Teacher Banning 8 y.o. DS from bringing Bunny vs Monkey books to school for his friends to read

[alixpally]

First day of school, and DS, 8, has been banned by his new teacher from bringing Bunny vs Monkey books to school for his friends to read - am I being unreasonable to be a bit miffed? Last year, he developed a habit of bringing lots of his favourite books in to school to lend to his friends to read during class reading time. This included Jamie Smart books, which were very popular. Today he came home crying because his new teacher has banned him from bringing any more Jamie Smart books, deeming them "rude, violent and inappropriate". I mean, yes, there is a bit of toilet humour, but it's not exactly Marvel comics - these are award winning books and frankly pretty cute and funny actually.
I can understand she may wish to discourage anarchic behaviour (and humour, I guess) but practically every book has violence built into the plot in some way (witness Grimm bros). I feel uneasy about a teacher who would discourage children from reading and sharing books. Should I do anything?

Her class her rules. I’d let him know people have different ideas around what’s funny, and that his current teacher isn’t a fan of Bunny Vs Monkey. I’d also back the teacher up on this - it’s pretty minor and maybe she’s found it does encourage silly behaviour/ she’s having to monitor who has which book and make sure they go back to your son safely. He can still enjoy them at home, and if he particularly wants to lend them to a friend after school, great.

Gosh really? They are fine and I'm quite picky out DS reading material.

Are you sure its not also because actually, there's barely any actual reading in them? The actual volume of text is tiny, DS zooms through them in a very short time.

Your teacher needs better education on reluctant readers.

I’d have a word with the teacher and if not happy, a firmer word with the head.
Those books are fine and the teacher is killing children’s joy in reading.

Her class her rules

Unless they are stupid rules that adversely affect my child’s desire to and enjoyment of reading.

Nothing allowed to be bought in apart from packed lunch etc at my dd school in case it's misplaced or lost so totally understand why this teacher says no go anything being bought it. Can you arrange a reading playdate with his friends occasionally as sounds a lovely idea.

If he wants to share books then can he not do it outside of school?

most schools discourage swapping things in school because often it causes more problems than it’s worth!

I suspect it's not so much the content as that it causes problems.

Most primary schools ban toys because the kid invariably loses it or gives a toy to another child and then the parents get annoyed.

It causes so many problems which the teachers then have to spend time and effort resolving.

Yes, I know that Henry said you could keep his toy for ever and ever but actually his parents say it's really expensive and they want it back so can you bring it in tomorrow please?

Etc etc

Oh yes, do do this. You will entertain the staffroom for weeks.

God can you imagine the drama involved if one of them loses a book, scribbles in it or whatever? It's a no from me

as a pp said after school is fine but inside no sorry

I wonder if children were reading them in class and getting silly and messing about when they should either have been listening or working and the teacher thought they'd nip this in the bud now before it became a problem later?

Yes, by the way, it is the teacher's class and therefore the teacher's rules, whether or not you agree with them.

My lads school have a “Friday favourite” a different child gets to bring their favourite book for the teacher to read to the class, every Friday. You could ask them to consider this maybe?

I’m thinking she’s asked him to not bring them in as it may be distracting the other kids at a time she needs to teach. If every child did the same every day, it would be chaos.

Sorry I see @Octavia64 has already said it 🤦🏻‍♀️ 😂

She's the teacher. She will have her own ideas on what reading material she wants the class to have.

It's not up to you and your DS to dictate what books the rest of the class read. It's her who is accountable for what goes on in class.

Surely your son can lend his books to his friends outside of class.

Lots of primary schools don't allow kids to bring in toys, books etc because of the hassle involved if they go missing or ruined in some way.

She may be protecting herself - if others bring home his books without parents seeing them and approving them, and those parents disapprove of the books, then it’d be her head on the chopping board. I don’t let children swap things in class full stop as I can never be sure if the child giving away their items has the approval of their parents or not. A full ban really is easier!

I don't know these books but if they contain toilet humour I'm on the teacher's side. I'm really not I'm favour of that type of humour in children's literature.

A teacher of 8 year olds is banning a boy from bringing in books to share with his friends because she deems them "rude, violent and inappropriate"

Fucksake. And then they don't go onto pass GCSE English.

It is her class her rules, and I can see the rationales for it but it's a shame if it's made your son feel glum about reading.

Not sure how she is discouraging reading & sharing books-it doesn't have to be done at school!

She's discouraging reading if she's sneering at his preferred reading material.

Jamie Smart's books are fantastic.

I monitor the lexical level of the books the children in my class read closely.
The can read whatever they want at home but there needs to be an appropriate level of challenge in their books at school.

Plus all of the points above regarding not lending out stuff from home!

I'm not a fan of obeying authority for the sake of it and I am also not a fan of anything that discourages children from reading. I'm honestly amazed at the idea that children are banned from bringing books to school anywhere.

Bless him, he sounds like the class librarian!

Just tell him to lend them outside of the school gates, like he'd lend most things really.

Maybe she doesn't want the responsibility of other kids damaging your childs property

Or a whole host of reasons

Her classroom her rules