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AIBU?

Stupid school rule?

571 replies

upsideup · 24/02/2018 15:12

DC's school recently introuduced an hour of silent reading per week, dd absolutely loved this (DS doesn't but it has encouraged him to read more). Untill now they have been taking in a book from home, DD10 who spends hours reading for pleasure anyway takes in the book shes reading at home. I dont choose her books and I am also not strict about what she reads, was already aware that some of the books she enjoys were targeted at an age range slightly above hers.
We have had a letter home saying that dd's book this week was rated as 14+ so is not suitable to be read at school and I should send her in with a book suitable for her age so under 10's as teachers are not going to be closely monitoring what books the children are reading. That is ridiculous right?
She had not told us this all week as shes worried shes in trouble with the teacher but her book was taken off her and she was given a random book from the libary by the teacher which is not the sort of thing she likes and was too 'babyish' for her so she spent the whole lesson doing nothing.
To be clear the books she is reading are young teen fiction books, not gory or sexual true crime books, theres maybe mentions of kissing or mild swearing but nothing harmful or frightening for a 10 year old to hear, mine atleast and as its silent reading and not being read aloud surely its nobodies business what shes reading and it should be mine and her dads decision if its suitable or not for her, not the teachers?
We are going stuggle to find a book aimed at under 10s that she enjoys and I also have know idea how to find out what age rating a book has and surely its just a reccomendation to what age group may enjoy the book not a strict rule?
I can see the benefit of quietly reading at school and definately not one of the many parents who complained when the silent reading was introduced but what benefit is forcing her to read a book that she dosnt enjoy and is below her level? Shouldnt she be encouraged to challenge herself and have an enjoyment for reading not punished?

Do your schools do the same? AIBU to want to challenge this stupid rule?

OP posts:
trinity0097 · 24/02/2018 15:14

Many YA are not suitable for school. Find to let her read at home but not to bring in to school.
What was the book? Have you read it all?

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 24/02/2018 15:14

YANBU

masktaster · 24/02/2018 15:15

I'd have a quiet word with the teacher - perhaps they thought you weren't aware of what she's reading and wanted to cover their backs.

It is up to you to determine what's suitable, ultimately.

LittleLights · 24/02/2018 15:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

masktaster · 24/02/2018 15:17

What sort of genre books does she enjoy? There are some good hefty not-YA books that might be better suited to school

PilarTernera · 24/02/2018 15:17

YANBU instead of spending the time reading a book she was interested in, she spent the time doing nothing. How is that benefiting her education? Definitely speak to the teacher.

haba · 24/02/2018 15:20

Alex Rider that is essentially about a child recruited to kill other children?

haba · 24/02/2018 15:21

OP, we need to know which book, before deciding if YABU Wink

BoneyBackJefferson · 24/02/2018 15:21

just send a note in saying that you are happy with books that she is choosing.

catkind · 24/02/2018 15:21

Who rated it? Maybe choose something classic to be her school book and keep it in her bag separate from home reading. I can see they can't have them reading 50 shades in school and can't be expected to read every teen book a child brings in to make sure there's nothing explicit. Books rated under 10 for a 10 yr old seems a bit limiting though.

BlueMirror · 24/02/2018 15:23

Yabu. If you want to let her read those kinds of books at home then that's fine but I can understand the school not allowing it. They aren't going to necessarily know the contents of the books and if other children go home asking their parents for a book their friend has read in school they will assume it's appropriate.
Unless you have read the books yourself are you sure what is in them? I was horrified listening to my dd read a young adult Jacqueline Wilson book where sex was being discussed in a much more explicit way than I was happy with. I didn't realise that some of her books were for older readers (says in in tiny writing) so I always check now.

