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?

'Martha leant across the school table kissing her husband with delight, all 3 children simultaneously proclaimed 'EWWW' at their parents thoughtless PDA'

This is inappropriate for 10 year olds? Yes, its a very stupid rule in that case.

But I suspect OP you are going to have to suck this up and try and find something your DD will actually enjoy reading and that meets with approval.

Nothing? It was creative writing, she was writing a story about made up characters.

Don't kid yourself OP. She clearly thinks her parents kiss too much.

I'd be inclined to get really subversive and try her on Nineteen Eighty Four.

It depends on the school's system.

My nephew is learning Pink Floyd's The Wall in school, year 5.

I think the school are being unreasonable, but the earlier poster's suggestion of trying some kids classics is a decent idea. It's a tricky age if you are a voracious reader and feel past kids' books. I remember loving at that age Watership Down, The Hobbit, Shogun (gory!), The Thornbirds (some sex), and I think I was also reading Lace and Flowers in the Attic (both recommended by my gran!) I don't really condone her selection, but I did enjoy them! A couple of years later, I got into Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Dickens but wasn't quite ready at 10. It's a dumb rule as surely the aim is just to get kids into reading.

She definitely sounds unusually conservative. Normally I wouldn't, but in this case - as she doesn't want to discuss it - I'd refer this to the Head. Strip out all the detail (it's irrelevant that this is her first primary class, for example) and say something simple: DD wants to read X, Y and X and we are happy for her to do so. Teacher isn't being very clear about what the problem is with these choices, so we would like to ask for your opinion.

I absolutely LOVED Jude the Obscure

I loved Jude the Obscure, but I didn't read it until I was in my late teens. It's so dark, and so sad, that I could imagine it really upsetting a younger teen.

I've given myself shivery goosebumps just thinking about it,

Yes it is sad, but not like reading a horror story. And as a kid I actually knew an adult who was a bus driver, but had wanted to be a lawyer. He used to buy secondhand law books and read them all the time. He was like an "uncle" to me when I was in primary school, so it also reminded me of him.

I don't remember reading any books as a young teen that I could not cope with or really upset me. And in some ways A Clergymans Daughter is even more poignant. Also about wasted potential.

I'd be inclined to get really subversive and try her on Nineteen Eighty Four

That did make me giggle that was actually one of the books my own DD got pulled up on at that sort of age. Though there is a little smut in it, it's in context & we discussed it before she read it. Still wasn't acceptable 🙄

I'd be worried by that response OP, teacher sounds incredibly prudish & out of step tbh

Pengggwn

I think we've come to an agreement with dd that yes the teacher is overly conservative but that it wont actually do her any harm to have a teacher slightly more so than most for a few more months. Asides from this she has been a great teacher and dd has a really good time at school and we dont want to risk this by making a complaint.

Fair enough.

The point here is that the DD is not a young teen.

I pretty much got told that she wouldnt recommend that I allow dd to watch or read material that is targeting for other 10's at home and said that even from dd's creative writing it was evident she had been reading 'innapropriate' content

Cheeky fucker! How judgmental.

And your DD's creative writing sounds great - made me laugh and I can see nothing inappropriate for a 10 year old in that. Kids generally find adults kissing a bit "eeewww".

It sounds to me like she's more concerned with fitting kids in boxes, rather than encouraging them to read widely and broadly, within their ability.

Not like reading a horror story, I agree crunchy, but killing siblings and then committing suicide? Because they were so poor? The social class/access to education and Sue Bridehead's feminism is fine, but the children's fate is heartbreaking. I think of it every time I work with a family who are dependent on food banks because of the benefit cap.

I hadn't made the connection until now, but I used to be friends with a man who was a high-flying accountant but jacked it in in his early 40s to become a stonemason, so sort of Jude in reverse. I'm amazed that's never struck me before.

Hardy is one of my absolute favourites, and I'm going to re-read some of them now.

Never actually read Jude (Hardy in general being so depressing I couldn't bring myself to try it!) but just googled the plot and no, I wouldn't give that to a ten year old.

I also read lots of "inappropriate" books (classics) very early- didn't fully understand them, but I loved them so much, and I came back and read them again and again.

Three books that absolutely broke my heart before I was 10- Animal Farm, Uncle Tom's Cabin (yes really, and I know it actually is pretty inappropriate), Oliver Twist. I think that reading these books and all the many others that I read as a child made me the person I am now, for better or for worse. I can remember the extreme pain I felt at Nancy, Eva and Uncle Tom's death, and the profound sense of betrayal I felt in Animal Farm. I remember these feelings 45 years later better than I can remember any book I have read as an adult. Maybe this is wrong, and I should have been protected, but I am not so sure.

I also got such joy from so many of the books already mentioned by PPs: worlds glimpsed and half understood; intriguing complex characters; baffling references; language which enchanted me even though I barely knew its meaning. Not fully understanding things doesn't discourage an avid reader; it intrigues him or her. Kids are used to not understanding the adult world, looking for and interpreting clues, having their expectations dashed or suddenly elevated beyond their wildest dreams. Books can be an extension of this, and it makes me sad to see teachers posting on here who don't believe that some young children can enjoy Jane Austen's language, just like some young children can play and love a Beethoven Sonata.

OP on a more practical note, what about cutting off the cover of an Enid Blyton book and artfully rebinding some Dickens?

And as for some of the "classics" being suggested here, they're fucking dire!!

You may as well suggest she read Macbeth or Hamlet (but they're probably too mature) - they're "classics" but only 3 people under 20 have ready them voluntarily (let alone enjoyed them)......

In my case crunchy the library had about as much teen fiction as there is in ours now. Can't say I remember much of it except a judy Blume book and sweet valley high. More that dd has a much greater choice of where to get books from, nobody is limited to local anymore.

Horror never bothered me then, just as it doesn't now. I suppose because however good the book I know it's only a story. And I read a lot of non fiction about history too, so even moving themes weren't necessarily new.

I think if op wants to shock the teacher she should rebind Roald Dahl with the cover of clockwork Orange.

LakieLady That had no emotional impact on me as a kid because it did not relate to my own life at all. Often what upsets adults and children are different.

Have you looked at Puffin Classics for your DD? They include a range of genres, will broaden your DD's vocabulary, and will be both engaging and challenging reads. You can find a list on the Puffin website....

PiffleandWiffle, well, I'm one who read MacBeth, Hamlet and many more Shakespeares, Pope, Donne, Shelley and similar classics, when well under 20, and many times since, all entirely voluntarily. You're mixing with the wrong people!

OP Kathy Reichs has written a kids series called Virals. It's really good, I enjoy them as an adult. Rated 9/10+ on commonsense media. Are they any good?

If you're wanting recommendations then try 'A place called Perfect' by Helena Duggan and 'Wonder' by RJ Palacio. DD(11) has recently read these and raved about them both..

You're mixing with the wrong people!

I don't think I am thanks!

I'd rather sit down with a Richard Morgan or a Neal Asher - something with a bit of Zing!! Or for something a bit different - a Robin Hobb.

I'm afraid Shakespeare does nothing for me at all & never will & neither have the poets....