Debate over book bans in classrooms highlights limitations of school trustees' role, experts say

A polarizing debate over banning books in schools in Chilliwack, B.C., has highlighted the lack of control that elected school boards have over classroom curriculum — even as some people running to be trustees promise to make changes to what children are being taught.

In late August, several Chilliwack Board of Education trustees spoke out against books in local school libraries, saying they contain inappropriate sexual content for children and youth.

Other trustees have defended the books, resulting in heated debates within the community. 

One of the books that caught the attention of Chilliwack school trustee Heather Maahs is All Boys Aren't Blue, a coming-of-age story about a queer person of colour.

Maahs believes the material is too explicit. She says she wants to bring forward a policy change that allows the board to set parameters around what is appropriate in school.

"We are now in the situation where books of, I'm going to call them a pornographic nature, are now in our schools —  elementary, middle and high school, and the board now has no parameters setting what is or isn't appropriate for students," Maahs said.

Fellow trustee Willow Reichelt says that's not realistic.

"It's not a concept that makes any sense to anyone who actually understands how education works," she said.

She says All Boys Aren't Blue is available in one high school library and the book is appropriate for older students.

"I can't believe that suddenly in 2022 we're talking about book banning."

Both Maahs and Reichelt are running for election to the Chilliwack school board on Oct. 15.

So, too, are three candidates endorsed by ParentsVoice B.C., a new political organization urging parents to "Take Back Our Schools" and hand more control of classroom curriculums over to local communities.

But experts point out those goals are at odds with what elected school boards and trustees can actually accomplish in B.C.

Reichelt points out the province sets the curriculum, and the responsibility for what is taught in classrooms is handed over to educators who are in the best position to know what learning resources are needed to convey the curriculum.