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Original poster

I'm sorry, I have to have another rant about school - please feel free to ignore (it's ridiculously long).

143 replies

marthamoo · 07/11/2005 22:11

Ds1 is in Year 4 (I am so mad....) He loves reading, reads anything, everything, has read Harry Potter, lots of quite difficult books etc. (I am bl*dyseething....) I love that he loves reading, I consider it one of my prime roles as a parent to instil in him a love of books - it's a gift for life (I hate that bl**dy school...)
OK, deep breath...phooooooooooooo.
The reading books he gets from school are a) too easy b) exceedingly dull. This galls me a little but as he has a diet of the good stuff at home I haven't worried about it too much. Since he started in Year 4 he has been bringing home a series of books called Boys Rule here (have just seen that they are for "less able" or "reluctant" readers....BOOOOM! - that was my head exploding) They are crap, anyway. They are aimed squarely at boys. He finished those and now he is reading the "Girls Rock!" series (see link, left hand side). These - surprisingly enough - are aimed at girls. So far we have had sneaky brothers reading diaries, lost ankle bracelets...
Tonight, he brought home "Girls Rock! School Play Stars" and, in among such gems of literature as

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Original poster
marthamoo · 07/11/2005 22:11

Where did my line breaks go?

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QueenVictoria · 07/11/2005 22:13

I think you are quite right to be cross too.

Shazzler · 07/11/2005 22:16

Sounds like they are not suiting your son and I would definately speak to the teacher.

Although from previous experience not sure that this always works but I may start my own post on my experience.

pootlepod · 07/11/2005 22:16

Who choses the books he brings home?

coppertop · 07/11/2005 22:16

Those books sound absolutely dire. I'd be seriously p*ssed off too!

BudaBabe · 07/11/2005 22:17

Oh God - is that what we have to look forward to?

DS is 4 and I am laready fed up with books with no words.

misdee · 07/11/2005 22:17

tbh i;d cross out the title in his contact reading record thing of the book from school, and then get him to read some of his own choice books from home.

soapbox · 07/11/2005 22:18

Write a note to school saying that you consider the school texts to be the Mills and Boons of children's literature and as such can they please find some more appropriate texts for your child to read.

Tell them that if necessary you will provide books for DS to read that are of a suitable reading level for him.

I had a friend and her Dh over for the day recently and she was doing her usual men are crap one liners which are normally quite amusing. However, I did not consider them funny when I saw my DS's future flashing before my eyes and we had an interesting discussion over dinner about how I didn't want men/boys marginalised in our society - what would be the point in that!!!

My DD(7) is reading a pile of poo in the school readers! She is also an extremely able reader.

tortoiseshell · 07/11/2005 22:18

Sounds like total drivel to me. Would be definitely complaining. Can you send in a list of the books he has read at home to make the point that he is neither a slow nor reluctant reader, but may be reluctant to read total crap.

gigglinggoblin · 07/11/2005 22:18

my ds is 6 and loves roald dahl, horrid henry, anything with a story (ok horrid henry may be worse than those books for some things but am just trying to demonstrate he reads proper books at home)

school books are boring. i dont see why i should stop him reading something interesting to force him to read something dull, which he hates and is well below the level he is capable of.

i told his teacher this and she said she would move him up a reading level which means he can choose the book he brings home. guess what? he is still bringing home the same old rubbish. so we dont read it. simple as that. his teacher knows the score so if she cant be bothered to pay attention she can slog through the crap books cos im not going to and neither is ds when he is at home.

hmmmm.....that turned into a bit of a rant aswell didnt it. just wanted to add some support, not an overreaction at all imo!

aloha · 07/11/2005 22:19

Oh no, they do sound utterly dire. I would comment. I couldn't not, really. Why on EARTH is he being given them? Time for a chat with the teacher (once you have calmed down!).
I would hate my ds to be reading cr*p like that too. Maybe they are OK for kids who simply don't read, but they are clearly totally inappropriate for your ds.

starlover · 07/11/2005 22:20

omg! i wold be angry at that as well!!!!
I would definitely talk to the school about it...

for one thing, he ought to be encouraged to read books that are at his reading level and that eh will be enjoyed

and for another they should NOT be encouraging that kind of shit kiddy literature full stop!

