11 YO DD1 told not to bring Twilight book into school again because it's 'unchristian'

[AgentZigzag]

DD1s teacher from last year asked her what she was reading at playtime on Friday, DD1 told her it was 'New Moon' which we'd bought her for her birthday in December.

The teacher hurried off and had quiet words with the teacher taking her class this year, they both came back and said she wasn't in trouble, but they didn't want her to bring the book in again to school because it's at odds with the christian values of the school (it's C of E).

The teacher said she'd read the first Twilight book and it's fine if her mum and dad think it's OK for her to read it, but she didn't think it was for little girls and they'd 'get into trouble if anyone saw her reading it' (DD thought the trouble would be from the vicar, although I find this hard to believe).

There are a few things I feel a bit uncomfortable about -

-this teacher had asked DD what she was reading a few times when DD took in the first Twilight book in, and just smiled and said nothing.

-they're actively encouraged to read Harry Potter books, and if you're banning Twilight because it's 'unchristian' then shouldn't that go for HP as well, and anything else with fantasy characters in? So no more fairies or Father Christmas then.

-DD was reading it at playtime, so nothing to do with lessons. Are they expecting her to spread dissent on what the Evil books are about or something?

-I feel they're somehow insinuating we're being unchristian letting her read them, although I couldn't care less about them judging me on my religious views, it annoys me because it seems a bit of a random rule when she's gone all the way through the school and no other judgments on our christian values have been mentioned.

I'm pretty much hands off when it comes to school, letting them get on with their job and do what they ask of me re homework etc. So I'm not planning on storming down there to confront them or anything, but this has really got on my wick and I'm posting to try and sort out what I think about it really.

Am I being unreasonable?

Saggy, can o' worms. That's all I'm sayin!

Mills & Boon for tweenagers. Pile of pap.

I disagree with the school banning it for being "unchristian". This is also a pile of pap.

Censorship discussion required.

Yanbu

My 11 year old has read the pullman books, I would be livid if he was told he couldn't read them in school break times.

fwiw, I was reading Stephen King at the age of 10. Plus numerous others that probably weren't age appropriate.

They've also let them read the older age group Jacqueline Wilson books, which to me have far worse things in them than Twilight because it's about real life whereas vamps and werewolves you know are fantasy.

If it's about the upsetting nature of the books, the thread here about how distressing people find Watership Down shows it's not about the age the book is seen for.

And if it's about the vamps/werewolves, I've never heard anything about them banning halloween crap.

I was reading a LOT of books I shouldnt at the same age. :o. I happen to quite like Twilight but am not blind to the fact that it is nonsense. I would actually like to slap Bella hard, and Edward just annoys me. However I DO love Alice and the werewolves.

Banned in school-cos it's unchristian, er thats twaddle. As someone else said, the whole problem with Bella becoming a vampire is because of the whole "soul" issue.

I would have thought the school would have been happy that kids are reading. Send your DD in with the Morganville Vampire series,that'll learn them :o

Well, there are two reasons given for not letting her read it - one was it was 'unchristian', the other that is was not suitable for 'little girls'. Which suggests it contains 'adult themes'. Does it? I have no idea.

So perhaps the presenting reason for banning it was the religious aspect but the real reason was the sex?

Seems a bit skewed not to say the real reason, but I do know when I was 11 (last year of primary) I was reading 'Jaws' in class. I had a thing about sharks (strange child) and I loved the opening scene. Also I thought I was pretty cool reading such a grown-up book.

I never got past the first chapter as my teacher told me it wasn't a suitable book for children and I was not to bring it into school again.

Of course I was outraged. I thought she was objecting to the horror content. It was only when I read it later on in life I realised it contained some rather explicit sex scenes which as a primary school child I would have been and at.

So I guess my teacher was trying to spare my blushes and protect me from scenes/issues I might not yet understand.

Have you read the Twilight books yourself?

I think the school has a point that is it not appropriate for reading at primary school. DS2 (Y6) is not allowed to take Cherub books in (especially not after he took one in, read it out loud to a trainee teacher and read the word "shit"). The school are right. He can read them at home.

I am happy for him to read them because I read them all first when DS1 wanted to read them at the same age - I wanted to check I was Ok with the content, which I was.

The "unchristian" excuse is a bit odd but valid for a church school I guess.

I wouldn't let any teacher tell my daughter what she can and can't read

Christian values? The bible is the most sinister/misogynistic literature I have ever read

Well I think that is the sort of thing you would expect from a faith school! They don't like anyting like that do they? I am suprised they allow Harry potter to be honest.

I actually think the Twighlight books aren't really suiutable for an 11 year old anyway but that's just me.

They are only telling her what she can/can't read at school aren't they? Which is perfectly acceptable.

Difficult one. I can see that it's their right to tell a child not to bring a certain book into school (Joy of Sex Not that we did of course ) but where that 'line' is, is a little uncertain.

