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?

They're not neutral. They don't stand alone. Words have more power than anything . The teacher was an idiot.

Yes.

An 8 year old who has only been given information from his family, from his school, from posters in the street, to his reading books to what is preached at church to what is on the radio and being shown in cinemas is going to believe that information.

How could they not?

So you think I'm an idiot. Explain to me, as an idiot, how an 8 year old (the age of the boy in the book) could avoid indoctrination?

I said you made really valid points, applying philosophical concepts, practically. But this isn't the situation in this case? She's not suggesting a primary school age child read ACO, unless I've missed something. If so, apologies. I agree with you that asking a small child to read violent gore would be bizarre but equally think her comments "it's only language" could likely reflect a perspective that ultimately words are neutral. I don't think we're arguing different corners here.

The second response wasn't from me, I appreciated your response :)

Why do you keep going on about 12 years?

You can't explain how a child could avoid indoctrination that millions of adults could not resist.

I think the fact you think this indoctrination is 'laughable' says a lot about you.

I would say Eve of Man is written for teenagers.

You are being so dramatic.

I was checking out books from the horror section in the library from around aged 12, They were worse than some 18 rated films to be honest but I loved reading horror along with mills and boon, which also wasn't suitable. We read Animal Farm in school, I found that quite a sad read but historical literature is what is always read in school, or was.

can’t understand why anyone is defending the English department of a secondary school promoting a book to a whole year group that has a highly derivative plot and is ‘written’ by a former CBeebies presenter and a pop star… This is what I would be complaining about.

Indeed.

But then my English teacher had never heard of the Grapes of Wrath and told me off only writing two book reviews the half term I read that (aged 12) . My mum had to go in with a copy! I was a voracious reader but even so it's a hefty book to get through.

It seems the English teacher would have preferred me to have read 6 Sweet Valley High books like my friend

It has been recommended by history teachers in US. Had lots of conversations with English teachers about some are strangely wedded to a not very good book.

This is a form time reading book NOT a book they are studying in English.

I didn’t say they were studying it - I said it was being promoted by English teachers… which it is.

there are so many excellent contemporary writers who are not celebrities but who craft interesting, imaginative and well-written books for YP. Seems a missed opportunity to me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

By this point all stories are "derivative"
There may be new ways to tell them but at heart they are all the same

Don't they say there are only a handful of actual different story themes across time and cultures.

But I 'm baffled at the determined defence of celebrity pulp books. As a minimum, in school, I would like to think English teachers have enough passion for literature to steer children towards some really good books.

Depends on the school of thought but I seem to remember it's between 3 and 7 core stories that all stories are derived from

Maybe it's because a "pulp" book might actually appeal to children more, pulp is literally just mass made for the public. Getting children to read anything is a bonus. And a gateway then to them reading more

Hahaha by your measure we might as well stop reading because we know all the letters in the alphabet. Maybe no need to listen to any music either or just listen to any old track because I’ve heard all the notes now 🤣

making children read a badly written book penned by two c list has-been celebrities is not conducive to encouraging a love of reading.

Teachers are hopefully teaching a combination of critical thinking while reading a book as well as encouraging pupils to read for enjoyment, Finding that happy medium for all the students is important.

Where people talk of pulp fiction, Stephen King openly describes his book The Green Mile as just that. Yet it is an exceptional story with many thought provoking themes.

Actually my point was the opposite
We can't slam this for being "derivative" because all fiction is
We just embrace what we have

People can and do love badly written pulp

It's why pulp fiction is popular

Twilight is utter dross. It still got lots of teenagers reading who then moved into reading things like Dracula

Oh and both of those "has beens" are currently preparing for tours