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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be angry my yr3 DD has been given...

83 replies

2468whodoweappreciate · 03/04/2017 23:50

...a teenage fiction book to read in school?

With at least one reference to sex according to my DD. Googling the book revealed it's target reading age is teenager / young adult. The synopsis of the entire plot is also extremely questionable as to suitability for a junior child (revolves around girls chasing dates, inc advertising themselves to boys, for a school dance).

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PhilODox · 04/04/2017 00:02

Yes, schools get it wrong sometimes. My DD brought home an adult Roald Dahl when she was Y3, we took it off her, and sent it back with a note.
Isn't she supposed to read it to you? How did she understand the reference to sex? My Y3 is an excellent reader, but unlikely to know the idiom for that.

Original poster
2468whodoweappreciate · 04/04/2017 00:08

She has a home reading book & a school based book, which is basically used when the teacher needs to occupy them for 5-15 mins without prep ("everyone read your school reading book") as such that book doesn't come home. I don't know what the understands by the word itself except she was absolutely it wasn't referring to gender. Busy night running my DC's to clubs etc, I didn't have time for a conversation which may open another can of worms when that can wait until another night. I suspect she's just picked up that it's "rude".

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PickAChew · 04/04/2017 00:26

So, what's the book, then?

PickAChew · 04/04/2017 00:28

Biff and Chip have a fumble behind the bike sheds, maybe and unlock something rather thrilling with the magic key?

PickAChew · 04/04/2017 00:29

Whoops - forgot they were siblings, as it;s a long time since I've been subjected to them. Wilf and Wilma were there, too obv.

Clonakilty · 04/04/2017 00:31

Tell us the name of the book; we might be in a better position to judge.

SparklyUnicornPoo · 04/04/2017 00:47

It's hard to say without knowing what book you are talking about but sometimes books do slip through, mention it to the teacher, they may well not have realised.

Italiangreyhound · 04/04/2017 00:54

It's easy to say, a book aimed at a teenager is not suitable for Year 3. Complain, nicely.

PerspicaciaTick · 04/04/2017 01:01

Which book?
Was she given it or did she choose it herself? Does the teacher realise she has chosen this book (My DCs were allowed to choose books from the school library once they reached a certain level and sometimes ended up with books aimed more at Y6 than Y3).

HighwayDragon1 · 04/04/2017 07:04

Jacqueline Wilson by any chance?

heron98 · 04/04/2017 07:05

I wouldn't be that bothered. It's hardly going to be porn.

TeenAndTween · 04/04/2017 08:18

At DDs primary there was a 'y6 only' section, containing stuff like The Hunger Games. Maybe the book got muddled up?

Original poster
2468whodoweappreciate · 04/04/2017 10:04

I've asked to see the book myself at the end of the day. From what I've read about it I don't think any junior child should be reading it! Talks about teenagers & sex! DD's TA said she'd talk to my DD about it today, I asked her not to but looking back the last thing she said again as she flew in the building was "I'll get DD to show me the inappropriate parts". DD will be mortified if she does & I'm worried DD won't confide in me again!

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Original poster
2468whodoweappreciate · 04/04/2017 10:05

Its the Zoe + Chloe series

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FellOutOfBed2wice · 04/04/2017 10:11

I actually am not sure we should be censoring books. My eldest is only two so maybe I will change my mind but from the time I could read well and at an adult level (probably about aged 8) my parents and the school had a "if you're capable of reading it then you can read it" attitude. It made me an enthusiastic and good reader. And anything that was too old for me just went over my head- which I suspect is the case with your daughter too.

I'm an English teacher now and still hold this attitude. She will get more benefit out of reading books than she will become corrupted by anything "rude".

Gileswithachainsaw · 04/04/2017 10:15

This is what happens when kids are free readers and get to lick their own books
Parents need to remember that there are 4 yr old but also 11 yr old at the school and so a wide range if material.

It is up to parents to check the book school can't possibly look at and censor all those books.

Tell your dd to bring it home where you can have a look first.

mamaslatts · 04/04/2017 10:18

DS in Y1 came home with a tin tin book with a plot about heroin smuggling Confused I just flagged it up to the teacher who was a bit shocked

user1471521456 · 04/04/2017 10:19

Most free-readers are usually beyond the book-licking stage! :D

Gileswithachainsaw · 04/04/2017 10:19

Grin stupid auto correct

ThomasandFriends · 04/04/2017 10:26

I was probably that age when I found my sister's erotica on her bookcase. Would often sit and read a short story or two. Apparently my mother knew and decided not to stop me (which is really very surprising considering her attitude to sex). Did me no harm.

juneau · 04/04/2017 10:37

I would contact the teacher. She may not have read the book herself and may be unaware of its exact content, but if you are unhappy (and I would say reasonably so, given that your DD is only yr3, so 7-8 years old), then speak up. I have email addresses for my DC's teachers, which is really helpful for issues like this. Do you have one for this teacher?

Original poster
2468whodoweappreciate · 04/04/2017 10:37

She is an advanced reader. She is also 7 and very impressionable! The children are not normally allowed to bring their class reading books home (they have separate home reading books) so I've had to flag it up to request it comes home so I can check it later. I must be a prude because I am the only one who thinks it is wrong! Just because DD can read any material doesn't mean she should imo. This shouldn't be available from school, if ppl want to let their DC read this genre this early it's a personal choice made at home, like allowing your DC to watch a 12 rated film when they're not 12. School wouldn't get away with doing that!

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halcyondays · 04/04/2017 10:38

Do you mean Dork Diaries? These aren't really aimed at teens, they're not in the teen section at the library and have seen them at the school book fair.

Original poster
2468whodoweappreciate · 04/04/2017 10:40

juneau no I don't but I spoke to the teaching assistant. Makes me question how they choose / source their books because if this is targeted at teens the kids are 11 yrs old at most when leaving, it shouldn't be there even for year 6.

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Original poster
2468whodoweappreciate · 04/04/2017 10:41

Not dork diaries, DD has them & read them all. They're fine. They don't talk about sex as far as I remember!?

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