To let dd perform this for english

[redheadandgoingtobed]

wonderingminstrels.blogspot.co.uk/2000/11/deep-sorriness-atonement-song-glyn.html

She really wants to do it and it is her last english lesson this year. Teachers, what would you think. Is it too rude? She is in y7.

Does she understand it, properly, or does she just think she is being radical?
I wouldn't think it was appropriate for a twelve year old.

I'm pretty relaxed about content of literature.
And I wouldn't be offended. I know others would be however.

But mostly, I wouldn't choose it because you need some performance poetry.

If you are going to recite a poem then it's important that you understand it. Does she understand it and if not, would you be happy to explain it to her?

Does she love the poem or want to look cool and edgy?

Alternate poem suggestion?

Jabberwocky. I have never known a student who was prepared and recited it with inflection not to do well with that one. The nonsense words make it challenging and fun.

I know it by heart nerd

I dimly recall it from early secondary school too toad, although I grew up in the Middle East and so had no idea what the welfare state was

Sorry I think it's middlebrow pap. I agree with the pps who said that Larkin is a better choice if she wants to shock - at least he has some literary credibility.

My english is obvioulsy not so good (I'm not british btw!) but I couldn't see any references to masturbation. Coould someone pointed it out to me?

As for the anal sex... it only talks about Sodomites which pretty different imo I suspect that the reference to masturbation is just as weak.

My issue would be that she would probably not understand everything that is in that poem. If she was happy to go through every single reference and take the time to research/understand it, then I woulld be happy (Not the least because if he has any question about any part of it from other pupils or the teacher she needs to be able to explain!).
dc1 is in Y6, if next year he wanted to present a poem like this, I would have no issue with the proviso above.

it's annoying, smart-arsey and just too looooooong for y7 imo

the rude-ish bits wouldn't bother me (y6 parent), just the tone

plus it seems a bit dated- you know, the sort of stuff that would have passed for Humorous Broadcasting on the radio in about 1983

Is she prepared to be asked about and explain all the references? Sodomites? Onan?

Does she want to be remembered at school reunions in 30 years time for "that time you read that poem about masturbation......"?

I don't think parents should be interfering in the artistic likes or dislikes of their children once the hit secondary school unless there is a strong legit reason why you may have to I.e a liking for artistic shit that is likely to result in a hate crime or arrest.

That's fine. provided they don't then complain about the teacher's decision, whatever that ends up being, or mind their child being judged by other parents. Sounds reasonable.
Let her do the poem and let her deal with whatever the consequences are.
If any.

FanofHermione onan is the reference to masturbation.

I think it actually means spilling of the man's seed; so masturbation or withdrawal at climax.

It comes from Genesis 38.

Onan was told to have sex with his brother's widow "to raise up offspring" for him. However, it seems that he ejaculated on the ground instead as he knew the children would not be his.

(these children would have looked after Onan's sister in law in her old age, rather than him).

God didn't approve of this, so he killed Onan.

The moral of the story has been taken as being that masturbation is wrong, but it seems to me that the point was actually Onan's selfishness.

Would she be happy explaining the Sodomite and Onan references in front of the class?

FanofHermione there isn't one really, though lots of people think onanism refers to masturbation, it is actually to do with the spilling of seed in order not to procreate. Onan was expected to imoregnate his dead brother's wife, but withdrew at the last minute in order to avoid doing so. I think God killed him (having already killed his brother). Those boys were clearly very very bad