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?

This is so much bullshit. I was reading adult books at even younger than your daughter and it’s never done me any harm. I really feel for her. With a love of books she will never be alone.

I find this strange. My secondary school didn't section books by age. It was all alphabetical and any year could take out any book. Only the films were age-restricted.

Ours has stickers by reading level (accelerated reader), but the highest level is grade 8+ so DS has been able to borrow any from the start of year 7. There are no restrictions for content.

I've just had my DH explain it to me in a way that I understand, he said that we dont just demand that dd is let into watch a 12 or 15 film at the cinema even when we know its suitable for her and are happy for her to watch it if she wants to but we do go and buy her the film on dvd and let her watch it at home with us.
I understand the rule, I do think it was annoying that it was just suddenly imposed without any warning and dd got punished of for breaking a rule that we didnt yet know there was, it would of been fairer to make the rule clear first and give children a chance to change their book. In the same way I wouldt expect the school to change the uniform policy without telling parents and make all chidlren change in the middle of the day not giving us a chance to provide the correct uniorm.
I also do not think a strict blanket rule with no room for compromise that no children can read a book that isnt marked as for under 10s accroding to a website that is marked by parents and their children is unreasonable and as there are so many books not included on the website we are struggeling to find books that follow the rule. So I will still go into to speak with the teacher on monday and will take in a list of more classic well known titles maybe aimed at 11/12 year olds and hopeully we can come to some kind of fairer arrangement where dd isnt just limited to childrens books recommended for 10's and under.

I would throw it back at the teacher (nicely - to start with at least!) and say that could she suggest some titles that she deems to be appropriate for your dd to read and at the same time that will be enjoyable and challenging, given that the sort of books that she enjoys and that you think are appropriate are [insert a great big long list of the sort of things that she usually reads]... I would also point out that the book that she was given last week was way below her reading level, which seems a waste of an hour and is also likely to kill your dd's love of reading, given that she currently loves it but for the first time ever came home complaining about having to read baby stuff (I'm paraphrasing as I can't scroll back easily to check exactly what she said sorry), which would be a huge failure for a school topic that is supposed to encourage reading rather turn off avid readers!

This has just reminded me of the books that I started reading when I went away to school at 11 - no parental controls and it was straight into things like Jilly Cooper, Shirley Conran, Stephen King, Agatha Christie and more... I would be horrified if ds (now 12) was to read those and I think he would be pretty horrified at the thought of them (he hates horror and would loathe romantic stuff - adores things like Alex Rider and Itch, as well as devouring non-fiction stuff well above his age) - but I'd also be worried about my 13 year old niece reading them too. Having said that I was a good reader early on, was given the Hobbit to read when I was 6 or 7 and I hated it - and I've never read it or watched the films of it or any other Tolkien since, nor have I felt the need to. Likewise I was given Watership Down at a similar age and although I could read the words on the page, I didn't enjoy the story, had nightmares about all the rabbits around us getting myxomatosis and haven't gone back to that either, so can definitely see that there need to be some controls on what gets read at what age, regardless of the reading age of the book or the individuals involved.

Oh well thank goodness there was a man around when all the silly women were telling you the same thing.

I’m not always completely convinced by the teachers ability to choose suitable books. I’ve been doing voluntary reading with year 1 & 2 and they’ve got a set of books about Greek and Roman myths. I forget the name of the god concerned but apparently he threw his babies into the fire. And there’s Kronos eating his children. And these are aimed at 5-6-7 year olds.

maisypops I didn't say they were in sections by year, as in for each individual year, I also didn't say they were in physical sections. they are, but I didn't specify that. however it's not as though it is a huge library, and clearly the librarian has too much time on their hands

There are books that are yr9+ and books that are yr11+,
The yr11+ ones are essentially labeled young adult, but unless pupil is yr11+ they can't check them out without a fuss.

I'm confused because we are essentially describing the same thing; books in a school library being restricted by age.