I would be livid... Also an avid reader, and hoping ds will follow in my footsteps
When I was at school I was allowed to read through the set books during class and then once I had done them I dcould choose what I wanted from the library... this meant that I was reading things that interested and encouraged me as well as being a higher reading level

puff · 07/11/2005 22:21

I would be bloody furious at this shite being sent home as reading material for my child.

binkie · 07/11/2005 22:21

Been trying to think what to say. Basically,

If I were in your position, the note in the book would say: I would welcome a chance to discuss ds's reading books with you, as I do not think the "X series" at all appropriate. Please let me know when would suit.

Then I would go in armed with a list (got from here, or from the library) of classics & arrange with teacher a reading programme that suits. But I am quite determined, and ds & dd's school is pretty accommodating. What's yours like?

Ellbell · 07/11/2005 22:21

It sounds as if the school has not got the measure of your ds at all, Marthamoo. No wonder he's a reluctant reader if that's what they present him with! You definitely need to have a word with his teacher. Good luck!

PS I have just written a (light-hearted) comment in dd1's homework book about the lack of positive female role models in the ORT books she has brought home this half term. So far, the dads have been exciting things like zookeepers and speedway riders, but the mum ... wait for it... 'bought an anorak'! I think I might have held back if I'd seen your post first... things can only get worse!

roisin · 07/11/2005 22:22

But are you sure ds1 didn't choose it at school?

From time to time my boys choose to read rubbish, and I don't mind as long as it's not the only thing they read.

Ellbell · 07/11/2005 22:25

Agree with what others have said, by the way. If you don't get any joy from the school, just ignore the drivel he brings home and let him read what interests him. You know he can read - far better that he enjoy his reading...

starlover · 07/11/2005 22:26

I would acually complain about these books to the head to be honest with you.
I think it's appalling that they're available full stop!

roisin · 07/11/2005 22:29

Those books do look pretty dreadful, I must admit.

But ds1 inbetween reading the Hobbit and Narnia tales, chose to read the whole series of My Secret Stupid Sparkly Pink Unicorn books a couple of years ago.

3princesses · 07/11/2005 22:33

Go into school and before you say anything, ask the teacher what she thinks of these books. That way you give her a chance to put the case forward for them (although it's obvious that there is no case for them). If you go in with all guns blazing and say how crap they are you run the risk of putting her back up and making her defensive.

It's bloody diabolical though. I told dd2's teacher at parents' evening that we were quietly making our own reading arrangements at home, and not to be surprised/offended if we didn't read the books dd2 brought home with her. I just ignore whatever is in her book bag (usually some way outdated reading scheme book with an utterly random plot) and write in her reading record the details of whatever book she's reading at home. It sucks-- they should be finding inspiration to try all sorts of different authors and genres at school. No. But there it is.

Original poster
marthamoo · 07/11/2005 22:34

No, he didn't choose it (he'd be mortified at the thought, roisin ) Afaik, none of his year can choose their own books yet, they have to work their way through each series. Yes, I think I'll have to go in - can just see his teacher's face ("oh not her again...") binkie, sadly I am not determined, I am a wuss, and school thus far has not been particularly accommodating. But I am particularly irate over this...

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tamum · 07/11/2005 22:35

I love it when you are reading a thread and suddenly someone says exactly what was going through your mind. Puff said it for me. Shite is definitely the word that comes to mind. The books look utterly dreadful and why on earth are they giving him books for less able readers???? Oh marthamoo, I loved your post, but I can completely see why you feel like this and I really think you have to say something. Something fierce.

Original poster
marthamoo · 07/11/2005 22:35

3princesses, yes, good idea. I don't believe anyone could think these are good books.

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roisin · 07/11/2005 22:39

OK! do go ahead and go in all guns blazing.

It is VITALLY IMPORTANT that fluent readers of this age learn the skills of selecting their own books. It is ridiculous that they are not doing this. My blood is boiling for you now.

At our school fluent readers in yr1 can leave the 'reading scheme' and select their own 'free readers' once they have a reading age of about 8 or 9.

aloha · 07/11/2005 22:43

If she isn't helpful, don't even open the wretched books. Use the time for something more sensible instead. I am pretty horrified by these 'books'. I might expect to find them in bookshops, but not in schools.