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?

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 ?
Nonsense.
They just want age appropriate content in a primary school.

We had two 11 yr old girls in y6 reading Pretty Little Liars! Having seen the television programme, I downloaded the book and was 😲

I have two very capable reading ds, one Y10, one Y7. They have both re - read books that they have previously read, and got more out of them, as their understanding is now greater, whereas they were reading, but not understanding what they were reading. Perhaps your daughter can do that?

Unfortunately with secondary school they do have to get used to reading books they don’t like, perhaps this time can be used to prepare for that. I bought simplified Dickens and Shakespeare for them so they get a taste for the stories in an understandable way.

Suggest Michael Morpurgo, Philip Pullman as Y5/6 approved books in our school.

They just want age appropriate content in a primary school.

Middle school, surely ? Or am I that old a fart ?

@DGRossetti Most areas don't have middle schools, so 10 would usually be primary school age, moving to secondary at 11.

They just want age appropriate content in a primary school.

Why though? I dont understand the purpose of the rule at all, fair enough if she wanted me to confirm I knew what book dd was reading and that I was aware of the content and comortable she could manage a book designed for over 10's. I could also understand if dd had to read stuff out to other children or if she was sharing 'inappropriate' lines with her friends.
The teacher doesnt talk to her about the book, she dosnt have to write down anything about the book it is simply an hour of silent when you read quietly to yourself and put the book away.
She has been reading books silently for months now most of which probably would of been reccomended to 10+ and there has been no issue. The teacher has no idea what the book is about, she banned it as it was aimed at 14+ (based on a website that as far as I can tell the age ratings are just made up by other parents and their children), from now on dd's books will be checked to sure they are 'suitable' for children 10 and under.
I'm all or following rules that are in the best interests of my child, other children or the teach but this rule dosnt do that, the only person who will be (negatively) affected by this rule will be my dd and any other children who tend to read books aimed at an age above theirs.
Children also are allowed to bring books in to read at break or lunch which dd has done in case of bad whether and I'm very interested if that is also going to be limited to books for at or below their age, hypocritical if not but even more unfair if it is.

10 years old is either year 5 or 6.
Primary for most places unless you have a middle school system.

Either way, it's not surprising that a teacher of 10 year olds thinks racism, emotional abuse, substance abuse and suicide aren't topics for primary classroom.

A better idea for the school would be to have it banded by middle years (9-12 year olds) that way there's no teen material in a primary school and a huge number of books available (still on a range of topics - the one I've started is about the experienves of refugees so hardly a babyish topic & is so far beautifully written).

Primary for most places unless you have a middle school system.

Seems my (Harrow) upbringing was weird. Despite attending " High School" (on my report cards and all) I was told by some people (rather sniffily) that "England doesn't have High School". I also started High School in the second year (which made sense when you got to the sixth form/year).

Digression over - as you were.

The teacher has no idea what the book is about, she banned it as it was aimed at 14+ (based on a website that as far as I can tell the age ratings are just made up by other parents and their children)
And yet with a quick google on thr author's own webpage it says that book (and others in the series) deal with the following themes:

• racism
• emotional abuse
• substance abuse

Book your child took in - Content warnings: emotional abuse, substance abuse, suicidal ideation (secondary character), racism, references to theft of indigenousland

First book in that series - Content warnings: emotional abuse, substance abuse, racial slur, theft of indigenous resources, a Persian character teases a hapacharacter by saying“We don’t negotiate with terrorists.”
That's from the author. Time to get past the idea this is some teacher who doesn't want your child to read challenging books.

There is a massive difference between a book aimed at 10+ and a book aimed at teens with those themes.

As a professional author (14 published titles) I agree with you OP. The rule is restrictive and wrong. Age bandit bag is a really contentious topic and hundreds of authors including big names object to it.

OP check out this site www.notoagebanding.org/index.php?pullman

If you wanted to take this to the media you’d get a lot of support.

But the biggest issue is that the school instead of supporting your child love of reading are now hampering it.

We had a DC bring in Deadpool comic book at age 9 (for silent reading). His mum thought it was appropriate and expressed surprise when we said it was not.

OP, the school have a duty of care to your daughter when she is at school and that includes what she is reading. If the material is deemed inappropriate, then it needs to stay at home. If they relax the rules for your DC then there's nothing to stop the parent I mentioned above letting her DC read Deadpool at school.

The suggestion above of reading a children's current affairs magazine is not a bad one. That way it wouldn't interrupt his enjoyment of the book he's reading at home, but would be deemed suitable at school. There are kids versions of The Week, National Geographic etc.

Ok so take away the fact it says '14+' on it.
As a teacher would a book with those themes be appropriate for a 10 year old in school? No.
Can they read it and home and enjoy it? Sure.

