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?