Librarians’ work helps parents share joy of reading

A complaint from a parent about a classroom assignment to match the word “squaw” to “Aboriginal woman” has prompted a publisher to remove a book for review and is raising questions about how schools should teach controversial topics.

A Vancouver woman took to social media over the weekend to express her shock about educational material used at Templeton Secondary School in Vancouver related to the graphic novel Susanna

Moodie: Roughing it in the Bush.

Publisher Margie Wolfe of Second Story Press apologized Monday and said the book had been removed from the company’s website for review, along with all other material with content related to Indigenous history, peoples, and communities.

“We take very seriously the criticisms of this guide and sincerely apologize for the hurt and offence we have caused,” Wolfe said in a statement. “We appreciate the efforts made by everyone who called

attention to the guide, particularly the family in Vancouver, British Columbia, who were so hurt by the use of the resource in the classroom.”

The woman, whose name isn’t on her social media account, could not be reached for comment.

The novel is an adaptation of a Canadian classic first published in 1852. It was accompanied by a recently developed teaching guide that describes the book’s language as politically incorrect.