Also has she got any favourite books that would be suitable that she would be happy to take in to read again? and again? and again?

Oh well thank goodness there was a man around when all the silly women were telling you the same thing
I was thinking the exact same thing.

But when numerous posters on here said exactly that (over a number of pages!!) we were obviously talking nonsense. Good old men. So glad hours of advice is worth listening to now a man has rubber stamped it.

You daughter got ‘punished' (your choice of words) because she failed to give you the letter. Simple as that, her choice to break the rules meant she didn't have a book to read. She could have given you the note and this would not have happened.

Have you spoken to her about that? It is a good lesson to learn, her actions/ choices have consequences.

(Love (sarcasm) that is was only when you husband said the same thing as loads on here do you accept it!)

Always nice to have our inferior female opinions validated by a man.

she failed to give you the letter.

We got mailed the letter. She never had the letter to give us.

Sorry, I thought she had the letter a week and hadn't told you about it. A chat to reassure her to tell you when something happens would still be good, so that if something goes properly wrong later on she will know not to conceal it from you.

upsideup I feel your pain. Probably not much DS reads is suitable for him, but it is difficult for voracious readers.

YABU if the book is inappropriate then she shouldn’t be reading it at school. As many have said there is a huge variety of books which are challenging and appropriate. Some which I find very interesting.
But tbh an hour silent reading is a huge amount and I’m wondering what part of the curriculum has been sacrificed for an hour of ‘guided’ reading. If it is not guided then what is the teacher doing during this time?
If this was a discussion about film ratings then the views may differ quite a bit.

You may deem it your right to control what your child reads at home but the school is entirely right to monitor what's read in school, i the same way that you may allow your child to watch all kinds of films but a school cannot go against the official ago grouping. I could not show a 12 to a Year 7 group as some were only 11.

Just because a child can read and understand more complex words does not mean they are ready to be exposed to more grown up themes.
YABU. Schools have rules for reasons.

But the daughter wasn't punished though, was she? She was just given a different book to read. One of my Dc wasn't allowed to read the book they had brought in because it had to many pictures in it. So he had to pick a book he didn't like as much. Its just normal school life, children dont have t be entertained 24/7 by teachers. School isn't always fun.

Not sure if they've been mentioned already but has your dd tried the redwall series by Brian Jacques? They're entertaining and roughly for her age group from recollection.

UABVU - stop being so precious and just ask the teacher for suggestions. There are loads of others to choose from. The book is unsuitable to be in a class of 10 year olds whether she is reading silently or not. What do other high level readers read or is your child the only child with that reading age to have ever been in the school?

Anything by Mallorie blackman (noughts and crosses trilogy)
Also Sherlock holmes

Just because a child can read and understand more complex words does not mean they are ready to be exposed to more grown up themes.
YABU. Schools have rules for reasons.

Just because a child is younger than the targeted age group does not mean they are not ready. Also, children may be ready for some themes but not others. I walked out of Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children (12A) with my then 10 year old at his request. The cinema was full of primary school age kids. He has watched dozens of 12A rated films but this one scared him.

Gawd! Reading books that are too old for children is how the older generation educated themselves and why they are clever. The teacher is never going to back down on this as PC concerns have taken over the education sector. Explain to your child she can read (within reason) anything she likes at home but has to have a ‘suitable’ book at school for her one measly hour a week. You should be able, between you, to find something suitable, challenging and entertaining.

My DD read like a demon and ended up with a first in English Lit from Exeter. She has a very wide general knowledge and a phenomenal vocabulary.

There are not hours enough in the week to teach your children everything they need to know and this is where reading comes in.

If you have lots of dosh send her to a good private school,where you won’t get this sort of nonsensical issue.

@teacher22
**If you have lots of dosh send her to a good private school,where you won’t get this sort of nonsensical issue. 🤦🏻‍♀️
The issue is that the books are inappropriate. Nothing wrong with challenging books.

Noughts and Crosses has teen sex in it. What students read at home is up to their parents but I would not give that to a ten year old.