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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this is inappropriate homework for an 11 year old? **MNHQ adding content warning for CSA**

167 replies

ProwlingD · 19/06/2023 19:14

I run a homework club once a week from my home where I oversee and assist students with their homework. This afternoon, one of my 11 year old students (year 7) brought this short story. She had to read it and then write a summary of what the story was about, how she thinks the characters felt etc.

After she had read it and written her summary, I then read it and was shocked at what the story is about / is suggesting. Her summary was completely wrong - she read the story as one of a happy step family - and I didn't feel it appropriate to explain to her what the story is actually suggesting. I then showed it to my DP (he is not in education) and he also felt it was inappropriate.

I'm am English Literature teacher (but left working in schools a couple of years ago) and I am not easily shocked or surprised by the texts my students are reading. Had this been a student in KS4 I would have felt them mature enough to explain the connotations, but 11 seems far too young.

AIBU to think 11 is too young to be getting this as homework?

To think this is inappropriate homework for an 11 year old? **MNHQ adding content warning for CSA**
To think this is inappropriate homework for an 11 year old? **MNHQ adding content warning for CSA**
OP posts:
OhComeOnFFS · 19/06/2023 19:16

Oh my god, it's a story about a little girl getting abused by her step father? No way should that be given to an 11 year old.

nothingcomestonothing · 19/06/2023 19:17

Holy crap, if my 11 year old came home with that I'd be at school at 8am tomorrow morning! YADNBU

flimsywhimsy · 19/06/2023 19:18

That's horrific.

PuntasticUsername · 19/06/2023 19:18

Fucking hell, that's horrible.

Is there any chance that the teacher who set it doesn't actually realise what it's about?!

Rinoachicken · 19/06/2023 19:19

That made me want feel sick. WTAF.

catgirl1976 · 19/06/2023 19:19

That’s awful and totally not suitable for an eleven year old

OhComeOnFFS · 19/06/2023 19:19

In fact I think I'd email the head teacher tonight. One of my best friends is a head teacher and she'd be all over that, no matter what time of day she was told.

Blanketpolicy · 19/06/2023 19:20

OhComeOnFFS · 19/06/2023 19:16

Oh my god, it's a story about a little girl getting abused by her step father? No way should that be given to an 11 year old.

It's a little boy being abused. Damien.

And still inappropriate.

Catabogus · 19/06/2023 19:20

OhComeOnFFS · 19/06/2023 19:19

In fact I think I'd email the head teacher tonight. One of my best friends is a head teacher and she'd be all over that, no matter what time of day she was told.

Yes I would too this too

ChickenRat · 19/06/2023 19:20

I'm all for teaching children about difficult issues in an age appropriate way but no way is 11 old enough to appreciate the horrific nuance of this text

I'd be making a formal complaint if I were you. In writing.

Saz12 · 19/06/2023 19:20

Fuck me thats utterly terrible. I'd be telling her parents that you were very concerned about the text and ask them to read it in case they would wabt to co tact school.

TakeMe2Insanity · 19/06/2023 19:21

Email the head and the parents. This is so inappropriate.

nocoolnamesleft · 19/06/2023 19:21

Bloody hell.

NoSquirrels · 19/06/2023 19:21

Yeah, I’m pretty liberal when it comes to appropriate materials and reading ages but that is not OK for Year 7s as a self-guided homework task.

It’s from this collection by Amnesty and I’d say it’s YA so definitely KS4.

Here I Stand against hate

We are Amnesty International UK. We are ordinary people from across the world standing up for humanity and human rights.

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/blogs/stories-and-rights/here-i-stand-against-hate

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 19/06/2023 19:22

This reply has been deleted

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CuriousGeorge80 · 19/06/2023 19:22

Fuck me. I iften think people on MN are a bit OTT but Jesus that is an awful thing to give an 11 year old. Appalling.

whatsinanameeh · 19/06/2023 19:22

Please tell the parents to read this and explain what it is. This is so inappropriate that's it's frankly disturbing that a teacher gave it out.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 19/06/2023 19:23

I actually think you should ask MN to put a trigger in the title.

NoSquirrels · 19/06/2023 19:23

PuntasticUsername · 19/06/2023 19:18

Fucking hell, that's horrible.

Is there any chance that the teacher who set it doesn't actually realise what it's about?!

How, tho? It’s a short story and it’s completely clear to any adult.

NewShoes · 19/06/2023 19:23

Secondary English teacher here, absolutely baffled by what I’m reading. No, completely unacceptable for year 7 to be reading, and if I set this as homework I’d expect to have 25 sets of parents quite rightly complaining to the Head within 24 hours.

Ihavekids · 19/06/2023 19:23

This reply has been deleted

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CornflakesOnTheSolesOfHerShoes · 19/06/2023 19:23

Oh my god!! I’d be absolutely bloody livid if my Yr 6 was given this, and I’m pretty relaxed about what they read.

PastTheGin · 19/06/2023 19:23

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Newusernamee · 19/06/2023 19:24

I genuinely thought this was going to be an OTT response but having read that, bloody hell. You need to flag this up to the parents and the school. Totally inappropriate!

uhOhOP · 19/06/2023 19:24

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 19/06/2023 19:23

I actually think you should ask MN to put a trigger in the title.

Yes, I think so, too.

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