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?

cat don't be sorry, I couldn't care less if either every member disagrees with me or if they all approve, it makes no odds to me. I'm just slightly bemused that of the various adult content mentioned it was South park that was pounced on.

My point still stands. It is understandable that a teacher can't be expected to make a judgement call for every pupil based on their individual personalities. But completely bizarre that a parent would apply the exact same rule at home, with no allowances made for the individual. Using that reasoning all 15yr olds should be fine with a lot of horror, despite the fact some adults are freaked out by them.

Back to the op, do you have a local library? If you could perhaps show the teacher a book came from the children's section she might be happy with it. And as most public libraries tend to class under 12 as child, rather than under 10, you'd have more scope.

This has long been an issue for kids who are advanced readers. I don't think many commenting here understand. Famous five? I was reading those at 8. Same with classics like Heidi and Secret Garden.

Classics are the way to go. Some old fashioned books at a decent level have no sex at all or reference to it. By 11 I was obsessed with George Orwell and Thomas Hardy. So get her to look at a classic.

gnothergnu I'd question whether a 10 year old will really understand Animal Farm.

I read it at 11, and yes I did understand it.

OP what about books like this from the site.
www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-wardens-daughter

I know it will not improve her reading, but I think you just need to find something she will enjoy. I would have found it hard to find a book as I hated and still hate fantasy type stories, and so much kids stuff for under 10s is fantasy.

I've taught Animal Farm at KS3 - a bright student will get on fine with it. Jane Eyre/Wuthering Heights/The Mill on the Floss? No. I have yet to come across a student who genuinely likes and understands 'the classics' before 15/16.

Exactly, KS3 may be appropriate for Animal Farm, Year 5/KS2 isn't. It's not a question of whether the child "gets on" with it, but whether there is any point in reading it given that the chances of that child actually understanding what it's all about without major explanations from an older person are very limited.

Well I loved George Orwell and Thomas Hardy at 12 and 13. I have read them since as an adult. Did I get every single reference as a child, no. But yes I did understand most.

11, 12 and 13. Read Animal Farm and Jude the Obscure at 11.

crunchymint

What did you read by Orwell at 12/13?

GnotherGnu

True.

I'd also have an issue presenting a 10 year old (who understood it) with the death of Boxer. Even if a parent told me 'They're really mature, they'll be fine', I would take the book off them.

Animal Farm, Keep the Aspidistra Flying, A Clergyman's Daughter.
I absolutely LOVED Jude the Obscure and A Clergyman's Daughter. Loved them.

Still remember vividly scenes from them. I then went on to reading King Penguin books. I read lots and lots.
I agree that children should not be reading 50 Shades of Grey. But I suspect if these rules had been in place when I was a kid, I would have been bored shitless during free reading.

DD has read Jane Eyre, we did watch it TV first though. There may get more from it if she reads it again when shes a bit older but she enjoyed it and was able to follow it.

crunchymint

Wow. I wouldn't stop a child reading those personally, I'm just surprised you enjoyed them.

And does it matter if children do not understand every nuance? Lots of adults I suspect read books with out understanding every nuance and enjoy books.
Actually I know from when I used to go to a book club there are clearly adults reading and enjoying books without understanding the nuances.

Yes loved them. A Clergyman's Daughter is incredibly poignant in a quiet way. And I grew up in a very poor area going to a crap school, so in a childish way I really identified with Jude the Obscure. I totally understood the story, although obviously my perspective was more childish.

Really peng? I was a prolific reader for many reasons, and for the same reasons a lot older than my years in many ways. Top grades at gcse but by no means at all gifted or unusual regarding literature. Very much average top set bright but nothing more. But I certainly understood the classics you mention and those of a similar complexity long before I was 15.

Granted my teacher was unqualified and clueless at secondary, so hardly evidence of being unusual in that I had greater understanding than the person teaching. But except sheer volume my reading wasn't regarded as special either at primary, by the amazing librarian, or by the two different experienced people who taught literature I knew outside of school.

Fair enough I didn't like George Eliot then and still don't now, but that's different to not understanding or appreciating her.

And my early reading ability has conferred no special advantage as an adult.

In terms of understanding themes, I grew up in a very rough area and in reality the world I read about was far more sanitised than the one I read. Although my family are lovely, plenty of families round about me were not. I first learned about sexual abuse from a girl who told some of us in the playground that her dad had had sex with her.

And I did not read books with swearing and my parents did not swear, but I heard plenty of it from other kids. In fact I remember getting laughed at age 11 as I didn't, and still very rarely swear.

Thehogfather

Yes, this surprises me.

I think it's a bit of a waste reading something like Animal Farm before you're old enough to understand it, simply because you're unlikely to go back to it again for several years, if at all, unless it's something like a set GCSE text. There is so much good literature that a 10 year old can access without reading something they may only half understand.

My teachers would not have known at school what books I was reading and whether I understood them or not. I often hid the books I was reading as I did not want to get mocked for them, I was a quiet kid. And my mum said nothing.
I find though that these kids are more likely to be the ones that go under the radar, and if mums say what their kids are reading and understanding, the mothers are just seen as exaggerating and boasting.

Gnu I understood it.

And you do not understand voracious readers. If I liked a book I would read a book a day. Reading a book I was going to study in a few years time was not a waste of time. It was hard to find enough books to read back then.

crunchymint

I definitely understand voracious readers - what makes you say such a strange thing?

Oh, I see - were you responding to Gnu?