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Hamilton Spectator
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Pornography is a problem': Smith defends new rules for Alberta school libraries
Alberta's premier says 'pornography is a problem for young adults' in remarks defending her government's move to remove sexually explicit content from school library shelves this fall. Danielle Smith was responding to criticism received via text on her provincewide phone-in radio program on Saturday that a lack of education funding and overcrowded classrooms were more important issues than library content. Smith replied it's important the province make sure young children are exposed to age-appropriate material, and that they're 'not exposed to pornographic images early.' On Thursday, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said sexually explicit content must be gone from school library shelves as of Oct. 1, but noted the move is not about book banning. The new policy stems from an announcement Nicolaides made in May after he said four inappropriate coming-of-age graphic novels were found in school libraries in Edmonton and Calgary. Smith encouraged people to go online themselves and view explicit images from the books, telling listeners they'll be scratching their heads wondering how they got into elementary schools in the first place. 'If I am not permitted to describe to you the kind of images that seven-year-olds are seeing because it would offend your audience, then we shouldn't be showing them to seven-year-olds,' Smith said. 'So yeah, I think it's important that we make sure that young children are exposed to age-appropriate material only and that they're not exposed to pornographic images early.' On the question of priorities, Smith said her government is holding consultations with the public and teachers about other issues in schools, such as violence in the classroom. 'That is the biggest issue that we've been hearing from teachers, that in some situations, violent students are making life unsafe for our teachers,' Smith said. The novels in question are written by American authors: 'Gender Queer' by Maia Kobabe, 'Fun Home' by Alison Bechdel, 'Blankets' by Craig Thompson and 'Flamer' by Mike Curato. When Nicolaides announced plans for new rules back in May, Smith posted on social media that 'parents are right to be upset.' As part of the announcement Thursday, Nicolaides issued a list of specific sex acts that can't be explicitly described in library books alongside new rules for what students can read. No students will be allowed to access what the government calls explicit sexual content, including detailed depictions of masturbation, sexual penetration or sexual physical contact. By Jan. 1, new school board policies must be in place dictating how books are selected and reviewed. An online government survey before Thursday's announcement found that the majority of respondents across demographics don't support the government setting new standards for school library books. Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling said in a statement the new rules will add to teachers' workload, politicize a 'non-issue' and target vulnerable students. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Pornography is a problem': Smith defends new rules for Alberta school libraries
Alberta's premier says 'pornography is a problem for young adults' in remarks defending her government's move to remove sexually explicit content from school library shelves this fall. Danielle Smith was responding to criticism received via text on her provincewide phone-in radio program on Saturday that a lack of education funding and overcrowded classrooms were more important issues than library content. Smith replied it's important the province make sure young children are exposed to age-appropriate material, and that they're 'not exposed to pornographic images early.' On Thursday, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said sexually explicit content must be gone from school library shelves as of Oct. 1, but noted the move is not about book banning. The new policy stems from an announcement Nicolaides made in May after he said four inappropriate coming-of-age graphic novels were found in school libraries in Edmonton and Calgary. Smith encouraged people to go online themselves and view explicit images from the books, telling listeners they'll be scratching their heads wondering how they got into elementary schools in the first place. 'If I am not permitted to describe to you the kind of images that seven-year-olds are seeing because it would offend your audience, then we shouldn't be showing them to seven-year-olds,' Smith said. 'So yeah, I think it's important that we make sure that young children are exposed to age-appropriate material only and that they're not exposed to pornographic images early.' On the question of priorities, Smith said her government is holding consultations with the public and teachers about other issues in schools, such as violence in the classroom. 'That is the biggest issue that we've been hearing from teachers, that in some situations, violent students are making life unsafe for our teachers,' Smith said. The novels in question are written by American authors: 'Gender Queer' by Maia Kobabe, 'Fun Home' by Alison Bechdel, 'Blankets' by Craig Thompson and 'Flamer' by Mike Curato. When Nicolaides announced plans for new rules back in May, Smith posted on social media that 'parents are right to be upset.' As part of the announcement Thursday, Nicolaides issued a list of specific sex acts that can't be explicitly described in library books alongside new rules for what students can read. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. No students will be allowed to access what the government calls explicit sexual content, including detailed depictions of masturbation, sexual penetration or sexual physical contact. By Jan. 1, new school board policies must be in place dictating how books are selected and reviewed. An online government survey before Thursday's announcement found that the majority of respondents across demographics don't support the government setting new standards for school library books. Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling said in a statement the new rules will add to teachers' workload, politicize a 'non-issue' and target vulnerable students. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Library content order distracts from real issues, critics say