I haven't read that series of books as I don't read that genre, but it does seem a bit marmite From what I have read (on MN mostlye) about it, I'm not sure I'd want my 11 year old to be reading it, but then again, at the same age I was reading Virginia Andrews which isn't that different I'm sure.

I would probably roll my eyes, tell her she only has a few months left of their stupid, pointless rules & to take something else to read at school, unless she wanted me to go and talk to them.

Boglach - they aren't telling her what she can and can't read - they are telling her what she is and isn't permitted to take into school, which they are allowed to do.

I suspect the reason that they have asked that your DD not bring it in is because they consider there to be straightforward ethical reasons for a primary school age child not to read it. They don't want to say this because that might start you asking awkward questions about what sets up the teacher as the judge of ethics rather than you. So she is falling back on 'Christian values' as you have to some extent agreed to the imposition of those values by sending your child to a faith school. I don't think it has anything at all to do with the supernatural content of the books.

There are ethical issues in Twilight - with the treatment of women, the depiction of relationships and with its adult themes. Even if looked at in the best possible light, they're hardly improving in terms of developing morally as a reader and a person, are they? At worst they justify and romanticise abusive relationships and passivity. New Moon is much more problematic than the first book. A lot of girls seem to be reading these books very uncritically.

In an ideal world, my daughter would not sit in a primary school class next to another child reading these books with the blessing of the teacher. Although I don't think it is enough of a big deal for the teacher to pass comment or suggest it not be brought in. It is a bit of an over-reaction.

The supernatural content is besides the point.

saggy if this is for me I don't send mine to a faith school for that reason
Those who say that faith schools indoctrinate...
Surely if you send your child to a faith school, you expect them to be taught religion from the point of view of that faith?? how is that indoctrination? And why send your child there if you don't want them to learn about that religion and their values??

sieglinde I don't agree with you about Ron and Hermione at all. When Ron abandons Hermione in the final book, she continues to search for the keys to destroying the world's most powerful dark wizard. When Edward leaves Bella in New Moon, Bella curled up in the fetal position, ignored everything else for a few months and then jumped off a cliff.

Hermione is badass.

Although saggy some people don't have any choice because their catchment school is a faith school

I wouldn't let an 11 yr old read Twilight full stop. I suspect they've used the "unChristian" thing rather than say they think it's too grown-up or sexual.

some people don't have any choice because their catchment school is a faith school
That's interesting (and off topic, sorry OP) - here, the faith schools aren't 'counted' in catchment areas, you get the letters and info for the ordinary/not faith school your DC would go to and have to apply specifically for a place at the faith school if you want one. The catchment areas are a bit weird - we got info for a school two miles away, when there is one 200 yards the other way, and were told that was the one we were "in the area for" but it didn't matter as our DCs do go to a CofE school. The council includes the faith schools on the lists to apply for the places, but not in their own allocations by area when telling parents which school is their 'default' one iyswim

Children should be allowed to read widely and 'Twilight' is by no means any worse than Blyton's 'girls do 't be scared, us boys will sort it out,' nonsense etc

The school says it's 'unchristian' I don't see anything WTO g with a child reading that book and coming to that conclusion to - you have the let them think for themselves,

Op - I'd let her read it and ask her what she thought about their relationship, get her to question it.

I haven't read the book but I don't think books should be banned from church schools for being "unchristian". A huge number of classic novels would be banned for a start! Surely best to let them read the stuff and then have a sensible discussion about it supervised by a knowledgeable teacher, than to try to figure it out themselves or among their friends.

Wrong and too

iPhone

I'd see during a break as her time rather then 'school time', so this about it being allowed on the premises, not what's suitable for reading in class.

I was starting to read adult books at 11, mostly Agatha Christie - not much sex, plenty of killing and archaic social attitudes, WWII escape stories - not much sex, plenty of killing and archaic social attitudes, Tolkein - um, there's a theme here isn't there. There are all sorts of dark themes, anti-religious attitudes and different moral frameworks in all sorts of children's books. I have a feeling though that we would have been surprised at someone reading a teenage book with hints of sex and the teacher might have queried its suitability but that it did happen from about that age.

If you really want to stir them up, send her in with a copy of '100 Days of Sodom' by the Marquis be Sade and they can have a real discussion about censorship

I would say Twilight books (just like the Darren Shan books) are probably inappropriate for primary school.

My DCs C of E primary does allow year 5 and 6 boys to bring Darren Shan books into school but not to share them with others, girls don't usually bring Twilight in, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is the same rule.
The Twilight books are light years away from the harmless Harry Potter books. If your DD is not quite understanding what the teacher is saying to her about not bringing the book into school then I think she is probably far too young for them. Have you read the whole series?

BTW DCs C of E (fab abbreviations) stocks Philip Pullman in the library, and would probably encourage anyone reading Dawkins.