Transgender child the subject of a class reader?

[armpitz]

<a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1407158279/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1490713297&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=george&dpPl=1&dpID=41j4YJmGqFL&ref=plSrch&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">here

Now, I haven't read it yet but AIBU to be a bit unsure about this?

[LittleGwyneth]

I'd say you probably need to read it before you start making any kind of judgement?

[MommaGee]

How old is your child?

[brasty]

"Middle grade contemporary fiction. This is a sweet, poignant novel about an elementary school student named George, who was born a boy but knows in her heart that she is a girl. When the chance comes to do the school's yearly production of Charlotte's Web, George knows that she wants to be Charlotte, the wise and kind mother spider, but will taking the role force her to reveal more about her true self than she is ready to share?

This is a fast read, great for giving elementary kids a glimpse of what it's like to be a young transgender person in a world that doesn't comprehend or accept you. I loved George's best friend Kelly and her music-composer father. I loved George's internal struggle to come out to her mom and her friend Kelly. The first scene is especially well done, where George's big brother questions why she was in the bathroom with the door locked, and speculates that she was looking at girlie magazines. George's brother is right, but not the way he thinks: George secretly peruses the pages of Girls' Life and dreams of being accepted as female.

Many transgender students know who they are well before puberty, as George's story makes clear. I have seen this struggle with several of my own students during my time in K-8 schools. This is a timely and important topic, and not something schools can pretend to ignore until kids are "old enough to know about this sort of thing." In my humble opinion, it's never too soon to be accepting and inclusive. "

www.goodreads.com/book/show/24612624-george

It pushes a particular viewpoint.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I'd be pretty pissed off TBH. Reading the reviews it's seems to buy into the whole born in the wrong body. It propagates the whole bullshit that if you are a boy and want to play a girl in the school play, then you must really be a girl.

The fact that the main character is called George just reminded me of my favourite character when I was wee. George in famous five, who wanted to do boy stuff etc, but it was never ever suggested that she was actually a boy, just a girl who didn't conform to gender stereotypes.

[Trifleorbust]

Aw it sounds lovely.

[MommaGee]

It propagates the whole bullshit that if you are a boy and want to play a girl in the school play, then you must really be a girl.

Is presume there's more in the detail of the boom than she decided she wants to be Charlotte and thus decided she must be a girl

The reviews are really good. Anything that gets is thinking and taking is a good thing surely? I'd read it myself and prepare yourself for questions

[brasty]

It is not about getting children thinking. It is about teaching them a particular view around Transgenderism.

OP I would ask when they are going to read a book about being a lesbian, or having a lesbian mother.

[MommaGee]

They're reading a book. Up can also read it and talk top get child. She can yell get child different views on it. She can talk to DC about different peoples opinions on it.
Is a reading book not a text book. Or should generate discussion not absolute brain washing.
I'm going to assume s you copied and posted a review from goodreads you've nor read it either

[Renaissance2017]

Read it and then make a decision. Otherwise you'll just be making a knee jerk reaction.

[VladmirsPoutine]

Here we go again...

[Fl0ellafunbags]

What do you think will happen? Do you think your child will catch gender dysphoria?

[brasty]

No but the OPs child may believe what they are being taught, that it is possible to change sex

[MommaGee]

No but the OPs child may believe what they are being taught, that it is possible to change sex
Em at risk of being radical, maybe UP could read it and talk to her child about it and have a sensible discussion bearing in mind that this is something her child will be growing up around.

Or perhaps we could just burn it

[MommaGee]

OP.

[brasty]

Strawman argument. Nobody is talking about burning books.

[armpitz]

Brasty that's my concern. It's not my child guys - I have to teach it! :) And, I know there's loads of threads and so on but you know, you don't have to post, etcetera.

[BorpBorpBorp]

You should read it before deciding against it. I don't see what the problem would be, though. Your children will definitely meet trans people at some point during their lives. Knowing that trans people exist will not harm them in any way.

[MommaGee]

As your the teacher then defiantly read it before deciding against it. Some of the online reviews are clearly from teachers who think it's great. You may have kids in your class struggling with gender identity.

Do you prewarn the parents? Personally I wouldn't expect you to bit knowing what some people are like...

[BorpBorpBorp]

Oh! I didn't realise you were the teacher, sorry. I think it's a great idea in principle, but you're more qualified to determine whether this book in particular is appropriate for your class.

You might want to check with your head or the check the school's inclusion policy or something (I don't know) to get a feel for how well protected you would be if there were any backlash from parents.

[GahBuggerit]

How old are the kids?

As a parent I'd like to know about this beforehand so I can ensure my children know about the facts ie. its not possible to change sex, boys are boys and always will be, same for girls etc and maybe check hes aware that authors can write about pretty much anything it doesnt make it true etc etc

[Fairyflaps]

Can you accidentally read them the Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler instead?

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

VladmirsPoutine Tue 28-Mar-17 16:32:46


Here we go again...





its almost daily now!

[armpitz]

Well, you're absolutely correct and it may be far more nuanced than I believe at first glance. However, while certainly some will be struggling with gender identity, I do feel rather that other common adolescent struggles such as sexuality and so on haven't really been dealt with in teenage fiction appropriated for schools.

In other words, this text has an agenda and that may have not been the intention when it was published but nonetheless it's there.

[MommaGee]

GahB I was working on things assumption that child would bring it home and show you. Pre warning parents before they even have a chance to read it just seems like inciting trouble

[MommaGee]

How one are your students? Can you source other reading material to teach. It was written by someone who is trans so I'd assume their agenda is their experience and acceptance.