A provincial government order that Alberta schools remove sexually explicit materials from their libraries garnered condemnation yesterday as an example of costly and potentially harmful overreach. NDP education critic Amanda Chapman called the new standards a distraction from critical issues in Alberta's education system. 'Of course materials in schools should be age appropriate,' she said in a statement emailed to The Macleod Gazette. 'But once again, the minister is inserting himself into decisions that should be made by educators and librarians — if this government actually funded schools enough to keep them in the building.' The order made by Demetrios Nicolaides, the minister of education and childcare, requires that by Oct. 1 school libraries rid their shelves of explicit depictions of sexual acts. Then, by Jan. 1, 2026, school authorities must either create policies and procedures to reflect the standards or make sure existing ones align. The new standards allow non-explicit sexual materials for Grade 10 and up, providing the materials are developmentally appropriate. The move follows consultations with stakeholders, public opinion polling of 1,500 Albertans and an online survey of about 77,000 respondents. Results of the survey leaned towards restrictions related to the ages of students, but there was only mixed support for the government setting standards or requirements. Parents of school-aged children were most supportive of province-down standards, with 44 per cent ticking the somewhat or very supportive boxes. Thirty-four per cent of respondents in the online survey said children should never be able to access sexually explicit content in school libraries. But explicit content — defined in the order as 'containing a detailed and clear depiction of a sexual act' — isn't allowed in any grade. Examples provided by the province were masturbation, genital contact, ejaculation and penetration. Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers' Association, said the standards do more harm than good. 'This ministerial order accomplishes little other than adding to teacher workload, politicizing a non-issue and targeting vulnerable students,' Schilling said in a statement yesterday afternoon. 'It's also an overreaction that highlights a lack of resources for school libraries and the fact that our schools cannot afford to employ teacher-librarians to create, curate and coordinate library resources to support student learning in age- and grade-appropriate ways,' the statement said. But Nicolaides said he's confident the standards 'strike the right balance of supporting the important role that school boards, librarians, teachers and staff play in selecting school library materials while setting clear expectations.' He continued: 'This is an important step because, and I can't stress this enough, until now Alberta schools had zero standards for selecting age-appropriate books for libraries.' The standards have no bearing on depictions of medical processes, biological functions, hugging or hand-holding, which the government terms as non-sexual content and therefore available to all grade levels. Some reports published yesterday prompted a clarification from the minister's office. 'There are absolutely no restrictions on content about puberty, menstruation and breastfeeding for any grade level,' said an email message from a ministry spokesperson. Nicole Buchanan, chair of the board for Red Deer Public Schools, said school authorities are confident they can purge their library shelves of non-compliant materials by Oct. 1. The date reflects an extension that boards got from the government to make it happen, she said. 'Multiple school board chairs stated that (Sept. 1) was not enough time,' she told the Thursday news conference. Nicolaides has also told boards that his ministry is willing to work with them if they need more time 'to do what's right for students (and) ultimately right within our schools.' No provincial funding is attached to enacting the standards. Nicolaides conceded in earlier media comments spoke that identifying sexually explicit materials won't be a straightforward task. 'It's almost an impossibility to be able to know the full extent of the content of the vast majority of books that are published in any environment,' said Nicolaides, the member for Calgary-Bow. 'How school boards have their libraries vet or sort content will probably be left up to them,' he said during a roundtable last month with rural media before the actual standards had been set.+ Buchanan spoke in favour of the standards, saying they protect children and reflect societal wishes. 'These standards come at a time when many families, education partners and stakeholders are asking important questions — questions about what children are exposed to and what role schools should play in shaping not just academic learning, but safe and respectful environments,' she said. 