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Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Alberta government orders removal of sexually explicit books from school libraries
Alberta's government has introduced new province-wide standards for school libraries , mandating the removal of books containing explicit sexual content from K-12 schools by October 1. The move, announced through a ministerial order by Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, comes after months of growing debate over certain graphic novels available in public school libraries. 'This is not about banning books,' Nicolaides said. 'Our actions to ensure that materials in school libraries don't expose children to sexual content were never about banning books. These new standards are to ensure school boards have clear guidance to ensure age-appropriate access while reflecting the values and priorities of Albertans.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo The order prohibits materials with 'a detailed and clear depiction of a sexual act,' including masturbation, genital contact, and penetration. Non-explicit sexual content will only be available to students in Grades 10-12 if deemed developmentally appropriate. Students in Grade 9 and below are not allowed access to such materials. Books specifically named by the province as inappropriate include: Live Events Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe Fun Home by Alison Bechdel Blankets by Craig Thompson Flamer by Mike Curato These books were found in both elementary and high schools under the Calgary Board of Education and the Edmonton Public School Board. The government says materials about puberty, menstruation, and breastfeeding are not restricted at any grade level. Religious books, such as the Bible, are exempt from the new order. School boards must now: Remove all books with explicit sexual content by October 1, 2025 Publicly post their library catalogues Ensure staff supervise students' access to library resources Align their policies with the new standards by January 1, 2026 No additional funding has been allocated to support schools in implementing these changes. The Calgary Board of Education responded, saying it 'already has rigorous processes' for evaluating library materials. The Calgary Catholic School District also stated it 'will align with the new mandated standards.' Critics, including public librarians and teacher unions, argue this is a political move targeting LGBTQ+ content. 'This is a ban in all but name,' said Peter Bailey, CEO of St. Albert Public Library. An online government survey that received over 77,000 valid responses showed 42 percent of Albertans supported banning sexually explicit content outright, while 22 percent favored limiting it based on grade level. The policy does not apply to classroom materials selected by teachers or municipal libraries located within school buildings.
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Edmonton students run, jump and throw for gold at track and field championship
Students prepare for a race at the Edmonton Public School Board Junior High Track & Field City Championships on Monday, June 16, 2025. (Evan Klippenstein/CTV Edmonton.) Hundreds of student athletes put their best foot forward at the Edmonton Public School Board Junior High Track & Field City Championships on Monday. The event was originally set for last Tuesday but had to be rescheduled due to bad air quality in the city, a coordinator for the championship said. 'It's nerve wracking but it's also a great feeling to be able to have this opportunity to push yourself and see how far you can go,' said Grade 9 relay race student athlete Sydney Salisbury at the meet. 'It's a great bonding experience for us because we're all super close friends.' There were more than 100 faces on the track at Rollie Miles Athletic Grounds and more than 65 schools took part in track and field events including: long jump, triple jump, shot put and turbo javelin.
