The brainlessness of an English Tutor. Fuming

[crazymomma93]

Long time lurker, please bear with me.
My DD12 has been having some issues with her reading book. It has been making her feel uncomfortable, from the Genre and style of writing. So I have looked into it, got a jist of the book, she has pointed out some bits that made her uneasy and I looked up the age rating which was 14+. Now typically if you knew me, you would know I am not "that Mom" but I emailed her Form Tutor to ask if there was an alternative. Tutor emailed back after talking to English dept and DD dosn't need to read the book any longer, she can bring in her own. No problem. My DD has just told me she spoke with her own English Tutor, the day before I sent the email to tell her Form Tutor. After listening to DD, English Tutor responds "it's just words"
ITS JUST WORDS? Sorry is that not pretty much the Tutors whole career, teaching English?
I need calming because I am close to emailing said teacher calling her a c**t, because, you know "it's just words". See how her feelings are when she reads something that makes her uncomfortable.
My DD turned to her to ask because the book was making her uneasy and that is the response. What about children who get verbally bullied? Where is this Womans morals. AIBU?

@crazymomma93 I apologise, I misquoted you by mistake, I have asked for the post to be deleted.

@ThanksItHasPockets and just to reiterate what i said in a slightly different way - Dr Laura Markham refers to looking after children without punishment - this is also based on decades worth of peer reviewed research (and Nancy Darling would therefore be aware of it too) - it is just one example of research based recommendations - so, basically, if schools and parents followed child development research, you would not have anywhere near 98 percent of children lying.

That is, the fault and mistake here is that there is a lot of child development research out there which could change lives and society it is not known about or ignored by parents and teachers

You say you work with children - as a teacher? But your training does not include child development research, is that right? And if it did, and all of your colleagues had the same training, and new parents had the same training, there would not be 98 percent of kids lying, and there would be more positive outcomes for millions of children, do you agree?

Age 14+ when the kids are 12.....
There's a big difference between those two years

Yes, but historical fiction, which suggests that it has some basis in fact. Given its topic and its intended readership I think it’s really irresponsible.

Given the particular topic of the book though there is a real responsibility for historical accuracy in my view

For a start, there weren’t any 9 year old boys in Auschwirz as they would have been gassed immediaely
Certainly wouldn’t have been able to wander about and make friends with the commandant’s son.
Humanises Bruno’s father
Trivialises the holocaust and the regime
Focus on the tragic accidental death of one little boy. No sense of the millions of Jews who died.

Same!! 😆 I don't know whose son he is! I was the one with Forever under my pillow!!

You’re an adult though. You had context before you started the book. Children of an age to read this almost certainly don’t.

Historians and Holocaust memorial organisations have criticised the book as damaging. I know school level history teachers who refuse to recommend it on the basis of its inaccuracy.

But the book was never written as history. As far as descriptions of violence and torture. The twelve year old child will be getting exposed to this in history class anyway. Not just the holocaust, but much of history is taken up with wars and chopping wives heads off etc.

Why, can men not fuss?

Goodness me - Are you okay? Like what a nonsense poor teachers no wonder they leave the profession. This has enraged you like its caused you inner rage and wanting to verbally abuse a teacher. You are one of those Mum’s I think you have taken what the teacher said out of context and are making a drama. Get some real problems.

OP, you said you are a long time lurker, so if this is your first post, other sections than aibu do have some more thorough conversations without all the goodness me and eye rolling (but less traffic, I'm sure you know both of those things). I think it's an interesting subject personally.

That’s a bit disingenuous. Historical fiction is a form of history writing.

I’m not quite sure what you’re trying to say about exposure to descriptions of violence and torture, as I don’t think it has anything to do with the point I was making.

But it's rated at 12 in other places...

Oh come on. There are thousands if not millions of fictional books set in times gone by, that are not accurate. It is in no way offered up as a learning tool. You name the subject, there will be a fictional book that those knowledgeable in it that will be able to quote inaccuracies within it.

The point that the child in question is already being exposed to far more brutal historical events than what was in the school book she is reading, or the book 'the boy in striped pyjamas', which is what you brought up, is entirely relevant.

Historical fiction is a type of public history. That’s a fact.

The poster who initially brought up The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas described it as a means to learn about history.

Your final paragraph shows no understanding of why people including holocaust historians and holocaust memorial institutions regard The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas as damaging to holocaust education. It also shows that you have not comprehended what the OP thought she was objecting to about the original book she mentioned.

Historical fiction is a type of public history. That’s a fact.

Bridgerton and Outlander are seen as actual history???

Or all the alternative reality books?

My thoughts exactly. 😂