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?

So it would be okay to have the bible, which potrays women and relationships in an entirely healthy way?

stoning prostitutes, the patriarchy, condemning homosexuality. I could go on

The hypocrisy and lack of insight astonishes me

How isn't unchristian?! ( apart from the vampires obviously) its about a girl and boy finding love and then abstaining from sex even though they both desperately want to, until they are married!

I'm a church going christian and I lead a group of teenage Christian girls who have all read them and we go on cinema trips to see the ( absolutely Awful) films! Two of the children are even the pastors kids and they started me reading them.

Harry potter is worse as some people claim they are witches in real life and get involved in the occult etc which is real and dangerous whereas vampires and werewolves

As an English teacher I advise against Twilight for quality reasons rather than moral ones. I have discussed the moral issues with older girls and advised them to look for books with better female role models such as Hermione or Lyra.
I don't think banning books is a good idea. (I remember when Forever was banned from our school library resulting in every single girl reading it.) I would, however think that a C of E primary has every right to discourage young girls from reading such dross.
I saw one of the Twilight films at a Mother and Baby screening when I was desperate to get out of the house and muttered to my five month daughter all the way through that I would disown her if she grew up like that pathetic dimwitted Bella.

A school should have no say at all in what the pupils read outside of school. I can possibly see their objection to bringing certain books actually onto the premises, but I'm thinking more Mein Kampf than Twilight. If they'd banned it for being shit that's another matter entirely but to say it's unchristian would raise my eyebrows massively tbh.

DD1 reads a lot, and like I said earlier, the books are for tweenagers and I can't think of anything worse than ploughing through books I can't stand, even though I read a fair bit myself. I've seen the films and thought they don't go into anything I'm not happy with.

It's not me that has a problem with the books though. I've talked to her a bit about feminism, and she's talked to me about different subjects that come up in JW books like alcoholism, neglect, suicide, rape etc, which I've dealt with at the time.

She's not a 'little girl' any more (as the state of her bedroom is testiment to ) and if the subjects in Twilight are thought to be too advanced for an 11 YO, then the same judgement should be made about JW books as well.

Sorry, testament thought it didn't look right.

Religious organisations banning books....that's like SO last millenium.

I wouldn't say it's unchristian, couldn't the teacher have just said 'It's too grown up'?

To be honest, I think some of the books written for that age are worse, at least you can laugh at how awful Twilight is, The Tulip Touch terrified me.

SSS, because Christian values do not include finding a partner and making that the be all and end all of your life.

Characters that were good Christian role models would be good friends (or at least have some friends), treat their parents well and think of people other than themselves and their boyfriends. Bella is self absorbed to the point of suicide and mental illness. Edward is extremely controlling, one of the werewolves is physically abusive and Edward has stalker type behaviour of breaking into Bella's house in the middle of the night to watch her sleep.

It is hardly about kindness and spiritual love for all of humanity.

I think she should have been told not to bring it to school because it is the biggest pile of steaming shit ever written personally

This, nail on the head!

However, as someone who read all sorts of stuff I probably shouldn't have when I was OP's daughter's age and a little older (Animal Farm/1984 before I was 12, Jilly Cooper's Riders not long after, Catcher In The Rye at 13, Dracula, Frankenstein...sex and death galore!), I'm very much against book censorship of any kind. If they don't want her to read the book in school, you should accept that if you've sent your child to a C of E school, but ovs they have no so about what she reads outside the gates.

I'm glad to see you've had a chat to her about feminism and JW books (I haven't read these so can't comment on them). I would also be having a chat with her about not taking Bella as a heroine, not thinking stalker behaviour, physical abuse, mental & physical control is acceptable, not killing yourself over a man, how Meyer has the oddest ideas about sex

"Well I think that is the sort of thing you would expect from a faith school!"

and

"Yes, Phillip Pullmn is brilliant, but if the teachers are going to pleat their cardigan hems at the thought of the ungodliness of books, Phillip Pullman should be on their shitlist."

DD went to a Catholic primary. When she was in Y6 they were given a list of books which were recommended reading for their age group and the Pullman books were definitely on there.

Some of the language on here is inflammatory. If my kids are not allowed crisps in their packed lunch, does that mean crisps are 'banned'?

'If my kids are not allowed crisps in their packed lunch, does that mean crisps are 'banned'?'

Yes.
Aren't they?

to ban
Synonyms

1. taboo, outlaw, proscribe. 3. prohibition, proscription, interdict. 3, 4. taboo.

Antonyms

1. allow.

Oh gosh. I'd better make up some banners to protest!

as you wish. it is a free country

YABU. The books are pure tripe. YANBU on the grounds that the teacher is also talking trip. The book is too old for your daughter full stop. IMO. But that's irrelevant.

I remember reading 'Riders' and us all passing a book around which featured a scene where a prince put a goldfish in to a woman's vagina ( my mind was truly boggled by that one) we read Hollywood wives, The Bitch, The Stud, Stephen King and James Herbert courtesy of local library. I think I read something called Tropic of Cancer which was very racey, but only half way through before it 'disappeared.'

But I also read Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Jane Eyre, Brighton Rock, Great Gatsby etc etc

If you are reading Twilight at 11 I am sure by 15 you will think it's dross.

Well DD3 read Twilight at 11,even she said Bella is a wimp :)

You'd think they would be pleased she's reading.

Oh no.

I'd burn them in the playground, not the books.

at the poor fictional goldfish!

I was wondering the other day about what age would Dracula (and the other classic horrors) would be for muffin, I know Dracula's sexually charged, but it's mostly implied isn't it? It's a while since I read it and I can't be arsed reading it again it's easier to ask you

Has no one picked up on Stephanie Meyer's complete inability to write? It's poorly phrased, cringeworthy and the main female lead is unable to live without a man... Pathetic. However, I would happily fight for the right for your daughter to read them. Give the school a ring, let them know you are not happy.

I hope that one day when you're daughter is older, and after years of reading other books and having english lessons she will come back to Twilight and understand why it's so shit.

PS - Edward had a lot of time to complete world changing tasks... instead he seduces a 17 year old girl... I fucking hate that series so much -.-

Who cares if it's crap? The child is 11. We read Judy Blume's Forever at Catholic primary school - all about sex. We looked up all the rude words. It didn't thwart my mind any more than it made me seek out underage sex.

I also don't think that every book you read as an adolescent has to be about "role models". Twilight is no worse than Wuthering Heights, and if you want to find true misogyny in literature, how about a little Shakespeare? The Taming of the Shrew anyone? Measure for Measure? What about our dear Ophelia? Wife of Bath in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales? Anything that has a madwoman in the attic?

A similar thing happened to me and my DS back in about 2002 (year 2, I think). His teacher took me to one side to express her concerns about ds reading the first Harry Potter as it is 'unchristian'. I did actually laugh and say 'bite me'.

Working, I would discourage my dd from reading Wuthering Shites as well as Twilight! It's a load of depressing shite!

I don't think that Twilight is appropriate for junior school. What your child reads out of school is another matter entirely. The rules are not pointless, but are there to protect other children, your child and teaching staff. I have recently asked a child to save the Clan of the Cave Bear series for home. This is because I have a parent in my ear and there are heaps of less contentious books in the library that can be read at school. I do not appreciate it when parents and children make the classroom a battleground of literary appropriateness with children and parents trumping each other with either their 'high morals' or their 'liberal views '.

It's simple. If you don't like school rules, find another school.

And yes, this thread has touched a nerve. This type of issue is such a waste of teacher time.