SeaToSki · 24/02/2018 15:23

Would she be interested in any non fiction? That might fit the two goals of being interesting for her and the school being over zealous

Notmyideamovingon · 24/02/2018 15:24

I would go back to the classics? They can be heavy going for younger readers due to old fashioned language but still superb stories (for all ages in my opinion!). So secret garden,v the little princess, little lots fauntelroy, railway children etc? Or goodnight mister tom, pink rabbit Judith Kerr etc

Anythingforacatslife · 24/02/2018 15:27

There are loads of appropriate 9-12 year old books, they’re most certainly not babyish. Have a look in your local Waterstones. My dd is also 10, an excellent reader and is having no difficulty finding appropriate and challenging books without the need for venturing into the YA section.

upsideup · 24/02/2018 15:27

The book is a ship beyond time by Heidi Hellig, she has already read the first book.

OP posts:
Chrys2017 · 24/02/2018 15:28

Challenge the rule and get other parents on your side if need be! Once again, a school chooses to hinder a child's learning for the sake of conforming to 'rules'.

haba · 24/02/2018 15:32

Possibly it's the canoodling aspect school object to?

LinoleumBlownapart · 24/02/2018 15:34

Young teen fiction for 14 plus is not suitable for 10 year olds, at 10 children are rarely interested in the opposite sex, young relationships and begining of sexual feelings and fantasies. Most teen fiction of 14+ is about this.

upsideup · 24/02/2018 15:35

other children go home asking their parents for a book their friend has read in school they will assume it's appropriate.

Its not my job to parent other children though is it? I should get decide what my daughter can and connot read and whether it is suitable for her not for every other child is the class. Fair enough if she had to read it aloud to the rest of the class but its silent reading, they are not allowed to talk to each other about their books.

OP posts:
BlueMirror · 24/02/2018 15:36

Looking online it says it's aimed at 14+ so I imagine it must contain more than kissing and the odd mild swear which you would find in the Harry Potter books!
It's a funny age. It's not a big issue if a 5 yr old is able to read books aimed at 10 yr olds but there are themes in teen fiction that are entirely inappropriate for 10 yr olds.
There are plenty of great age appropriate books for her age. The Percy Jackson series, The Oz books etc. Dd really enjoyed the Little House on the Prairie books at that age as well plus all the other old classics mentioned. Schools have to draw the line somewhere.

ForgivenessIsDivine · 24/02/2018 15:41

Is this a conversation you can have with the teacher / librarian / head teacher?

user1498927651 · 24/02/2018 15:43

There are loads of appropriate 9-12 year old books, they’re most certainly not babyish. Have a look in your local Waterstones. My dd is also 10, an excellent reader and is having no difficulty finding appropriate and challenging books without the need for venturing into the YA section.
Surely it is up to the child whether they find a book babyish or not? My 11 year old often has difficulty finding appropriate and challenging books in the YA section, he has been reading Percy Jackson and similar since he was 8, and now reads some YA books, but mostly adult sci-fi.

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Jenasaurus · 24/02/2018 15:43

This may not be the right thing to suggest but what about using the cover of an age appropriate book to wrap around her current book. I doubt they read the actual contents

Verbena37 · 24/02/2018 15:45

There are so many great books, suitable for her age group.
Has she read the whole Narnia series?
Famous Five series?
The older Michael Morpurgo books?
If she’s into horses...all the Christine (and her sisters) Pullein-Thompson books are fab.
Marsh road Mysteries series by Ellen Caldecott are great. Boys and girls detective adventure stories.

DumbledoresApprentice · 24/02/2018 15:45

From commonsense media:
“Parents need to know that The Ship Beyond Time continues the fantasy adventure begun in The Girl from Everywhere. Moving away from its original historical setting, this installment steers the action into mythical locales as Nixie seeks an oracle. The story features teens involved in criminal activities (pirating and other robberies). Sexual content is mostly limited to flirting and cuddling while sleeping. Violent scenes include a nonfatal shooting, the brutal capture of a mermaid, and a climactic battle. Strong language is limited to a dozen instances each of "damn" and "hell," with one or two exclamations of "Jesus," "s--t," and "goddamn." Nixie's father is addicted to opium. Kashmir drinks whiskey.”

Sounds fine to me.

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