Alberta school divisions are quietly removing books from their shelves following a new provincial order aimed at restricting student access to “explicit, graphic material.” While all school authorities have submitted lists of titles for removal, the contents of those lists remain confidential.
Book Removals Underway Across Alberta
The Calgary Board of Education, the province’s largest school division, identified 44 titles to be pulled, representing a small fraction of its approximately 700,000 books. Edmonton Public Schools has a working list of 34 titles from its collection of around 480,000 books. The Edmonton Catholic School Division removed six titles, while Elk Island Catholic Schools reported no removals were necessary after a review by 20 staff members.
The Calgary Catholic School District and Red Deer Public Schools also reported no required removals. School divisions are refusing to publicly disclose the titles being removed, citing internal policy. The process has been resource intensive, with the CBE reviewing around 2,100 titles and instructing library staff at 250 schools on how to proceed.
Evolving Regulations and Concerns
The book reviews stem from a May announcement by Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides regarding new rules for school library materials, prompted by concerns raised by a conservative interest group. The initial order, issued in July, required the removal of “sexually explicit” books by October. After criticism, including concerns about censorship and the potential removal of classic literature, the order was revised in September to focus on material with “graphic depictions of sexual acts.”
Despite the revised order, questions remain. A search of the Edmonton Public Schools catalogue revealed that 17 copies of the graphic novel Flamer, initially flagged by Minister Nicolaides, remain available to students.
Parents and educators have expressed varied opinions. Meagan Parisian, vice-president of the Alberta School Councils’ Association, noted that some parents question the extent of inappropriate material in schools, while others support ensuring age-appropriateness. She also pointed out that schools relying on civic libraries are not subject to the same restrictions.
Joseph Jeffery, chair of Canadian School Libraries, highlighted the time-consuming nature of the reviews and the impact of recent cuts to teacher-librarian positions. He also noted that the initial books targeted by the government addressed the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, raising concerns about potential bias.
What Happens Next?
School divisions are now required to adopt new policies for selecting and reviewing literary materials, as well as handling challenges from students, parents, or staff. They must also provide access for parents and guardians to view library and classroom materials. It is possible that further revisions to the ministerial order could occur based on feedback from school divisions and the public. The long-term impact on the diversity of perspectives available to students remains to be seen, and it is likely that advocacy groups will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the Alberta government to review school library materials?
A conservative interest group raised concerns about graphic novels on school shelves with content they felt was inappropriate for minors, leading Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides to announce new rules in May.
Are school divisions required to share the list of books they are removing?
No, school divisions are currently refusing requests to reveal the list of pulled materials, citing internal policy. Edmonton Public Schools stated its list is an “internal document.”
What is the government’s stated justification for these new rules?
According to a statement from Minister Nicolaides’ senior press secretary, Garrett Koehler, the government believes “children should not be exposed to graphic sexual images that show oral sex, child molestation, masturbation, sex toy use, and penetration to name a few examples.”
How might this policy affect the availability of diverse perspectives in school libraries?
Worth a look