TO HIGHLIGHT.

SOME OF THIS IS ABOUT GIVING SOME BUDDY ALSO TURNED?

>> IN A WAY.

I DON'T SEE DR. SEUSS HAS BEEN CANCELED.

IT IS MORE ABOUT LOOKING CRITICALLY AND CHOOSING NEW TITLES.

DAVID: DR. SEUSS HAS SOLD MORE THAN 700 MILLION BOOKS, BUT HE IS THE PRODUCT OF A PARTICULAR PLACE AND TIME.

THE FANCIFUL WORLD OF DR. SEUSS FIRST TOOK SHAPE HERE IN NEW ENGLAND.

IN SPRINGFIELD MASSACHUSETTS WHERE THEODORE GEISER WAS BORN MORE THAN ONE CENTURY AGO.

THIS IS HIS CHILDHOOD HOME.

74 FAIRFIELD STREET.

SOME OF HIS EARLY WORK WOULD NOT FLY IN TODAY'S WORLD, INCLUDING POLITICAL CARTOONS FROM WORLD WAR II WITH HARSH DEPICTIONS OF THE JAPANESE.

AND COASTERS AND POSTERS HE DREW HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

SOME OFFENSIVE STEREOTYPES OF NATIVE AMERICANS.

DR. SEUSS'S FIRST BOOK WAS SET IN SPRINGFIELD.

AND TO THINK, I SAW ON MOBERLY STREET.

IT IS NO LONGER THE THRIVING PLACE THAT IT WAS, LIKE MUCH OF SPRINGFIELD IT SEEMS ON HARD TIMES.

WHEN HE WAS FIRST STARTING OUT, 27 PUBLISHERS REJECTED THAT BOOK BEFORE IT FINALLY GOT INTO PRINT.

NOW, MULBERRY STREET IS ONE OF THE BOOKS THAT WILL NO LONGER BE PUBLISHED BECAUSE OF THE NOT ONLY THAT, THE DR. SEUSS MUSEUM IN SPRINGFIELD RECENTLY REPLACED THIS MULBERRY STREET MURAL BECAUSE OF IMAGES SOME FOUND OFFENSIVE.

>> THERE WAS NO BOYCOTT OF DR. SEUSS, RIGHT?

NO MOVEMENT TO SAY LET'S TAKE HIM OFF THE SHELVES.

IT WAS HIS ESTATE THE NATIVE DECISION THAT THEY DID NOT WANT HIM TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE RACIST IMAGES THAT WERE IN SOME OF THESE BOOKS.

PRIVATE COMPANIES HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE SIDE WITH THEIR BRAND STANDS FOR AND WHAT THEIR IMAGES LOOK LIKE, RIGHT?

DAVID: IT SEEMS TO ME AS A PARENT THIS IS A HEALTHY DISCUSSION TO BE HAPPENING AND YET THERE IS POTENTIAL TO BECOME A POLITICAL LIGHTNING ROD.

WOULD YOU AGREE?

>> I WOULD THINK SO, WITH ANY DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE BASED IN RACE, CLASS, CULTURE, THOSE CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE OR DIFFICULT.

THEY ARE STILL IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE, I THINK CHILDREN'S BOOKS ARE A WAY HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS IN AN ACCESSIBLE WAY.

FOR THAT AGE GROUP.

DAVID: YOU WANT KIDS TO BE COMFORTABLE AND A DIVERSE SOCIETY, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE BOOKS SHOULD REFLECT THEM, THEY SHOULD BE WINDOWS THEY SEE THROUGH AND ALSO MIRRORS THAT REFLECT THEMSELVES.

DAVID: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS?

CONSIDER THIS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS.

>> I AM VERY INVOLVED IN A GROUP WHICH IS A GROUP OF LATINX AUTHORS, ONE THAT JUST CAME OUT, A NEW KIND OF WILD.

IT IS BY AN AUTHOR ILLUSTRATOR, HER NAME IS LAURA GONZALES.

SHE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT A LITTLE BOY WHO COMES FROM PUERTO RICO.

HE MOVES TO NEW YORK CITY AND IS LOOKING FOR THE WILD THAT HE MISSES.

AND HE MEETS A FRIEND.

THE FRIEND SHOWS HIM THIS NEW KIND OF WILD THAT THE CITY HAS ITS OWN KIND OF BEAUTY AND WHILE THIS.

>> IT WAS A NEW KIND OF WILD.

AND THIS TIME, HE COULD SEE IT.

DAVID: SO THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO REPLACE WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE.

>> EXACTLY.

AND, THE TWO WOULD GO BEAUTIFULLY TOGETHER.

DAVID: DR. SEUSS WAS CLEARLY KEENLY AWARE OF THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF CHILDREN'S LITERATURE.

HORTON HEARS A WHO, PUBLISHED AT THE HEIGHT OF THE MCCARTHY AREA, FOCUSED ON GIVING VOICE TO THE VOICELESS.