'We all want students to be challenged to engage with new ideas, to learn how to think critically, independently and with empathy, but we also want to know that the content and resources that they access, especially in school, are appropriate for their age and stage of development. That's the balance that these new standards are meant to support.' She continued: 'This isn't about banning books or silencing voices. It's about recognizing that some content simply isn't appropriate in a K-12 setting.' Buchanan likened the standards to other principles applied in a school setting, like not providing access to alcohol and tobacco. 'Some students in our schools may be of the provincial age to consume them, but that doesn't mean that we put them in our vending machines. Why? Because they don't belong in a school environment, regardless of age and legality. 'Explicit sexual content should be viewed the same way. It may exist in society, but that doesn't mean it belongs in our classrooms or libraries, and we must be mindful of this. If a passage or image isn't appropriate for the front page of a newspaper or a billboard on the side of the highway, then it shouldn't be available to students in K-12 learning environments.' Developing the standards began when sexual depictions in four books were brought to the province's attention. The graphic-novel-style books were found in Calgary and Edmonton school libraries. All four were written by Americans and are based upon their authors' life experiences. Three of them directly reflect experiences in the LGBTQ2S+ community. They include depictions of masturbation, oral sex, pornography use and petting. Mentions of self-harm, sexual abuse and suicide are also present. The books were in libraries visited by students in kindergarten and higher grades, the government said. The standards apply to public, separate, francophone, charter and independent schools. The don't apply to 55 municipal public libraries located in school buildings or to resources selected by teachers to support curriculum. Schilling of the ATA said the order limits teaching and learning within a diverse school population. He said: 'The sweeping scope of this ministerial order will result in the removal of valuable and inclusive resources from our libraries. It will also discourage teachers from seeking out materials that interest and engage students. 'Ultimately, it will have a chilling effect on our schools and signal to students who are coming to understand themselves that some expressions of their gender and sexual identities are shameful and should be hidden away.' Chapman of the NDP said urgent issues require the ministry's attention, like student funding, a looming teachers' strike, overcrowded classrooms, and a shortage of educational assistants to support students with complex needs. 'These are the issues facing our education system that deserve the most focus,' said Chapman, the member for Calgary-Beddington. 'Our kids don't need political theatre and press conferences about books. They need teachers, EAs, and a government that actually funds public education.' Buchanan, however, put more stock in the government's move. 'These new standards set clear expectations, and they give school boards across Alberta the tools to make thoughtful, transparent decisions about library materials,' the Red Deer board chair said. 'This is about accountability. It's about open communication with the families and communities we serve, and most of all, it's about creating learning spaces that keep students' wellbeing at the centre.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Alberta to ban explicit sex books in school libraries starting Oct. 1
EDMONTON - Alberta's education minister says sexually explicit content must be gone from school library shelves as of Oct. 1, but the move is not about book banning. Demetrios Nicolaides says the announcement is about putting rules in place for schools that until now have had no provincewide standard for selecting age-appropriate books for their libraries. 'This was never about erasing particular narratives from school libraries,' Nicolaides told a news conference in Calgary on Thursday. 'This is simply about ensuring young students are not exposed to content depicting oral sex, child molestation or other very inappropriate content.' As part of the announcement, Nicolaides issued a list of specific sex acts that can't be explicitly described in library books alongside new rules for what students can read. No students will be allowed to access what the government calls explicit sexual content, including detailed depictions of masturbation, sexual penetration or sexual physical contact. Students in Grade 10 and above will be allowed to read non-explicit content, if it is developmentally appropriate. Religious texts, such as the Bible, will be allowed on the shelves, something Nicolaides said is important to preserving freedom of religion. What the government calls 'non-sexual content,' including descriptions of puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, kissing or handholding, will still be accessible. School boards must review library materials, and school officials will be tasked with supervising students to make sure they are reading appropriate material. No additional funds will be allotted for this work. Other deadlines will follow. By Jan. 1, new school board policies must be in place dictating how books are selected and reviewed. School divisions will also need to publish a full list of available materials. Nicolaides said he doesn't have the authority under the Education Act to dictate specific books be removed. He added that there is no specific enforcement mechanism but trusts schools will follow the policy. The new policy stems from an announcement Nicolaides made in May after he said four inappropriate coming-of-age graphic novels were found in school libraries in Edmonton and Calgary. He said each book contains graphic sexual material as well as depictions of molestation and drug and alcohol use. The government launched an online survey before Thursday's announcement. It found that the majority of respondents across demographics don't support the government setting new standards for school library books. Critics have said the province seems more concerned about engaging in culture-war politics than student well-being, as most of the books Nicolaides flagged deal with LGBTQ+ subject matter. Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling said in a statement the new rules will add to teachers' workload, politicize a 'non-issue' and target vulnerable students. 'It will have a chilling effect on our schools and signal to students who are coming to understand themselves that some expressions of their gender and sexual identities are shameful and should be hidden away,' he said. Laura Winton, past president of the Library Association of Alberta, said the policy is confusing but the result is clear. 'Titles will be removed from school libraries. That is censorship,' she said. Winton said professional librarians, teachers, school boards and administrators who have expertise in children's literature and age appropriateness should be the ones deciding what should be on the shelves. The Calgary Board of Education and Edmonton Public Schools said in separate statements they already have processes in place and their practices are guided by principles such as those published by Canadian School Libraries. The Calgary division also said they have clear mechanisms in place for people to bring forward concerns about specific resources. Julie Kusiek, board chair for Edmonton Public Schools, called on the minister to reconsider the Oct. 1 deadline to give teachers the time they need to catalogue classroom collections - or remove that requirement. 'Compiling a catalogue of potentially hundreds of books during this crucial time puts significant and unnecessary pressure on staff, who are already managing increasing classroom complexity and insufficient funding,' said Kusiek. Opposition NDP education critic Amanda Chapman said in a statement there are more urgent issues the United Conservative Party government should be focused on, including overcrowded classrooms and a lack of educational assistants. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2025. Note to readers:This is a corrected story. A previous version listed incorrect details of what the Alberta government considers non-sexual and non-explicit sexual content.
Edmonton Journal
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Demetrios Nicolaides: Alberta investing in education to meet booming enrolment
Alberta's government and the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) share the same goal: providing a world-class education to Alberta's next generation. It's a goal I am proud to work on alongside the ATA. Article content Yet in a recent op-ed, ATA president Jason Schilling says he believes Alberta's government is 'playing politics with education rather than focusing on what matters.' I strongly disagree with that characterization, as I believe our investments into Alberta's education system present a much different reality. Article content Article content Article content Many of the challenges our education system is facing today stem directly from the dramatic increase of people who moved to Alberta in recent years. In 2020-21, Alberta had roughly 735,000 students, and some school boards were even looking at closing schools due to lack of enrolment. As of today, there are nearly 826,000 students and counting. Article content Article content Our solutions: $8.6 billion to build and renovate more than 130 schools, creating 200,000 more student spaces. Thirty-three of those school construction projects have been sped up through our new innovative funding model. This is on top of the millions we have invested to build prefabricated classrooms to address the need for more classroom space now. I find it hard to characterize these investments as a 'failure to fund public education for growth,' as Mr. Schilling put it. I have heard loud and clear that something needs to be done to ensure the growing needs of students are met in classrooms, such as tailored programing for students with increased learning needs or supports for students that are learning English as a second language. My response: an historic $9.9 billion for Alberta's education system. This generational investment includes $1.6 billion for schools to address increasingly complex classrooms and will help ensure each student is supported as they engage with Alberta's world-class education system. Article content Article content Alberta's government is making significant investments in education to support student success. We're expanding school spaces and addressing the complex learning needs of students. To reduce distractions, we've banned cellphones in classrooms. We're also responding to the concerns of parents and protecting young students by ensuring they aren't exposed to inappropriate sexual content in school libraries. Article content Our updated funding model ensures school boards receive the resources they need, and we're refocusing the curriculum on essential skills like reading, writing, and financial literacy. But rather than just talk about it — let's have the results speak for themselves Article content In a recent Programme for International Student Assessment report, Alberta's students excelled in all areas of testing in math, reading, science and creative thinking. In Canada, Alberta ranked first in reading and science, and second in math. Internationally, Alberta ranked second in reading and science, and seventh in math. In financial literacy, Alberta students received the highest score in Canada and internationally. In creative thinking, Alberta students received the highest score in Canada. Internationally, Canada was only outperformed by Singapore.