Ultimately schools can't read every book they get in let alone every book children bring in. Recommended ages are useful and so are content warnings.
Given what ridiculous complaints we deal with day to day, you can just see the (understandable) complaints where school have allowed an 11 year old to take a book out dealing with the sex lives of 17 year olds because some people think there should be a universal free for all in schools.

Read what you like at home.
Stick to the rules in school or request a discussion and reasonable flexibility.

*Sorry - her/she

The teacher has to use her own judgement, OP. She has a duty of care. Thirty sets of parents will have thirty different opinions about what 'suitable' looks like. Ultimately when the children are under the supervision of the teacher, it is what she thinks is suitable that matters. Annoying, I know, but it's the only way to do it.

OP, you could look into some Rosemary Sutcliff books perhaps? They're classics, historical novels with absolutely no teacher-offending swearing or sex, but some of which definitely have a dark, shitty-life aspect that you say your daughter likes. In particular, I'd recommend Dawn Wind and Outcast. Dawn Wind is about a teenage British boy who wakes up as the last survivor of a nasty battle with the Saxon invaders and covers how he copes with the aftermath. Outcast is about a boy who survives a shipwreck and is taken in by an ancient Celtic community but ends up in a Roman slave galley.

Ooh, and I also really liked Sun Horse, Moon Horse which is about the Iceni and the building of the Uffington White Horse.

How about Villette, or the James Herriott series? I was a very early reader & had finished all the JH books by 10 - there's a lot of anatomical stuff in there but nothing sexual, from what I remember.

Actually, scrap that. I'd ask for a meeting with the teacher & request that they provide some suitably challenging & interesting reading suggestions for your DD, enough to last the rest of her time there, given that she's reading nearly at an adult level. Put the ball in their court. And if they can't or won't, ask why they are deliberately holding her back.

There is a massive difference between a book aimed at 10+ and a book aimed at teens with those themes.

I agree, a ban of books aimed at teens would seem more reasonable, a suggestion that dd tried a diferent book next would of been fair. Banning any books that are not designed for your age or below is a ridiculous rule and it will to a certain extent prevent an enjoyment of reading and childrens reading skills being challenged and improved during that hour a week. I still cannot understand how this rule is of any benefit to anybody, for a start I cannot see how it affects the teacher or any other children in the class in the slightest if my child is reading a book reccomended for 10+ during an hour of silent reading.
And the teacher didnt look at the authors page, she had 25 kids books to check the age rating off, she typed it into the website saw 14+ and said no you must read read a book that comes up as for children 10 or under.

I cannot see how it affects the teacher or any other children in the class in the slightest if my child is reading a book reccomended for 10+ during an hour of silent reading.

I don't think it's that it affects anyone else, it's that the teacher can't be confident that book is appropriate for your daughter. You may believe it is, but how does the teacher know she agrees, without looking through each book in the class individually? The problem here is that you are expecting the teacher to accept your judgement unquestioningly, and that is the opposite of what she is obliged to do under professional standards.

I’m on the fence here. Dd1 is 11. She read micheal morpurgo in year 3/4. Same with black beauty and a little princess and the secret garden

Currently she has just finished the hobbit for the god knows how many time and wants the lord
Of the rings

But I can see where the teacher is coming from as well. Whilst dd1 reads Buffy the vampire slayer books at home, I wouldn’t overly send her into school with them

Personally I feel teen books are not appropriate for under tens. Books influence the way we see our world and raise questions and challenges. This is very healthy when age appropriate. under tens dont need to worry about teenage issues just yet. Glory in the pre teen times. Teenage angst will arrive in it's own time

The problem here is that you are expecting the teacher to accept your judgement unquestioningly, and that is the opposite of what she is obliged to do under professional standards.

Really? Then why is it the parents who have to give permission for our children to watch a certain video, or take part in a certain lesson, or a certain discussion at school? If the teachers are oblidged to override our judgement on what our child is okay with then why do they have to ask and accept our judgement in most other circumstances?

upsideup

Because those videos will always be deemed suitable by the teacher first. You get to veto your child watching something you may think is unsuitable, you don't get to insist that the teacher lets them watch something the teacher thinks is unsuitable.

The school have come back with a strict rule because they don’t trust your judgement to choose appropriate material for your child to read so they’ve had to choose an age band where there is no way you can choose anything inappropriate.
I personally think that an hour of forced reading of anything will make it into a chore for some - seems like the kind of thing that will be loved by the children who love reading anyway and make it seem even more like work to others. But I wouldn’t complain about it. Just because I am my kids parent that doesn’t mean I have to agree to or have any say in the rules while she is in school. I would no more try to dictate what kind of books my child is allowed to bring into to school than I would challenge the ban on mobile phones, fidget spinners or Smiggle pencil cases. Even if MY child would have MY permission to have them. I’m sure you wouldn’t want the school to dictate to you what your child can read at home op?
Far less people would be defending your right to show your child a 15 rated film at age 10 but for some reason reading is inherently virtuous no matter how inappropriate the content. Bizarre.