There are many lessons in books – and in the attempts to ban them

opinion

There were myriad lessons to be learned as Canadians returned to school this week, not all of them directed toward the students themselves.

The Alberta government was schooled on the consequences of making bad decisions. The province ordering sexually explicit books removed from school libraries led to the Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB) banning more than 200 books – a list that was leaked to great outrage, including from one of the listed authors, Margaret Atwood .

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith accused the EPSB of “malicious compliance.” But with opposition building – Ms. Atwood’s voice acting as a megaphone of wry sanity – Alberta Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides paused the order.

In case Ms. Smith, Mr. Nicolaides, et al are looking for somet