School librarian Liz Phipps Soeiro (pictured) rejected books donated by First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday
A librarian at a Massachusetts elementary school has declined nearly a dozen books donated by the First Lady on Thursday, calling them ‘tired’ and ‘cliche.’
The White House earlier this month announced that one school from each state would receive a shipment of Dr. Seuss books as part of National Read a Book Day, according to CBS Boston News.
Along with the donation came a letter from Melania Trump, which emphasized to students that receiving ‘an education is perhaps the most important and wondrous opportunity of your young lives.’
But Cambridgeport Elementary School librarian Liz Phipps Soeiro, whose school represents Massachusetts in the initiative, said that her award winning library wasn’t in need of the literature.
![The First Lady's gesture was part of White House initiative dubbed 'National Read a Book Day' (Pictured: May 25, 2017)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/29/02/44D78ED200000578-0-image-a-30_1506647665107.jpg)
The First Lady’s gesture was part of White House initiative dubbed ‘National Read a Book Day’ (Pictured: May 25, 2017)
![The Cambridgeport Elementary School librarian claimed in an open letter that the school did not need the books](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/29/02/44D77E2E00000578-0-image-a-31_1506647673631.jpg)
The Cambridgeport Elementary School librarian claimed in an open letter that the school did not need the books
‘My students have access to a school library with over nine thousand volumes and a librarian with a graduate degree in library science,’ Phipps Soeiro wrote in an open letter on the Horn Book blog website.
‘Multiple studies show that schools with professionally staffed libraries improve student performance,’ she added.
Phipps Soeiro also criticized the First Lady’s choice in books, which included ‘The Cat in the Hat,’ ‘One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,’ ‘The Foot Book,’ ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ and ‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go!,’ CBS Boston reported.
‘You may not be aware of this, but Dr. Seuss is a bit of a cliché, a tired and worn ambassador for children’s literature. As First Lady of the United States, you have an incredible platform with world-class resources at your fingertips,’ she wrote.
![She called Dr. Seuss cliché, tired and a worn ambassador for children's literature and said children in less fortunate schools were more deserving](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/29/02/44D7860400000578-4931886-She_called_Dr_Seuss_clich_tired_and_a_worn_ambassador_for_childr-m-41_1506648488274.jpg)
She called Dr. Seuss cliché, tired and a worn ambassador for children’s literature and said children in less fortunate schools were more deserving
The elementary school employee also took a jab at the Trump administration’s education policy, specifically striking out against Betsy DaVos.
‘Why not go out of your way to gift books to underfunded and underprivileged communities that continue to be marginalized and maligned by policies put in place by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos?’ she wrote.
Phipps Soeiro continues by claiming that ‘cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, and Detroit are suffering through expansion privatization, and school “choice” with no interest in outcomes of children, their families, their teachers and their schools.’
She then asks: ‘Are those kids any less deserving of books simply because of circumstances beyond their control?”
The school district later said that Phipps Soeiro ‘was not authorized to accept or reject donated books on behalf of the school or school district,’ adding that her opinions do not reflect that of the school system.
‘We have counseled the employee on all relevant policies, including the policy against public resources being used for political purposes,’ the district wrote in a statement.
![Along with the donation came a letter from Melania Trump, which emphasized the importance of education and reading](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/29/02/44D77E4E00000578-0-image-a-32_1506647686652.jpg)
Along with the donation came a letter from Melania Trump, which emphasized the importance of education and reading