A POLITICALLY CHARGED MESSAGE TO BE SURE, BUT NOT A PARTISAN ONE.

IT IS OPEN TO INTERPRETATION.

SOME ANTIABORTION ACTIVISTS HAVE EVEN CLAIMED THAT HORTON IS DEFENDING THE RIGHT TO LIFE.

YOUR DOLT THE TURTLE WAS REMOVED FROM SOME SCHOOLS FOR BEING TOO POLITICAL.

THAT BOOKS URGES THE FOLKS WRITING HI TOP OF THE HEAP TO THINK ABOUT THOSE DOWN BELOW.

>> YOUR MAJESTY, PLEASE.

I KNOW UP TALK TO US A GREAT SITES BUT DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, WE TOO SHOULD HAVE RIGHTS.

DAVID: AND THERE IS THE LORAX, THE WARRIOR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

IN HIS LONELY CRUSADE AGAINST THE CAPITALIST.

>> I SPEAK FOR THE TREES, LET THEM GROW.

BUT NOBODY LISTENS TOO MUCH.

>> DR. SEUSS HAVE POLITICAL CONVICTIONS.

THE BOOKS WERE NOT VALUED FREE.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE PERHAPS HAD NOT PAID ATTENTION TO ALONG WITH THE MOST POSITIVE MESSAGE, THE TOLERANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BOOKS.

>> WHERE WERE WE?

OH, YES.

DAVID: JUST AS HORTON SURVIVED HIS ORDEAL, DR. SEUSS WILL OUTLAST THIS.

AS SURELY AS THERE IS A CAT IN THE HAT WHO SHOWED US.

STIRRING THINGS UP, SOMETIMES DO A WORLD OF GOOD.

>> THANK YOU FOR A FASCINATING AFTERNOON.

♪ MICHELLE: OUR THANKS TO DAVID WRIGHT FOR THAT REPORT.

FINALLY TONIGHT, SCOTT MCKAY WITH HIS TAKE ON BIG TECH AND CANCEL CULTURE.

SCOTT: CHILDREN'S BOOKS, BASEBALL'S ALL-STAR GAME, FOOTBALL, THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, COCA-COLA.

EVEN HASBRO'S ICONIC RHODE ISLAND KIDS TOY, MR.

POTATO HEAD.

IS ANYTHING EXEMPT FROM THE CURRENT CULTURE OF PUBLIC SHAMING AND CANCELING?

THE INTERNET WAS TOUTED FOR REFUGE OF CENSORSHIP BUT HAS BECOME A POWER FULL TOOL.

IT WAS FAMOUSLY SAID THERE IS A FREE PRESS IN AMERICA ONLY IF YOU OWN ONE.

NOW, THE DIGITAL MONOPOLY, GATEKEEPERS AND NORMS, IT ALLOWS EVERYONE WITH A CELL PHONE TO BE THEIR OWN.

EVEN IF YOU ARE MARINATED IN CONSPIRACIES AND HOAXES.

THE GRAND IRONY IS ALL PERSUASIONS ARE STILL ENTHRALLED AND ENRICHING BIG TECH BEHEMOTHS.

LIBERTARIANS AND LIBERALS, CONSERVATIVES, ALL GLEEFULLY WITH THE VIGILANTES.

MITCH MCCONNELL WARNS CORPORATIONS TO REFRAIN FROM POLITICS BUT STILL WANTS THEIR CAMPAIGN MONEY.

SHAMING IS NOT NEW.

THE INJUSTICES AGAINST GROUPS OR PEOPLE THE MAJORITY DON'T AGREE WITH.

IT HAS LONG BEEN WITH US.

THOSE WHO DON'T FIT IN HAVE LONG BEEN A BRUTE -- LONG BEEN ABUSED.

MINORITIES ARE ENSLAVED AND JAPANESE-AMERICAN SET TO AN PORTMAN TAMPS -- INTERNMENT CAMPS AS RECENTLY AS WORLD WAR II.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR DIGITAL WORLD IS THE REDUCTION OF COMPLEX ISSUES FOR CERTAINTY AND SILLINESS.

EVEN TO MENTION CANCEL CULTURE IS IMPLICITLY NEGATIVE.

A FREE SOCIETY OF PEOPLE, EVEN POLITICIANS, NEED TO TAKE INTELLECTUAL RISKS WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT LOSING THEIR JOBS.

WE ONCE BURNED EFFIGIES AND PUBLIC PARKS, NOW WE TWEET ENEMIES OUT OF EXISTENCE.

HOW DO WE CHANGE THIS?

LET'S START WITH LISTENING TO DR. SEUSS.

WITH HIS BOOK, THE LORAX, HE IS SPEAKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

BUT HIS WORDS APPLY HERE.

UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER, IT'S NOT.

MICHELLE: I MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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