School and kindles

[Stripitout]

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?

Just go to the library FFS. You don't need to go every week, you can borrow loads at a time!! I'm sure your cleaning can wait a short while every 6 weeks.

If you have DC who really like reading 20 books across 2 DC doesn’t last more than 1-2 weeks max, usually there every week or so, not once a term

DD1 uses the school library, local library and is still reading 20-30 hours a week on her kindle

DD2 gets 2 books a week from school, books from the library and around 10 hours a week on her kindle

The kindle is a saviour with the kids kindle package and DC take it in each day. thankfully the school isn’t bothered. They are more concerned about the multitude of DC with mobiles / Apple Watch / video watches etc

Well it’s pretty clear neither of you have any exposure to a kids kindle account

Buy an old book, hollow it out and hide the kindle.

I agree it’s annoying, but if that’s the school rules then that’s that.

I would just tell DD to bring a book from home regardless of whether she has read it.

'The rules' are usually (though admittedly not always) there for a good reason. There are plenty of good reasons why a school might not want students bringing in and using their own electronic devices, as has been repeatedly pointed out.

@AllProperTeaIsTheft in any environment I've worked in, it's perfectly acceptable to challenge rules if they're outdated or no longer relevant. Repeatedly pointing out the same reasons doesn't mean everyone will agree.

Once again, for those somewhat slow on the uptake: libraries round here have been cut to the bone. Both our local libraries are inaccessible by foot for a child, and are only open during the working day (kids either at school or afterschool club), and they are only open for a few hours on Saturday morning when my kids are committed to sport and music activities.

Our closest library doesn’t have much other than large print Mills and Boon either.

How on earth can a library be inaccessible by foot for a child but accessible to an adult? Is there a particularly steep ladder to climb to the door?

OP has said her library is open on a Saturday morning but she wants to prioritise going to get her click and collect supermarket shop instead.

And yet @shockeditellyou , some of us have a completely different experience with our libraries, so seeing as the OP has only said that she couldn't possibly find the time to go, we aren't sure of the situation in her area.

You understand the kids can have a library card each, right? It's not "20 books between them" it's 20 books each (plus another 10 each on your card if you want!)

People who aren't teachers or don't work in schools, and therefore don't have to deal with the consequences of the rules or lack thereof on a daily basis, probably aren't best placed to judge whether the rules are outdated or relevant. Parents often do not see the bigger picture and consider these issues from a very individualistic point of view.

Schools are not the only workplace where rules apply. I work in highly regulated industry where several rules apply but yes sometimes those rules can be changed and adapted for business needs and if everything has been risk assessed thoroughly and shows there is no significant impact to the safety efficacy and quality of our product, then yes, it’s very much possible. If my industry can do worse than I have no doubt that a school can change rules as and when they feel it necessary to move with the times.

This is working on tsb assumption that the her local library opens on a Saturday! Mine only open weekdays 10 till 2:30 which completely rules out anyone who works or goes to school having the chance to visit it.

There’s no libraries open on a Saturday in your borough? How unusual

But the school has decided that there is no ‘need’ for a change. OP could change her click and collect - surely the worst of all worlds on the food shopping front. You get your shopping chosen but still have to go get it.

I wouldn't let my 10yo take his kindle to school - it's enough of a struggle getting his coat and lunchbox home at the end of the day. You say it would be DC's responsibility, but day 1 she takes it in and some kid steals it or snatches and breaks it, and what will you say?

I sympathise with the library though, I haven't made it to the library in months, as it's never open. And what library lets you borrow 20 books? We can take 3.

A good source of second hand books is vinted. Quite easy to find big bundles of books from kids with similar tastes.

@AllProperTeaIsTheft How odd, what a bizarre way to put your opinion across. I work in a heavily regulated industry, where rules exist. Outdated rules can always be challenged.

Schools will adapt, whether you like it or not. Nobody is suggesting that rules are abandoned but it makes no sense to put barriers in the way of children enjoying reading.

My kids re-read books over and over again. I'd buy a big batch of books from FB marketplace or charity shops and have those as her school books that she rotates. Or, like others have suggested go to the library once a month, get a load of books and renew online as necessary. Also ridiculous to suggest kids can't have more than one book on the go at once. My son usually has about 4! Keep the Kindle for home reading.

Schools do change rules and adapt - which is why when kindles were girst launched few schools banned them then later brought in a rule against them.

various reasons including: they aren’t the only e-reader available - other e-reading options are often internet enabled, some have the kindle app on other tablets/devices, it has to be a fair blanket ban.

They get broken/stolen and while the OP is relaxed enough to just shrug and buy another thinking it’s got to be her own child’s fault, other parents will complain and expect the school to keep them safe.

there is increasing evidence that paper books are better for children’s comprehension.

its easy to see from the cover what book a child is reading and step in if it’s inappropriate- harder to check 30 kids with e-readers.

if most of the class has one, it creates a peer pressure to buy one for your child and they aren’t cheap. schools in many areas are under pressure to reduce the cost of uniform and equipment.

I’m sure there’s other reasons I’ve missed. But basically, there’s good reasons these rules have been brought in and “but it would make my life easier” isn’t the best argument against them. (Be a lot easier to encourage the school to appeal for books from other parents and build their own library)

Why wouldn't I assume the library is open?

In Ireland they are open every Saturday except pre bank holiday. It's hardly a stretch to expect a bigger jurisdiction to have basic societal infrastructures in place.

I’m in Ireland and mum in Ireland and mine is only open 10-5 mon to Friday

Because in England services have been cut down to the bare minimum despite our council tax increasing yearly. We have libraries that barely open and are in the most inaccessible to the people who want/need to use them.

Where? There's a national agreement between councils under E U funding for literacy?

The large main one is in the centre of the 'main' part of the borough is, but only till 2 and that's a 35 minute journey away. When your children have activities on a Saturday morning it means you don't have much time to get there. Thankfully I have no need to use them as we buy books but for those who want to use them it is very restrictive.