Educators and caregivers obsessed with the Canon are not obsessed teaching children.

They teach books; and they do not care about what children learn from said books.

They move about school & classroom spaces ahistorically, paying no mind that entire cultures have been killed by the Canon's exclusion.

The Canon is responsible for epistimicide. [the killing of bodies of knowledge, particularly amongst BIPOX folx] see Indian Civilization Act 1819 [written in state policy: "Kill the Indian, Save the Man."]

see Teddy Roosevelt's policy around connecting people in the US through a "patriotic scheme of knowledge" [and because I know there will be a particular group of people asking for citations here's one, but I have thousands.]

Citation: The Journal of Educational Thought (JET) / Revue de la Pensée Éducative Vol. 9, No. 3 (December, 1975), pp. 176-182 (7 pages)

Do you know about Roosevelt's "English Only" movement in American schools? Google it. 1907.

Imagine the stories lost between children and the parents and their caregivers. Not being able to communicate with one another.

This movement is still alive and well today. Also, I don't think it's necessary to remind you about 45's recent iteration of this sentiment through

his Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping . https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-combating-race-sex-stereotyping/

So, with their collective brilliant strength and minds and hearts, the @DisruptTexts Womxn have spent their careers working to evoke all people's humanity in the classroom.

Check out their website, a powerful collection of IP curated, shared with all people! https://disrupttexts.org/ 

To disrupt texts is to teach so kids may feel seen, so their stories may be told, so their stories may be reflected in the books given to them by their caregivers and teachers. So imaginations and concepts of realities are stretched, paying homage to Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop.

The great difference between this "Progressive" #disrupttexts movement that @MeghanGurdon @WSJ article cites and those who hold the Canon in such inflexible, high regard, is simple:

Those who disrupt texts do so because they understand what it means to teach children. They teach reading, and more importantly, they teach readers.

Books are stepping stones, and if they are not disrupted, they remain potently harmful to killing one's history and one's identity.

"Access" to the canon is nothing more that clinging on to the threads of hierarchies that come along with aspirational whiteness.

P.S. to @WSJ: this sensationalist journalism is grotesque, and it's harming millions of children. Stop lowering the bar on what you publish.

I know plenty of educators and writers who could contribute far more powerful pieces to a children's book corner than the misleading information you chose to publish.