School santa book appropriate?

[coffeeandteav]

Am I actually being unreasonable?

Santa came to see my sons class today and they all received a book. They are all 7/8. Son is 7, 8 next summer.

He has recieved this book and doesn't understand it at all. Nor find it engaging. Just strikes me as an odd present for a child struggling in Maths. Maybe for year 6 at a push.

Or is it actually good? Anyone read it?

You are truly blessed
take a look at other people posts tonight
( grieving , skint , desperate) and your only gripe in life is a free gift from school which is not perfect

In fairness that is a disappointing gift to get from Santa - a few chocolate coins would have been more festive.

I'm sure the intention was good and the books given randomly.

YABU. The school have given out free books as a present. Children have to read none fiction as part of the curriculum so maybe reasonable in that way. If you honestly think the school had the time or budget to go and pick out 30 (presumably more as assuming all the children got a book) individually chosen books to match the child you are deluded. Read it or don't but stop being ridiculous

Children get plenty of chocolate at this time of year. Then you’ve got to consider allergies etc.
Some children come from homes without a single book. Chocolate is eaten and forgotten. A book might become a treasured possession.

The right book, maybe. But this is not a book any child would choose, or is likely to read once given. It is just a disappointing thing to unwrap.

And I don't actually believe any child in the UK comes from a house without a single book, unless it is a choice by all concerned. They get free books for world book day, you can pick up free books in loads of places, never mind the library and the books they can bring home from school to read.

I still think a few chocolate coins would have been better.

You know a staff member will have gone out of their way to acquire enough books for every single child? And other staff members will have spent time, likely their own wrapping these books? Do you think they had the time, resources and money to buy the 'right' book from every child?

There is also an obesity problem amongst UK children and schools are now being enlisted to teach children to brush their teeth. So I don't really think giving any child more books is a problem.

The school has gone out of their way to do something nice and that they are in no way obliged to do. Of course there are attitudes Iike OP's and yours. I despair.

Entitlement off the scale with you.

For next year, why don’t you make a donation to the school in September or October and allow them to use the money to buy books that your kid will want instead?

Mind and pop in and offer to help spend hours wrapping them too.

@TheYearOfSmallThings of course there are children without access to books. What an ignorant, middle class comment! You need to come and work with me for a few weeks - with 16 year old who can't read as they have illiterate parents, who have avoided school ...

Really. You don’t think there is a single child in a book free home? Think again.

Research from the Literacy Trust.

• ‘In 2023, over 9 in 10 (91.4%) children and young people aged 5 to 18 said that they had a book of their own at home, meaning that 1 in 12 (8.6%) did not.’

literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/book-ownership-in-2023/#:~:text=More%20than%209%20in%2010,vs%2093.3%25%20in%202019).

Agree with all of this.

To add, there are also many kids leaving school who are functionally illiterate (ie can maybe read their name and address but not much more).

Oblivious.

There are many, many, many children without a single book at home. It may well be by choice, but it's not the child's choice. More likely though, it's down to poverty.

Sometimes the "right book" is something you wouldn't pick but someone gets you, opening up a different genre

Chocolate coins would mean having to buy Free From too (which instantly gets more expensive) and then all the parents complaining about "school promoting unhealthy lifestyles" (probably here on MN). They are all different sizes so "MISS! Johnnie got two big coins and I got two small" and "Sir! Grace got three coins and I got two, why should she get more even though they're smaller" etc.

Books are safer, encourage good habits and are just another way of getting books into kids homes

Initially I thought🤔but on reflection this is a great book. However, are the school teaching children 'home economics' not in the culinary sense, but in the financial sense of running your life. It would be a great if they were though I think it's a freebie!

I think it's very important for young children to know the value of money, and more importantly, to respect it.

I am in my 60s with adult DC who I clearly did not raise to value or respect money. My excuse is that I grew up in a very low income (single parent) household, I became the classic "I want my kids to have what I didn't".

I doubt this book will be exciting to a child that isn't a bit geeky or a budding entrepreneur, but I'm sure if you read it and maybe explain/example some of it in real life terms.

I'd be all for it OP👏🏼👏🏼

I think some of the replies on this thread are really rather rude. Why do posters have to be so hostile with their posts?!

There are times in life when it's appropriate to have a fleeting thought, then let it pass without mentioning it to anyone. This is one of those times.

Well aren't you naïve to think there are books in every home.

A few chocolate coins?? Madness.

And yet there are frequent posts on MN about school not teaching practical skills with maths and how to apply it. Surely this is an age appropriate way to do that.

Loads of kids live the idea of enterprise and gaining something valuable. Hence "swapsies" in the playground or chores for pocket money.

7% of children in the UK don’t have even one book of their own. This is why free books are given out.

I wasn't offended st all. Just thought was a silly book. Some kids got football books. Son accepted it gratefully.

I am a teacher too. I wouldn't have given it but thanks for everyones input.

I am also a teacher. There would be no complaint just a weird choice.

Yes exactly. He would have preferred a biscuit.

I have spent a fortune on my own classess.

You're a teacher and still find fault with the school attempting to do something nice for the children with extremely limited resources? Sure you are.

@Kibble29

This book would not be one to encourage literacy. Not at all.