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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:
FunkyBuddha85 · 19/06/2023 19:37

This is diabolical! I don't think children should be reading this at any stage in school. Even for sixth form it would be an odd assignment. Please report this. I would be livid if I saw this as my child's homework.

FloweryName · 19/06/2023 19:37

Did you bring it to the attention of the parent? What was their reaction?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 19/06/2023 19:38

FunkyBuddha85 · 19/06/2023 19:37

This is diabolical! I don't think children should be reading this at any stage in school. Even for sixth form it would be an odd assignment. Please report this. I would be livid if I saw this as my child's homework.

Agree.

Jackiebrambles · 19/06/2023 19:39

I’m really upset this was given to an 11 year old, who didn’t understand the upsetting nuance. It feels really underhand. Totally inappropriate.

dapsnotplimsolls · 19/06/2023 19:39

Definitely inappropriate.

Lostinalibrary · 19/06/2023 19:39

I’m a teacher -that’s not ok.

FatGirlSwim · 19/06/2023 19:39

Omg. I’m the most liberal parent ever and discuss all kinds of things with my children but if my 11 year old came home with that, I’d be on the phone to the school in seconds. KS4 I wouldn’t have a problem with it.

My 11yo would be traumatised if she understood it.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 19/06/2023 19:40

It's incredibly graphic, imo. I'd argue there's a consent issue with being told to read something so awful.

Singleandproud · 19/06/2023 19:40

We were expected to read this book to our form group for 15 mins every morning. I refused, in no way is it appropriate for children in year 7-9 and even for the older ones what a shitty way to start your day if you have been through something like that.

According to our Safeguarding lead it was a brilliant book with lots of talking points!

Anniessong · 19/06/2023 19:40

I’m a secondary school English teacher. Please report this straight away. This is actually a serious safeguarding incident

FatGirlSwim · 19/06/2023 19:41

I also think that there will be children in the class with direct experience of abuse and it is really triggering.

YukoandHiro · 19/06/2023 19:42

This has really shocked me, partly because at age 11 I would have had absolutely no idea what was going on here.

Does the teacher actually know? I wonder if he/she hasn't read it properly?!

bookworm14 · 19/06/2023 19:45

Fucking hell that is entirely inappropriate for an 11 year old. I’d question it being used in schools at all actually. Could the person setting it have misunderstood what it was about?

Whenconfusionsetsin · 19/06/2023 19:46

Anniessong · 19/06/2023 19:40

I’m a secondary school English teacher. Please report this straight away. This is actually a serious safeguarding incident

makes me wonder about the teacher to be honest that they think this is ok. Has it been used as some warped grooming exercise.

NoSquirrels · 19/06/2023 19:46

Singleandproud · 19/06/2023 19:40

We were expected to read this book to our form group for 15 mins every morning. I refused, in no way is it appropriate for children in year 7-9 and even for the older ones what a shitty way to start your day if you have been through something like that.

According to our Safeguarding lead it was a brilliant book with lots of talking points!

I’m glad you refused.

Your safeguarding lead needs better training.

PimmsandCucumbers · 19/06/2023 19:46

I think this is totally inappropriate of both the school and Amnesty. I just don’t understand why anyone would give this to children, and I also don’t understand why this would be in any way ‘shining a light’, it’s too close to being something a predator might enjoy reading.

Blimey safeguarding children isn’t always top of the agenda at school is it? I’m hoping it’s more the teacher just didn’t check first rather than they read it and thought it was OK.

SeaSaltAir · 19/06/2023 19:46

I’m not easily shocked but that upset me. There is no way that story is appropriate. How could anyone assign that as homework to a child?

plantsandwich · 19/06/2023 19:47

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.

This!I get the message they're trying to teach about how sneaky abusers can be, and perhaps later on they'd go into how you must always tell someone-but not like this!!
You have to flag this up OP. So horrendous :( and I am kind of glad your student didn't 'get' it!

VariantHela · 19/06/2023 19:47

A story about a step-father abusing a boy? That's horrendous and I'd be wanting to speak to the headteacher

YukoandHiro · 19/06/2023 19:47

Singleandproud · 19/06/2023 19:40

We were expected to read this book to our form group for 15 mins every morning. I refused, in no way is it appropriate for children in year 7-9 and even for the older ones what a shitty way to start your day if you have been through something like that.

According to our Safeguarding lead it was a brilliant book with lots of talking points!

I'm really startled to hear this

Iamnotalemming · 19/06/2023 19:48

OMFG

LivingDeadGirlUK · 19/06/2023 19:48

Wow, I have no words, sending an 11 year old home to read that on their own is appalling. I would speak to the parents and the school immediately.

Always4Brenner · 19/06/2023 19:55

For 11 year olds no just no how on earth has this passed through to be set as homework?

HollyGolightly4 · 19/06/2023 19:56

I thought this was going to be ott (I imagine the 6% who've said you are unreasonable didn't actually read the text) but it completely isn't.

There's no way that's appropriate for Year 7. I'd be utterly disgusted. I am a secondary school English teacher and say this needs reporting asap.

Foxesandsquirrels · 19/06/2023 19:59

That's horrifying to read as an adult. How inappropriate

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