National Observer
09-06-2025
- General
- National Observer
'General acceptance': A year of banning cellphones in Canada's classrooms
Sixteen-year-old Roha Akram was skeptical when teachers in Calgary announced a cellphone ban during the first assembly of the school year. "I was like, 'No one's going to follow this,'" the Grade 11 student recalled of the change in September. "It's just the nature of teenagers. We don't like rules." Teachers didn't want to see phones on desks or in pockets, Akram added. "They wanted it in the backpack, in the locker, in the car." She said the ban has been good for some students, who just need a reminder to focus in class, particularly when teachers are speaking. But some have struggled. One teacher took a phone away from a boy who was really attached to his device, she said. "He started acting crazy. He went around asking everyone, 'Can I use your phone? Can I use your phone? I need to go on Instagram.' "I saw phones are kind of becoming an addiction." As the school year wraps up this month, education ministries across Canada say there have been overall positive results from banning cellphones. They say it has taught students not to develop unhealthy attachments to their phones and to focus on lessons in the classroom. Last fall, most provinces introduced policies to limit cellphone use in schools, similar to jurisdictions in other countries. Before the ban in Manitoba, Education Minister Tracy Schmidt said a school librarian complained to her that students were too quiet sitting around the stacks of books. "The students would come in groups, sit down at a table together, pull out their cellphones and they would all sit there. You could hear a pin drop," said Schmidt. The cellphone ban has returned the chatter and socialization among students, she said. "They still come with their groups of friends, but now they're sitting, they're talking, they're laughing. They might pick up a board game. (The librarian) was really, really grateful to the province for taking this step." Ontario's education ministry said parents and teachers find the ban has created a better learning environment. "As we close out the first full year of implementation, we will continue gathering input to understand how the policy has worked in practice, where it has been effective, and where further support may be needed," said spokesperson Emma Testani. In Nova Scotia, school staff were surprised by how smoothly it was to implement the new directive, said education spokesperson Alex Burke. "While not all students like leaving their devices out of the classroom, there is a general acceptance of the benefit of limiting cellphone use and appreciation of the opportunity to ignore their phones," said Burke. The Edmonton Public School Board, Alberta's largest school division, said it didn't notice any significant issues. "Schools had the flexibility to determine how best to implement the ban, whether it meant introducing new practices or adjusting current ones," said spokesperson Kim Smith. A year of the ban doesn't mean students aren't still using phones in class, admitted Akram. Some have just become more sneaky. One fellow student used a textbook to hide his phone while teachers were talking, she said. "He just watches YouTube Shorts the whole class." Akram said she also occasionally uses her phone during work time in class — her AirPods in her ears, under her hijab — so she can listen to music. When teachers do confiscate phones, they're typically returned at the end of class or the school day, she added. Akram said she can see why the ban might be necessary for generation Z and students with unhealthy attachments to their phones. "We were born when people were inventing iPads and iPhones ... so we grew up with screens." She said she thinks teachers will be stricter with the ban next year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
‘General acceptance': A year of banning cellphones in Canadian classrooms
EDMONTON - Sixteen-year-old Roha Akram was skeptical when teachers in Calgary announced a cellphone ban during the first assembly of the school year. 'I was like, 'No one's going to follow this,'' the Grade 11 student recalled of the change in September. 'It's just the nature of teenagers. We don't like rules.' Teachers didn't want to see phones on desks or in pockets, Akram added. 'They wanted it in the backpack, in the locker, in the car.' She said the ban has been good for some students, who just need a reminder to focus in class, particularly when teachers are speaking. But some have struggled. One teacher took a phone away from a boy who was really attached to his device, she said. 'He started acting crazy. He went around asking everyone, 'Can I use your phone? Can I use your phone? I need to go on Instagram.' 'I saw phones are kind of becoming an addiction.' As the school year wraps up this month, education ministries across Canada say there have been overall positive results from banning cellphones. They say it has taught students not to develop unhealthy attachments to their phones and to focus on lessons in the classroom. Last fall, most provinces introduced policies to limit cellphone use in schools, similar to jurisdictions in other countries. Before the ban in Manitoba, Education Minister Tracy Schmidt said a school librarian complained to her that students were too quiet sitting around the stacks of books. 'The students would come in groups, sit down at a table together, pull out their cellphones and they would all sit there. You could hear a pin drop,' said Schmidt. The cellphone ban has returned the chatter and socialization among students, she said. 