about swear words in my son's reading book?

[MM74]

My son is 7. His reading book from school contains the word 'bastard'. Am I being uptight, PFB and unreasonable if I complain?

[Flisspaps]

Yes.

[lesley33]

No. I am shocked it has this word in it tbh.

[ErikNorseman]

What is the book? It seems most odd.

[redwineformethanks]

I'm amazed. Definitely complain

[valiumredhead]

No. I wouldn't complain but I'd point it out to the teacher.

[seeker]

What's the book?

[SuperSlattern]

No. It's completly inappropriate in the classroom for language which can cause offence.

What was the context of it?

[TheCunningStunt]

What Valium said

[GetTheeToANunnery]

He is a bit young to be reading words like that. Which book is it?

[Bucharest]

Point it out to the teacher who can use it as an example of what words really mean,and therefore why they shouldn't be used in other contexts.

What was it?

I notice Ron Weasley says bloody all the time.

[frumpet]

its not bustard is it ?

[catgirl1976]

Depends on the context

[seeker]

Is this a very, very clever stealth boast about a child's reading age??

[Methe]

It would depend on the context.

[Step]

Crikey you want to censor literature? If they'd given him "Big and Bouncy the Christmas Edition, readers ' wives" then please complain. But the use of the word "bastard"? If he's reading Shakespeare it's all over the place...

"?I am a bastard, too. I love bastards! I am bastard begot, bastard instructed, bastard in mind, bastard in valor, in everything illegitimate.?
― William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida

He's going to hear it in the playground, on the street he may as well know what it means.

[Francagoestohollywood]

Lol @ Adversecomber

I love Ron Weasley saying bloody all the time, it is one of my fav english words!

[valiumredhead]

Unlikely to be reading full blown Shakespeare in the classroom at 7.

[MM74]

It's Michael Morpugo, Private Peaceful. And the context was something along the lines of 'If he says anything like that again, I'll tell her to shoot the bastard!'

I'm torn. Obviously I'm not into censorship and they all have to learn these things sometimes, but he's a bit young.

[Bucharest]

I love Ron Weasley.

(but not as much as Neville)

[supernannyisace]

Was it the audio book of Sharpe - featuring the lovely Sean Bean - he says 'bastard' a lot!



But it is an unsuitable word for a 7 year old to be reading.

[seeker]

Ok. Private Peaceful is unsuitable for a 7 year old. But not because of the language.

Ironic that you're happy with "I'll tell her to shoot the..." but not with. "bastard"!!

[MM74]

I'm not that happy with the rest, but it was the explicit use of the swear word that really crystallised it for me. He's read a lot of the book to himself (in school, he has a foot injury and had to sit out PE) so I don't know how much he's taken in already.

I've put a note in his reading record saying I'm slightly concerned and wondering whether it's appropriate given his age. But that makes me feel like I'm being precious ....

[seeker]

You would be being precious if you were just complaining about the word. But I am AMAZED that this book is available to 7 year olds. I would be very annoyed...it sounds as if his teacher hasn't read it. I would lose it and find something suitable for him to read.

[Honeydragon]

I get where your coming from, at 7 its not language you'd expect to hear in the class room so probably shouldn't be in the class text.

At home you can monitor and discuss what he reads and why, at school he is reading independently for a skill, so it may not be addressed as you would in the home.