WRDSB trustees reject motion on ‘age appropriateness’ of library material
Posted Apr 14, 2022 10:17:00 AM.
Trustees with the Waterloo Region District School Board have voted down a motion that would have seen staff present a “detailed report” on the “discrepancy” between Ministry of Education guidelines on human development and sexual health and the resources available in public school libraries.
That motion was brought forward to the public school board on Monday by Trustee Cindy Watson, spurred on by what Watson called “multiple parent concerns” as well as those from community members. Watson said that she'd received both emails and phonecalls regarding “age appropriateness” and the concern that there could be “inconsistencies” between provincial curriculum guidelines for sexual health and the books that are available to Kindergarten to Grade 6 students.
“I don't determine age appropriateness. The school board does not determine age appropriateness. The province does – according to curriculum guidelines which are taught by grade in the classroom,” said Watson. “Community members are concerned that the provincial curriculum guidelines may not apply in school libraries, and would like more information and reassurance that sexual health curriculum guidelines also apply in school libraries.”
While Watson maintained that the intent of the motion was to “help build understanding and provide clarity for parents”, the motion was ultimately shot down by a vote of six to three with one abstention by Trustee Kathi Smith.
Speaking on the language used in the motion, Trustee Karen Meissner took issue with the phrase “age appropriateness” as she said that she had learned it could be “quite harmful” in suggesting that individuals who identify as two-spirit or LGBTQ+ are “not age appropriate.” Meissner also argued that public schools are already equipped with “really skilled, expert staff” in both learning and library resources who actively curate the books available in board libraries “in a careful way.”
“It's often used to question the identity of two-spirit or LGBTQ+ people…” said Meissner. “This is actually a phrase that's used to undermine the humanity of those folks. It's quite harmful and I felt obligated to share my learning in that with others so they can consider that in going forward.”
Trustees including Laurie Tremble also raised that there are already processes in place for parents or community members that may have concerns over the content in public school board libraries, directing them to speak to their staff or principle to figure out what books may need to be addressed. That notion was echoed by Trustee Jayne Herring who noted that the concerns raised by those individuals should be addressed on an individual basis, as not every concern may be the same.
“We're a public board, and as such we provide education to all students – each and every one – and in my opinion, this motion does not support the needs of all students and is actually, as we've heard, harmful for some of our students.” said Herring. “I know our role as trustees is to look after student achievement and wellbeing, and I don't believe this motion fits in with that mandate either.”
Herring added that she hadn't received any complaints regarding the issue at hand in four years as a trustee.
There was also concern raised regarding the “age appropriateness” issue of public library material by Trustee Joanne Weston, who expressed concern that the complaints raised could be coming from a place of prejudice.
“… is it books about all relationships or just Queer relationships that are a concern? Is it about all children understanding their bodies and feelings, or just 2SLGBTQ children understanding their bodies and feelings that's a concern?” said Weston. “I know there's books in libraries that discuss how cis, heterosexual children feel about themselves and others, and I've never heard any objection to any of those books… so I'm really concerned that this motion is about that.”
Responding to those concerns, Trustee Watson assured trustees that the motion had “nothing to do with any particular group or any particular child”, insisting that the complaints and concerns she had heard from parents were in ensuring that library material was in line with curriculum and provincial guidelines – focused on building a better understanding about the library for those individuals.
Voting in favour of the motion alongside Trustees Watson and Crystal Whetham was Trustee Mike Ramsay, who reminded fellow trustees of the “shared public duty” to advance the work of the board for all students and families, arguing that what he was hearing from their opposition was that the concerns received by Watson from families was “not valid.”
“Quite often when we don't want to move forward on something… without providing any evidence, we talk about the harm it causes.” said Ramsay. “So what about if other families that have concern about library materials… what if they feel that they are harmed? How do we address their concerns? I think we need to fully recognize that trustees collectively and individually owe a public duty to carry out our responsibilities and the work of the board in good faith and with reasonable dilligence.”
