I’m soooo tired of a tight-assed group of ‘freedom’ lovers attempting to DICTATE to me and fellow Albertans what we can and cannot do, see and read! A group of people who like and believe in less government have to increase it in order to ensure we follow along with their ‘common sense’ policies. I mean, really, common sense to who, for who? As Einstein said - common sense is all the prejudices learned by age 18. If these folks want to live in a box, fine, go do that, start a commune, but do not EXPECT the rest of us to turn our world into your box. Ain’t going to happen. Does all this nonsense serve the greater good? No. It certainly does not.
Thanks for writing this. The story today has given me the "ick" but not because of the described content. The government needs to stay in it's lane. There does seem to be more to the story that hasn't been told. I hope we do get a chance to know exactly how this government decided to insert itself here.
She’s following the Trump playbook to the letter. Taking over policing, taking over our elections, taking over the Heritage fund, the healthcare scandal that is so obvious and I can go on. Albertans need to wake up. Project 2025 is being implemented, we need her gone.
Which of these is going to cause more harm to children in Alberta: “bad” books in an underfunded school library, or lack of response from an underfunded public health system to a potentially deadly measles outbreak? Just asking, because as a retired teacher I spent my life caring about kids in this province.
Meanwhile dogs across Alberta are perking up their ears. 🤦🏼♂️
I would also wonder if these books were selected by the school librarian, or whether they found their way onto the shelves by way of kids being kids, in the manner the author describes herself and her friends at that age. I went to a parochial school and I recall a particular paperback that became very popular as it was shared from student to student … someone had "found" it in the library.
Too often these arguments are framed as protective but they weren’t problematic for ten years but now they are? None of them are “new”. It reeks of a solution in search of a problem.
I don’t trust their judgement about what is acceptable material, especially in light of their views on LGBTQ2+ youth.
Ultimately, I think this whole thing is about distracting the public from their huge shortcomings - health care scandal, lowest per student funding in Canada, cutting AISH funding- the list goes on and on.
“Paranoia strikes deep; Into your life it will creep; it starts when you’re always afraid … “ Stephen Stills & Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth”
One of the best laughs I ever had in 40 years of pastoral life was going over one church’s monthly telephone bill was trying to determine responsibility for numerous calls that none of the staff said were there’s. Long story short, found out a couple young teenagers had found out how to access 1-900 numbers from the phone in the church kitchen. This was back in the ‘90s when 900 numbers were fairly new and even the Telus operator I finally called to explain and ask for help didn’t know what it was until she said: “well, here, I’m just going to call one myself and see what happens.
“Get ready for the hottest, sexiest conversations you’ve ever had” some Hot Tamale responded.
“Woops, Father,” the operator said, “looks like you’ve got some errant parishoners!”
“Impossible,” I responded, and we both had a good chuckle, and learned something that evening!
I have so many problems with this government and their trash surveys and their constant moral panic. I never believe their reasons for doing anything. Why so little context? Why all LGBTQ+ books? Am I supposed to believe a kindergartener signed it out? This government is dishonest and amoral.
I can't help but feel like this is all manufactured to keep us fighting with each other, instead of looking at what they're doing. i agree, it's probably just a big song and dance direct from Measlestown that keeps us from understanding why three major unions want to strike or there's a series of investigations into corruption.
Also, as a GenXer who had her share of spicy novels passed from desk to desk during Language Arts class, I agree - kids are gonna be kids. I'm pretty sure by the time they get to the graphic novels in their libraries now, they've seen everything on a phone in the playground. There's always that one kid (or ten, or 20) with unfettered access.
I don’t trust their judgement about what is acceptable material, especially in light of their views on LGBTQ2+ youth.
Ultimately, I think this whole thing is about distracting the public from their huge shortcomings - health care scandal, lowest per student funding in Canada, cutting AISH funding- the list goes on and on.
I don’t trust their judgement about what is acceptable material, especially in light of their views on LGBTQ2+ youth.
Ultimately, I think this whole thing is about distracting the public from their huge shortcomings - health care scandal, lowest per student funding in Canada, cutting AISH funding- the list goes on and on.
I’m soooo tired of a tight-assed group of ‘freedom’ lovers attempting to DICTATE to me and fellow Albertans what we can and cannot do, see and read! A group of people who like and believe in less government have to increase it in order to ensure we follow along with their ‘common sense’ policies. I mean, really, common sense to who, for who? As Einstein said - common sense is all the prejudices learned by age 18. If these folks want to live in a box, fine, go do that, start a commune, but do not EXPECT the rest of us to turn our world into your box. Ain’t going to happen. Does all this nonsense serve the greater good? No. It certainly does not.
So agree. I’m tired of them dictating the conservatism to me.
Well said!
High praise! Truly, thank you.
And you! ❤️🇨🇦
Thanks for writing this. The story today has given me the "ick" but not because of the described content. The government needs to stay in it's lane. There does seem to be more to the story that hasn't been told. I hope we do get a chance to know exactly how this government decided to insert itself here.
