Stupid school rule?

[upsideup]

DC's school recently introuduced an hour of silent reading per week, dd absolutely loved this (DS doesn't but it has encouraged him to read more). Untill now they have been taking in a book from home, DD10 who spends hours reading for pleasure anyway takes in the book shes reading at home. I dont choose her books and I am also not strict about what she reads, was already aware that some of the books she enjoys were targeted at an age range slightly above hers.
We have had a letter home saying that dd's book this week was rated as 14+ so is not suitable to be read at school and I should send her in with a book suitable for her age so under 10's as teachers are not going to be closely monitoring what books the children are reading. That is ridiculous right?
She had not told us this all week as shes worried shes in trouble with the teacher but her book was taken off her and she was given a random book from the libary by the teacher which is not the sort of thing she likes and was too 'babyish' for her so she spent the whole lesson doing nothing.
To be clear the books she is reading are young teen fiction books, not gory or sexual true crime books, theres maybe mentions of kissing or mild swearing but nothing harmful or frightening for a 10 year old to hear, mine atleast and as its silent reading and not being read aloud surely its nobodies business what shes reading and it should be mine and her dads decision if its suitable or not for her, not the teachers?
We are going stuggle to find a book aimed at under 10s that she enjoys and I also have know idea how to find out what age rating a book has and surely its just a reccomendation to what age group may enjoy the book not a strict rule?
I can see the benefit of quietly reading at school and definately not one of the many parents who complained when the silent reading was introduced but what benefit is forcing her to read a book that she dosnt enjoy and is below her level? Shouldnt she be encouraged to challenge herself and have an enjoyment for reading not punished?

Do your schools do the same? AIBU to want to challenge this stupid rule?

My 8yo is reading everything between 9- young adult now. She loves reading and gets through a book every couple days. I wouldn’t dream of stopping her reading anything she liked. Books are a safe way to learn about the world and peoples feelings in different situations. I was reading adult books uncensored at 10yo and likely read what would be classed as inappropriate for my age.

strawberrypenguin
Our library is separated into teen fiction (y9+) and general fiction. The general fiction has a full range of reading ages from 7-8 (secondary texts aimed at weaker readers) through to around 14/15. Even many of our 9s and 10s who could opt for teen marked books still enjoy the normal fiction. The reading ages on quite a few of the teen books are lower or the same as books not marked as teen so reading a book aged 14+ doesn't automatically mean it's a more difficult book.

A competent reader in y7 would be able to read a range of challenging books without needing to select from the teen section (but we let them if we have parental consent on the understanding they need to be checking the suitability of books, not us).
It's worth the OP clarifying a set 10 year old cut off (personally I think middle ages banding would be more appropriate) but I can totally see school's standpoint on teen material.

Oh I agree with you Maisy I was just pointing out that if the school are being that strict a lot of the suggested books would also be unsuitable.

Our library currently has a young teen (11up) and older teen (14+) section although there are plans to just make one YA section

Exactly 10 seems a bit 'quick draw a line', but then I imagine they're used to kids coming in with appropriate reading material (and not as another poster mentioned Bridget Jones).

A middle years banding makes a lot of sense.

The book I've started last night is a middle years book. Some say 10+ , others say 9-12 online. It's great so far and better than a lot of the naff teen vampire/fantasy stuff that's been out there lately. Much more thought provoking too.

The White Dragon by Ann McCaffrey is amazing . My dgc loved it at that age.

Sad how the sour grapes and claws come up any time a child is mentioned as being even passably bright.

If, by any chance, that was aimed at me, you're sourely mistaken.

Parents parent, at home, and teachers teach, in school.

Quite frankly, many parents' judgement is very questionable. And I don't expect school to follow my preferences.

I wouldn’t dream of stopping her reading anything she liked

I find this attitude odd.
Do you also let her watch any movie, play any game, go anywhere she likes?

I don't see why the school would question anything that is for 9-12s. By definition those are suitable for anyone between those ages, therefore suitable for under 10s.

To those suggesting classics: lots of them have themes which are entirely unsuitable for 10yos. And apart from anything else, the OP's daughter is completely capable of choosing books which she wants to read.

I agree with the OP, this is a stupid rule: it is silent reading, she is not expected to share it with the rest of the class.
But then, I don't believe that schools should have blanket rules about healthy eating regarding what food children bring in with them: if there is a problem with an individual, then that should be dealt with individually.
Same here. If they think this particular book is not appropriate (and someone must have bothered to look it up to see what age is was aimed at) then they can raise the issue with you. You know what the book is about (possibly read it yourself too? i don't know) and say it's ok. That should be the end of it.

