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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School and kindles

200 replies

Stripitout · 14/12/2024 09:20

DD 9 has a kindle. Books are generally cheaper , you don’t have to wait to go to the shops or order from Amazon, she has a lot of books and finishes around 1 a week.

They have to take a book to school everyday for reading - school library is crap and she’s read most of her age and older books.

The school will not allow any electronic devices. I’ve explained she can’t take photos, message, go on the internet with it but they will not allow her to take it to school. It means I have to keep buying print copies of books for her to read just at school, if she’s really enjoying a book on her kindle she has to swap and change with a print book for school (I’m not buying duplicate copies)

it seems so short sighted of the school. AIBU?

OP posts:
noworklifebalance · 14/12/2024 09:23

I hear you but you also need to consider it from the school’s perspective. Kindles are not cheap, can get broken, lost, stolen. Other kids will want to bring devices in, some will have games on them, their parents will kick off if their kid is not allowed to etc etc

Dishwashersaurous · 14/12/2024 09:25

Don't you have a local library? Use that for books for school

noworklifebalance · 14/12/2024 09:27

Maybe get books out from the local library and use them as books to read at school only? That way she won’t get through them so fast and so they don’t need to be replenished as frequently. At home she continues to read other books on her kindle.
Hooefully, your daughter will be old enough to understand why.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 14/12/2024 09:27

i was going to suggest use the library too. Get in the habit of a weekly visit, always find 2 books.

your kindle is just for reading, but other e-readers have games, cameras, internet access etc. it’s unreasonable to expect staff to police which ones are acceptable. A blanket rule is best.

HPandthelastwish · 14/12/2024 09:28

You are being ridiculous. The extra admin on the school if it gets lost, stolen or broken would be huge alongside the other children wanting the same.

Go to the normal library or a charity shop and pick up books for her to read at school. It's entirely possible to read more than one book at a time.

Autumndayz77 · 14/12/2024 09:29

A little of topic but, world of books is an online second hand book shop. Loads chepaer

CRJ77 · 14/12/2024 09:29

Fully agree! I fought this battle when my oldest was younger and a teacher who loved reading eventually saw sense and allowed him to bring it in.

@noworklifebalance modern Kindles can’t have any games on them. They are nothing but books?

I take the point about expensive/might get lost but that is at the parent and child’s risk. They’re about the same price as the trainers most of them wear on non-uniform day.

With kids’ reading rates in the terrifying state that they are, schools shouldn’t be doing anything at all to discourage kids from reading.

Edingril · 14/12/2024 09:29

So when a child's kindle gets broken or lost or stolen is this another thing school has to deal,with because parents can't be bothered to actually get their children's books and put another responsibility to schools to handle

Original poster
Stripitout · 14/12/2024 09:30

The library - not sure where I would find the time for that, I’m out of the house at 7am and not home until 6:45-7pm

Saturdays I clean and do everything else which hasn’t been done in the week

Sundays I lie on the sofa and contemplate a nervous breakdown

Trying to make life more efficient not add more life admin to the load!

OP posts:
Original poster
Stripitout · 14/12/2024 09:31

Why on earth would I blame the school if it got broken or lost? Thats on DD

Christ don’t people take responsibility for anything anymore?

OP posts:
Ablondiebutagoody · 14/12/2024 09:33

You just go to the library with DD and chill out while she finds what she wants. Hardly a chore. If she's an avid reader, she will love it.

CRJ77 · 14/12/2024 09:35

Fully agreed OP, I find the other responses to this absolutely baffling.

Kindles are just collections of loads and loads of books, they’re wonderful things that kids should be encouraged not discouraged to use, and they’re extremely hard to break and not that expensive. People are talking to you as though your child wants to take a MacBook into school. (and they’re far cheaper and harder to break than the iPhones most kids will be taking into school and risking in year 7)

Original poster
Stripitout · 14/12/2024 09:35

Ablondiebutagoody · 14/12/2024 09:33

You just go to the library with DD and chill out while she finds what she wants. Hardly a chore. If she's an avid reader, she will love it.

I work. Full time. “Just go to the library” sounds simple, and then keeping track of the books and returning them on time and driving to town and parking to actually get to the only library still open.

Thats not a workable solution

OP posts:
Dishwashersaurous · 14/12/2024 09:36

Just go to the library as the thing that you do with your child at the weekend, surely you spend time with her. Just do it at the library.

CRJ77 · 14/12/2024 09:37

… also going to the library or a second hand bookshop is a total waste of time when you already have a Kindle! It’s like telling someone with a washing machine they shouldn’t be allowed to use it and should go to the launderette.

Original poster
Stripitout · 14/12/2024 09:37

“Just go to the library”

is there a bloody echo in here?!

OP posts:
magicalmrmistoffelees · 14/12/2024 09:37

Mine takes her Kindle to school. It didn’t actually occur to me to ask if it was ok, and no one has told her it isn’t so far! She’s also entirely exhausted the school library (and our small local library). If she loses it, it’s on her.

Dishwashersaurous · 14/12/2024 09:38

You can continue to argue with school and even sign and say that you won't hold school liable if the kindle is damaged.

But if school won't allow it then you need an alternative plan.

CRJ77 · 14/12/2024 09:38

Just have a word with school again, OP. Tell them your child loves reading on the Kindle, it contains no games (some people genuinely don’t know this) and write a letter saying it’s at your own risk if anything happens to it. That should sort it.

CRJ77 · 14/12/2024 09:39

(The above, plus talking to a teacher who actually had a Kindle and knew what a brilliant device it was, is what persuaded my school)

DaveWatts · 14/12/2024 09:39

I'd just order some cheap secondhand books from Abe or somewhere and keep them just for school reading - that way she won't finish them too quickly. She can carry on reading other stuff at home on her kindle.

SnowyIcySnow · 14/12/2024 09:40

DS2 has a handful of books he doesn't mind re-reading to rotate in his school bag to meet the requirements of a reading book in school.
Then he reads what he wants, how he wants, the rest of the time.
Depending on how much reading is done at school, this might work?

UpTheMagicChristmasTree · 14/12/2024 09:40

There's absolutely no need for her to take a Kindle into school. If you can't go to a library then order a whole load of books second hand for her to work her way through when she's at school. She xan continue the books she is reading on the Kindle at home.

StripyHorse · 14/12/2024 09:41

Of the primary schools I have been in, most have a tray / box for pupils to keep items like books and stationery, with bags kept in the cloakroom. There is no secure storage. It couls be taken from her tray, her bag might get kicked or trodden on (deliberately or accidentally). The school will be aware that there are chances for it to be damaged when it is not your DDs fault and will have a parental complaint.

There is also the slippery slope element - DD brings her kindle. Another child brings an e-reader with additional functions, child 3 wants to bring their kindle fire. At each stage someone can complain that x does this so my child should also be allowed to.

There are options. Library, charity shops, Christmas list, swap books with like-minded friends.

SapphireOpal · 14/12/2024 09:42

Go to the library once each school holidays. Get 20 books to last her the term. Renew them a couple of times.

You don't need to go every week!