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?

pengggwyn

Sorry, I was meant to tag you in my pp rather than quote you.

Out of interest op why are you so keen she read teen books about sexual attraction and relationships at age 10 if you say she’s is interested in other genres? She has a life time to learn about that why not just let her be a child? I notice you’ve said there are some 15 rated films you feel are appropriate for her as well. I’ve never seen one I would show a 10yr old. They don’t put age classifications on them for fun.

Genuine question by the way as my kids have friends who play gta (7 year olds) and I just wonder why some parents want to expose their kids to stuff they needn’t know about.

I am currently doing an MA in Creative Writing and after looking at umpteen YA novels I can promise you that what one child finds acceptable another will not even be able to read. It is all down to the child and the parent to discuss suitability. My daughter is 9 and has read all the Jacqueline Wilson books, The entire Redwall series, The Dork Diaries, modern Shakespeare and literally anything else she can get her hands on. I have just given her The Maze Runner books and when she has finished those in a week or two I will be giving her The Knife Of Never Letting Go.

The only difference between YA fiction and adult fiction is the Publishers label YA as that so they know who to market it at. YA fiction often has horrible, brutal story lines that involve death and life changing stuff. Christ on a Bike, Harry Potter is for kids and his parents where murdered and he turned into a little brat that never believed Dumbledore and got a load of his mates into trouble (and some killed ) before he ran away from school. He is not a good role model at all !

OP, if you are happy with it, then let your daughter read whatever she wants. Even stuff above her ability. She is a sponge and she needs to soak up it all. I have never, ever met a single person that has wished they read less books. My daughter said just yesterday that reading is the most magical thing in the world as she opens the page and goes into a new world. She can loose herself in it and she knows its exciting and scary but she is safe.

The language in YA books often isn’t any more complex or advanced than in the 9-13 section. It’s the content that tends to differ.

Do you feel the same about films fanny? They also aren’t reality but I wouldn’t let my children watch anything above their age and I will even research that. There are some 12as for eg I wouldn’t be happy with my 8yo watching.

Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh has been reviewed by a 9 year old on the web and I read it as an adult and was gripped by it.

Mirror what about Billy Elliott? That's a 15 but I am pretty sure I would let a 10 year old watch it. My grandma snuck me into the cinema to see it when I was 12 as she thought the rating was preposterous.

I’ve never seen it so I’d need to know why it was a 15.

It's language mirror I seem to recall fuck being said a couple of times.

Technically Jamie Bell who played Billy Elliott was too young to see it as he was 14

Reading reviews it says that a sex act is shown where a character puts their hand inside another’s pants? Not something I think a 10yr old needs to see tbh.

@BlueMirror Films are totally different, they offer a very defined and prescribed experiences, intended to play out to the audience exactly as the director planned. Reading is all about imagination, if a reader does not know/recognise the words or phrases used then they would have a very difficult time in creating that image in their head. Sure they could ask somebody about it but it is not the same as watching it happen in front of you or the word fuck would be illegal for children's ears under the age of 16 surely?

And yes, I do make my own mind up about my kids watching movies that are technically above their age limit IF I think its ok. My kids enjoyed "Suicide Squad" but I would never sit them down to watch "IT" but my daughter can read the book as soon as she chooses. I read it myself at 12. I also allow my kids to listen to songs with swear words in as that is how the artist intended them to be heard. My kids know about artistic licence and enjoy talking about why these things are allowed to be recorded onto albums but not played on the radio etc. I do not cover their eyes when we go to the museums and a male statue has genitals, or when a female has boobs on show. Art imitates life, imitates art.

BlueMirror

As she is is interested in a range of different genres and enjoys reading, I am keen on her reading what she wants, that may include some teen books. They put the age ratings on as guidelines, there are lots of PG films that she won't watch as she dosnt like like creepy or scary films.
I am stuggleing to think of any 15's shes actually watched so maybe she hasnt but she has watched plently of 12's.

I have just rewatched the scene mirror and as far as I can see the character puts the other person's hands under their coat (so around their waste area) not down their pants after the character complains how cold their hands are.

Waist not waste

UnimaginativeUsername
I know that for my 11 year old, it is precisely the content, not the more difficult language that he enjoys in the books he reads. He reads books above his chronological age because he wants to read books with complex ethical themes and thought provoking ideas.

Billy Elliott? That's a 15

There you go dd has watched that.

I was an advanced reader but I agree that there are plenty of kids books I love to read now. But when your daughters

the changeover Margaret Mahy changed my life and my book choices.
anne of avonlea group of books I still love Gilbert to this day green gables is the first one.

Also try Philip Pullmans dark materials and his new one should be age appropriate.

Don't dismiss terry prachett the premise seems like wierd sci-fi but it's really funny and engaging and actually about how foolish the real world is. Trust me a resisted for years and I shouldn't have.

Age "when your daughters age"

Would you be happy for your DD to watch a 12 rated DVD at school?

You can let your DD read what you want at home but in school they have a responsibility to your DD and the rest of the class who will be influenced.

I think children should ruddy well read whatever they want within reason.

It’s described as a sex scene on common sense media so maybe that’s not the bit?
If the argument for young children reading teen fiction is that anything only appropriate for older readers goes over their head what is the point of them reading what they don’t understand? It smacks of the parents insisting their children move up the book bands at school because their decoding skills are good and claiming their children are being held back when they just don’t have the life experience to comprehend the more advanced themes.
There are so many great books in the world that 10 year olds can understand I don’t see why anyone would be so keen to seek out ones they can only understand in part?

fannyfelcher be careful about Knifebof never letting go. I adore that book but the series is not suitable or understandable by a 9 year old. It would be wasted I think and it's too good a book for that.