from Hacker News

Book ban in a Canadian bus company

by jchampem on 4/24/15, 6:51 AM with 20 comments

  • by duncan_bayne on 4/24/15, 6:57 AM

    "Our only goal is to make sure students are safe."

    This is the problem.

    Parents who won't let their children play unsupervised.

    Police who won't let children walk home from the park.

    Schools who won't let children experience rough and tumble play.

    Park designers who won't let children take physical risks.

    Here's the thing: human flourishing requires danger. At almost all stages of development.

  • by huhtenberg on 4/24/15, 8:05 AM

    Yeah, that's Canada alright.

    Kids on a bike with training wheels wearing a helmet, knee and elbow pads, a mouth guard with a copy of the liability insurance sticking out of the back pocket. Can't be too safe, you know.

    Five flag persons "managing" traffic, causing it to back up three blocks each way, while one dude is trimming a bush on a sidewalk. That's just how we roll.

    As ridiculous as this book ban is, I am not a bit surprised that it's a Canadian development (though it is a bit odd that it comes from Quebec of all places).

  • by ghshephard on 4/24/15, 8:06 AM

    20 Minutes is a pretty long bus ride, twice a day, to not be able to read, use your smartphone, play a video game, whatever...

    I recognize the driving force here, is the attempt to eliminate risk - but, at some point, we've got to realize that there is a concept of "acceptable risk" - and deal with the consequences.

    Are kids allowed to climb trees anymore? Seriously, if riding the bus is considered a risky endeavor because kids might look at something someone else has, how do parents feel about their 8 year olds 45' up a pine tree?

  • by rffn on 4/24/15, 10:24 AM

    This is replaying a common scheme to define some rules which cover the most stupid people around and then defend these rules because they are "for the children". Labeling everything as verboten is one of the society diseases of our times.

  • by tempestn on 4/24/15, 7:56 AM

    Even in an accident I hardly think holding a book is going to be a major safety issue. Don't play with scissors or bricks on the bus, sure, but a book?

  • by tallanvor on 4/24/15, 9:03 AM

    If I were the child's father, I'd tell her that it's safe to ignore that "rule" and keep reading.

  • by defractional on 4/24/15, 2:02 PM

    Idiocracy