Totally agree. Considering these books aren’t new, it is also curious why it’s a problem *today*.
Call me cynical, but this suddenly became a problem yesterday because the results of the ATA teachers strike authorization vote come out today.
Did they provide the titles, or merely describe them?
He didn’t provide titles in the presser, but the BlueSky post at the end has them.
She’s following the Trump playbook to the letter. Taking over policing, taking over our elections, taking over the Heritage fund, the healthcare scandal that is so obvious and I can go on. Albertans need to wake up. Project 2025 is being implemented, we need her gone.
Which of these is going to cause more harm to children in Alberta: “bad” books in an underfunded school library, or lack of response from an underfunded public health system to a potentially deadly measles outbreak? Just asking, because as a retired teacher I spent my life caring about kids in this province.
Meanwhile dogs across Alberta are perking up their ears. 🤦🏼♂️
Bingo.
I would also wonder if these books were selected by the school librarian, or whether they found their way onto the shelves by way of kids being kids, in the manner the author describes herself and her friends at that age. I went to a parochial school and I recall a particular paperback that became very popular as it was shared from student to student … someone had "found" it in the library.
Too often these arguments are framed as protective but they weren’t problematic for ten years but now they are? None of them are “new”. It reeks of a solution in search of a problem.
I don’t trust their judgement about what is acceptable material, especially in light of their views on LGBTQ2+ youth.
Ultimately, I think this whole thing is about distracting the public from their huge shortcomings - health care scandal, lowest per student funding in Canada, cutting AISH funding- the list goes on and on.
“Paranoia strikes deep; Into your life it will creep; it starts when you’re always afraid … “ Stephen Stills & Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth”
One of the best laughs I ever had in 40 years of pastoral life was going over one church’s monthly telephone bill was trying to determine responsibility for numerous calls that none of the staff said were there’s. Long story short, found out a couple young teenagers had found out how to access 1-900 numbers from the phone in the church kitchen. This was back in the ‘90s when 900 numbers were fairly new and even the Telus operator I finally called to explain and ask for help didn’t know what it was until she said: “well, here, I’m just going to call one myself and see what happens.
“Get ready for the hottest, sexiest conversations you’ve ever had” some Hot Tamale responded.
“Woops, Father,” the operator said, “looks like you’ve got some errant parishoners!”
“Impossible,” I responded, and we both had a good chuckle, and learned something that evening!
🤣
The engagement survey is available.
https://www.alberta.ca/school-library-standards-engagement?fbclid=IwY2xjawKh7NdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFuZ0FJTlpEZUZ0a0J2dTcxAR5rLrk6rHiCotPMHJVi_LMUXCtyn-A2wVl3qjEszeI1ZV6X3HuH6Ob_A5OfFQ_aem_S2nXlbv15OmmVCQIUsVfAQ
I’ll add it thank you!!
I have so many problems with this government and their trash surveys and their constant moral panic. I never believe their reasons for doing anything. Why so little context? Why all LGBTQ+ books? Am I supposed to believe a kindergartener signed it out? This government is dishonest and amoral.
I can't help but feel like this is all manufactured to keep us fighting with each other, instead of looking at what they're doing. i agree, it's probably just a big song and dance direct from Measlestown that keeps us from understanding why three major unions want to strike or there's a series of investigations into corruption.
Also, as a GenXer who had her share of spicy novels passed from desk to desk during Language Arts class, I agree - kids are gonna be kids. I'm pretty sure by the time they get to the graphic novels in their libraries now, they've seen everything on a phone in the playground. There's always that one kid (or ten, or 20) with unfettered access.
Or an older sibling! I was the older sibling, so I didn’t have that, myself, but I probably inadvertently educated my younger sister.
Oh absolutely! My younger sister knew a lot of things I didn’t, either because she had older siblings or her friends did. (And THEY had Superchannel.)
Hahaha that was an “if you know, you know” right there!
This IS all manufactured, it’s part of project 2025, racist and meant for control.
Yes, it absolutely is. If we’re fighting each other, we can’t fight them.
Book reviews? Censorship lists?
I don’t trust their judgement about what is acceptable material, especially in light of their views on LGBTQ2+ youth.
Ultimately, I think this whole thing is about distracting the public from their huge shortcomings - health care scandal, lowest per student funding in Canada, cutting AISH funding- the list goes on and on.
Once again, Conservatives showing their disconnect with education and incredibly archaic viewpoints.
I want to see proof that man can actually read at a grade 12 level before we let him “review” whether books can be in libraries.
I don’t trust their judgement about what is acceptable material, especially in light of their views on LGBTQ2+ youth.
Ultimately, I think this whole thing is about distracting the public from their huge shortcomings - health care scandal, lowest per student funding in Canada, cutting AISH funding- the list goes on and on.
Thank you for this column, not in Alberta but thus sort of nonsense goes on all over the place e