"School rules" are allowed to be challenged if they don't make sense, they are not laws - and even then, we change laws which we no longer find appropriate.

I am also of the generation whose parents encouraged reading of any book.
A book is not only about " the story" it's about the writing style and engagement.
It's not the same as watching a film or playing a video game.

Lweji
Exactly. I’m a bit shocked at a pp saying they had access to their parents book at this age. I remember a thread a couple of years ago about a woman talking about how her parents did the same and she read the story of O.

Each child is different of course. My 9 yo dd could sit and watch the parts of the walking dead where zombies heads are being chopped off all day without being affected - not that I let her obvs. But that sort of stuff doesn’t affect her. The Good Dinosaur otoh had her in floods.

"School rules" are allowed to be challenged if they don't make sense,
Of course they can.
You get further raising challenges and questions if you are reasonable though.
Parent 1 - Hi teacher, as you know DC is a strong reader. Obviously you had an issue with teen books in primary & have said books linked to chronological age. Many books tend to be grouped in the 9-12 bracket. Can we have an agreement where DC can still read challenging books witj reading ages above 10, but by reading middle years books the content is aimed at their age

Parent 2 - Hi teacher. I am the parent and i decide what my child reads. I am more than happy with my child reading teenage material thank you very much. DC is an advanved reader and your stupid rule is just punishing more advanved readers. She should be allowed to read whatever she likes in school.

Parent 1 is reasonable and would probably get the outcome they want.
Parent 2 sounds like every other parent who thinks their child is exempt from rules they don't like.

Different issue but 7 year old DS is supposed to read aloud for 15 minutes every day. He hates it. If it's a good book he finds it tedious, ruins the story for him. I know there is a purpose to it, he gets to practice reading with expression, but it really was ruining reading for him.

Recently he has started reading to me from a children's current affairs magazine. It's been great. Maybe your DD could use the hour a week for that?

I think it very difficult to believe you are finding it hard to select engaging books, suitable for the age group - for ONE HOUR a week , at school.

teenangst tat is not exactly going to challenge her, or stretch her reading capabilities

A book is not only about " the story" it's about the writing style and engagement.
It's not the same as watching a film or playing a video game.

Books are also about content, FGS.
Not jus about reading ability.

In terms of content it's exactly the same as a film or a game. It doesn't change because it's written.

And so many books are just utter crap.

Let them read 50 shades at 10?
I don't think so.

My youngest son is now 11 and an able but very reluctant reader. I don't think he has ever read a book for pleasure which makes me quite sad. I spent most of the years 4&5 trying different age appropriate authors with him to no avail. He hid the books the ta chose for him and would nurse a book for a whole term only reading the bare minimum each session. His teachers offered lots of suggestions and in the end his yr 5 teacher said it didn't matter what he read we just needed to break the negative association. So I let him choose teenage fiction. Yes it had some swearing and a bit of violence in it but I read it myself and thought it was OK. Ds was reading! His teacher and I were over the moon. He read 2 or 3 books in the series but then his teacher left and the replacement said it was inappropriate and must never be brought in to school again. I give up. He is now in yr 6 and I will try again when he starts secondary in September.
I understand the rules but it was frustrating.

That's stupid. Purposely holding your daughter back. It's not like she's reading the book out loud.

It'd not like she's reading War and Peace. It's commercial teen fiction.

3teens2cats
Have you looked at Andy Macnab?
Some of his books are 11+ and some are 13+. Releuctant readers often quite like his books. He's an ex soldier / special services and his books are great if kids like a bit more action & war.

Nobody is suggesting a blanket ban on a child readjng books way ahead of their maturity or emotional age. It's just inappropriate to take them to school for the one single hour a week that they're asked to read something else. There are plenty of interesting and challenging books to choose from.

I was a lot like your dd. I loved to escape into a book, and had read pretty much everything suitable multiple times by 10. The link posted by a pp further back in the thread looks like a good starting place (hoagies gifted). I'm sure you will find something the school will allow, and your dd will enjoy for one hour a week. At home there is no reason not to continue reading the books she loves.

At 11 my mum gave me Thornbirds to read!

Is it just me, or is "overseeing reading" in children becoming a new thing - there's another thread about libraries making sure the morals of their young readers aren't in any way put in danger.

i wonder if the teacher has a concern that other children might be put off reading if they see one child reading something more advanced ?

Shelentel, suggesting a child reads something more suitable than teen fiction isn't conceivably holding her back.

It wasnt a suggestion that dd tries reading something other than teen fiction (she reads lots more than this and the teacher knows this) that would of been fair but we have been told that dd must only ever bring books in written for 10 and under.