'They still come with their groups of friends, but now they're sitting, they're talking, they're laughing. They might pick up a board game. (The librarian) was really, really grateful to the province for taking this step.' Ontario's education ministry said parents and teachers find the ban has created a better learning environment. 'As we close out the first full year of implementation, we will continue gathering input to understand how the policy has worked in practice, where it has been effective, and where further support may be needed,' said spokesperson Emma Testani. In Nova Scotia, school staff were surprised by how smoothly it was to implement the new directive, said education spokesperson Alex Burke. 'While not all students like leaving their devices out of the classroom, there is a general acceptance of the benefit of limiting cellphone use and appreciation of the opportunity to ignore their phones,' said Burke. The Edmonton Public School Board, Alberta's largest school division, said it didn't notice any significant issues. 'Schools had the flexibility to determine how best to implement the ban, whether it meant introducing new practices or adjusting current ones,' said spokesperson Kim Smith. A year of the ban doesn't mean students aren't still using phones in class, admitted Akram. Some have just become more sneaky. One fellow student used a textbook to hide his phone while teachers were talking, she said. 'He just watches YouTube Shorts the whole class.' Akram said she also occasionally uses her phone during work time in class — her AirPods in her ears, under her hijab — so she can listen to music. When teachers do confiscate phones, they're typically returned at the end of class or the school day, she added. Akram said she can see why the ban might be necessary for generation Z and students with unhealthy attachments to their phones. 'We were born when people were inventing iPads and iPhones ... so we grew up with screens.' She said she thinks teachers will be stricter with the ban next year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘General acceptance': A year of banning cellphones in Canadian classrooms
EDMONTON – Sixteen-year-old Roha Akram was skeptical when teachers in Calgary announced a cellphone ban during the first assembly of the school year. 'I was like, 'No one's going to follow this,'' the Grade 11 student recalled of the change in September. 'It's just the nature of teenagers. We don't like rules.' Teachers didn't want to see phones on desks or in pockets, Akram added. 'They wanted it in the backpack, in the locker, in the car.' She said the ban has been good for some students, who just need a reminder to focus in class, particularly when teachers are speaking. But some have struggled. One teacher took a phone away from a boy who was really attached to his device, she said. 'He started acting crazy. He went around asking everyone, 'Can I use your phone? Can I use your phone? I need to go on Instagram.' 'I saw phones are kind of becoming an addiction.' As the school year wraps up this month, education ministries across Canada say there have been overall positive results from banning cellphones. They say it has taught students not to develop unhealthy attachments to their phones and to focus on lessons in the classroom. Last fall, most provinces introduced policies to limit cellphone use in schools, similar to jurisdictions in other countries. Before the ban in Manitoba, Education Minister Tracy Schmidt said a school librarian complained to her that students were too quiet sitting around the stacks of books. 'The students would come in groups, sit down at a table together, pull out their cellphones and they would all sit there. You could hear a pin drop,' said Schmidt. The cellphone ban has returned the chatter and socialization among students, she said. 'They still come with their groups of friends, but now they're sitting, they're talking, they're laughing. They might pick up a board game. (The librarian) was really, really grateful to the province for taking this step.' Ontario's education ministry said parents and teachers find the ban has created a better learning environment. 'As we close out the first full year of implementation, we will continue gathering input to understand how the policy has worked in practice, where it has been effective, and where further support may be needed,' said spokesperson Emma Testani. In Nova Scotia, school staff were surprised by how smoothly it was to implement the new directive, said education spokesperson Alex Burke. 'While not all students like leaving their devices out of the classroom, there is a general acceptance of the benefit of limiting cellphone use and appreciation of the opportunity to ignore their phones,' said Burke. The Edmonton Public School Board, Alberta's largest school division, said it didn't notice any significant issues. 'Schools had the flexibility to determine how best to implement the ban, whether it meant introducing new practices or adjusting current ones,' said spokesperson Kim Smith. A year of the ban doesn't mean students aren't still using phones in class, admitted Akram. Some have just become more sneaky. One fellow student used a textbook to hide his phone while teachers were talking, she said. 'He just watches YouTube Shorts the whole class.' Akram said she also occasionally uses her phone during work time in class — her AirPods in her ears, under her hijab — so she can listen to music. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. When teachers do confiscate phones, they're typically returned at the end of class or the school day, she added. Akram said she can see why the ban might be necessary for generation Z and students with unhealthy attachments to their phones. 'We were born when people were inventing iPads and iPhones … so we grew up with screens.' She said she thinks teachers will be stricter with the ban next year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025.
