Teacher Banning 8 y.o. DS from bringing Bunny vs Monkey books to school for his friends to read

We don't actually know if she's objecting to the method or the reading material however. Which is why my post started with the word 'if'.

No I wasn’t there but the op said the teacher deemed them “violent “ and “inappropriate “. The point I am making is if the issue is around bringing in books in general as many have suggested as children can damage and steal the books etc there was no need to state this. Is this thread reserved only for those who were first hand witnesses to comment ? I’m just going on a what the op said. And I’ve said I can see both sides .

I don’t have a baldy clue 🤣….but more to the point, neither does OP ….just her kids version of events.

IF that is what the teacher said, worthy of further discussion.

Let's assume for a nanosecond that perhaps they didn't, or even if they did given it's the first day of term and they weren't quite on their game.

Take a breath and re approach.

More flies with honey than vinegar.

Bit dramatic🙄

This.

Well you seem to know, better than the OP that it's been done in an appropriate way 🙄

So she's deliberately discouraging the kids from reading.

There's a million reasons she could have stopped books coming into classes - my issue is how she's handled it in terms of saying the content is inappropriate.

That's not her judgement to make - what she's doing is telling other parents that these books are not good for children - when they are absolutely brilliant and should be encouraged with any child who is struggling. For educational reasons.

She's just crushed the OPs kid joy in the way she's done this and her reasoning.

Were you there?? ….did you hear how it was phrased??

I don’t know these books but I am going to link them to the recent riots is certainly a new take on Bunny Vs Monkey.

I do think the teacher should state there is a blanket ban on all books being brought in during school hours as opposed to this specific book if the issue is regarding children damaging and stealing each others property as others have suggested (which is also a very valid concern). The way it was phrased by the teacher was poor.

Well I would imagine she’s banned them for a variety of reasons…..OP only has her kids version…..and as we know there are are several versions to the same story..,,especially school stories

But 'inappropriate' is subjective, and it's her house!

Yes they are very silly and violent but that's sort of the point

I don’t know these books (mine are older) but perhaps recent events are suggesting silly violence is not a great point of focus at this age?

Are the people posting about it being disruptive for the teacher ignoring that this isn't the reason she banned the book!?

Sure it's disruptive bringing in and swapping books. Just say so and I'm sure most parents would be fine. It's the banning the book for being 'inappropriate' that's the problem. Like the kid took in 50 Shades of Grey in instead of Bunny v Monkey.

Maybe the Head will have a firm word back at the OP

Yep…I think it’s absolutely fine….given the circumstances ….and any headteacher would back the teacher in this situation.

these books may well be in the school library….and that’s fine….but a kid cannot be bringing in stuff like it’s a Richard and Judy book club

I agree with those who have said these are gateway books into proper reading. I just asked my DS (year 6) if BvM got him into reading he said definitely yes, and that he was an average reader before. He will part with his own money for these books, which is a rare thing.

He still loves reading them but moved from these to the Frostheart series which is a great first step and gripping. He also enjoyed the Skander series, Wolf Brother (a 9 book series), Arkspire and Greenwild. He's one of the most avid readers in his class and it's hugely helped his creative writing and vocabulary.

Yes they are very silly and violent but that's sort of the point.

DS has just pointed out he knew what a singularity is because of those books.

Have a polite chat with the teacher. There would be many reasons why they don't want him bringing in books

Should I do anything?

Share whatever books you like with your son’s friends outside of school.

But that's not why she's banned them though is it?

She's banned them because she doesn't like the content.

She didn’t just say no. She is out of order for the other thing that she said.

I’m not familiar with bunny vs monkey but I can see both sides. I often swapped books with other kids in school(though I was a bit older) it was none of the teachers business as the teacher was never involved. It’s great that your ds is passionate about reading at this age. Agree with suggestions to do it outside the school gates. I guess the issue is that if other parents have a problem they might complain and blame the teacher. It seems very petty to me but I used to work with children and I’ve met children (very occasionally) who were banned from reading Harry Potter etc. which is bizarre to me but you just never know who you are going to encounter working with the public.

So you think it's ok to ban books aimed specifically at boys with SEN and reading reluctance?

Ok then.

Hill to die on here for me.

I know how much BvM has helped numerous kids in my son's class and has been a great leveller for some who have particularly struggled.

It's rare I'd even think of challenging on this because of teachers being under pressure, but this decision is counter productive and liable to discourage reading in some kids with the way she's effectively told the kids off and made the books sound dreadful to other parents not familiar with them.

This-small kids bringing in their own toys/books etc from home causes no end of problems. I don’t blame the teacher in the slightest! If you want to organise a book swap for your child-do it outside of school.

It can take up a stupid amount of time identifying whose stuff is whose (shock, horror-some children try to keep/take/borrow stuff that isn’t theirs and swear blind it’s theirs from home!). Let the teachers teach. It’s bad enough trying to identify the owners of unnamed water bottles, jumpers, shoes, book bags and PE kits, let alone books from home.