Swearing in school literature

[duover2000]

I am curious - my 12 year old year 8 has just read "The Curious Incident of the dog in the night-time" which has been set by his english teacher. She told them to ignore the swearing. I have just read it myself, found it a good read but was amazed that this book was provided as the f-word is used regularly and the c-word even makes an appearance. Has anyone else observed children being given books containing strong swear words? How would a teacher react should a child use these words in their own descriptive writing in the correct context? Have never experienced this with my 15 year old who is at a different school. Any insights? Thanks.

Shakespeare is not supposed to be read. It's meant to be performed. It's to deathly dull if it's dealt with properly.

I find the connection being between a book containing swear words and references to masturbation and child sexual abuse very strange.

Is a twelve-year-old not old enough to know that a lot of some people swear? Or to know about masturbation?

Anyone who thinks Shakespeare is deathly dull should go and see Propeller propeller.org.uk/ My then-11 year old laughed so hard at A Midsummer Night's Dream I thought he was going to fall off his chair. It was probably one of the funniest things I've seen on stage.

I've taught Curious Incident (to yr 9, but would teach with bright, mature yr8). Was really lucky in that my school had a resource pack to go with the book, including a dvd with video clips of Mark Haddon speakingaabout various aspects of the novel. One was the swearing. He says that he included the swearing - in particular the word 'cunt' to break the 'circle of safety' around the main character which implicit in YA fiction - i.e., Christopher really is in danger, the real world really is scary, it isn't necessarily going to all work out for the best because that's what life is like. It was a really interesting idea, and we got a great lesson out of it!

Although I did have to read the bit that said cunt, none of them would read it out loud. Bless their cotton socks. Not even the girl who "fucking hated" me and wanted me to "fuck off and die". Odd so and so's, kids.

Literature is meant to reflect life and in life folk swear. A lot. Kids are going to pick up words from friends and TV and the internet a lot more readily than they are from school-asigned literature. I'd be pleased if my kids were getting harder texts to read but want to set limits on what they take from it into ordinary conversation - that's an issue of parenting. Part of this thread rather reminds me of dim Americans trying to stop their kids reading about evolution, or teaching them about Islam. Teachers need to be able to give pupils books to read the challenge them and their parents, and it should be an issue of discussion rather than censorship. Some Christian twats won't let their kids read Harry Potter. I have mentioned to mine that if they say "Bloody Hell" at school they should quickly add, "as Ron Weasley once said". Bear in mind that a good English teacher would probably regard it as a badge of honour if a parent complained about the books being given to read.

I think 'Curious incident' is a book that can be read at many levels, and it's certainly not beyond a bright Y8. DD2 is in Yr7 and has read it, really enjoyed the mathematical references and we had a lot of conversations about aspects of growing up as she went through the book.

I don't think masturbation is at all a taboo issue at age 12/13 - I'm assuming that a lot of young people at that age know exactly what it is, and from personal experience.

A lot of these books shouldn't be read by some of the ages that do. For example I don't think Looking for Alaska should be on a shelf with wimpy kids books in tescos as it is. However as an English teacher I do think a bit of swearing in a text isn't harmful, it's something that goes on in the world let's be honest. I love teaching Of Mice and Men and am yet to have a pupil go round using words from that.
Shakespeare was rude! But I don't think kids should be wrapped up in cotton wool. From my experience mentioning sex in Shakespeare just makes kids cringe when they hear me say it!
Curious incident should be year 9 and above that being said. Teachers read books from our library and that feedback is taken on board and kids are told. More for comprehension than anything. I never understand why primary schools teach boy in the striped pyjamas as there's so much in that book youngsters cannot understand.

Many books read by kids where complaints are made were never the target audience for those books in the first place.

I just looked this book up - there is meant to be a 'children's version' en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Curious_Incident_of_the_Dog_in_the_Night-Time

Do you think the school are providing the adult version in error?

It's won a children's fiction prize from the Guardian and book trust says it has a 13+ reading age: www.booktrust.org.uk/books/view/24568

The reality is that if your child takes the bus (or unfortunately visits our local corner shop) you're going to come across these 'colourful' words in the English vocabulary.

Personally - I've got an 11 year old who's read all of the Hunger Games novels - which also is pretty disturbing. But she adored the books and really enjoyed the distopic vision. I fear her father's taste in dodgy Sci Fi may well be rubbing off on her.

It may not be your 'cup of tea' - but the point is whether it's getting them reading, thinking and opening their minds. As the teacher advised - ignore the swearing (which I suspect is a minor part of the book - but bear in mind the 'hero' is meant to be 15) - and ask yourself if this is a worthwhile read. To be honest the prize winning & glowing book trust review rather suggest it is and that it is an age appropriate selection.

Past that's really interesting, I didn't know that and will look for it. Mind you, I bought the children's version of A Street Cat Named Bob, but dd still ended up reading the adult version. She's just read a book about Anne Frank's Diary, so now wants to read the real thing. We've ordered it from the Library. She's also flirting with The Book Thief. Has anyone else's 11 yr olds read that? I've read about half of it and it seems ok for her, but would welcome opinion.

I'm on the verge of just letting her read anything, I think she would be quite good at self-censorship. After all, she reads the papers. At what age do you let them go totally free range round the library? Anyone have experience?

My DD2 is 11 and has read it - it's a great book, certainly not beyond an 11-year-old but I think you're wise to read it first so you can discuss the things that might come up in conversation.

My other DD is 13 and she's pretty much allowed to read what she wants - she does self-regulate pretty well though. At the moment she reads a mix of YA fiction, mostly of the teenage romance/vampire kind, but she is also reading classic Tanith Lee and Little Women. There are things I'd steer her away from, but she hasn't asked for any of them yet.

Thanks pointy. I've just got Little Women for dd too. At her request, but I got an old copy and apparently she can't read anything printed in Times New Roman.

My Year 5 son is loving reading this book. For a certain type of boy this novel really resonates.

I always find it interesting when people disapprove of a book (or film) they have not actually read.

Well I have only read the first few books of G of T but I wouldn't recommend them to an 11yo. But Curious is fab and Y8 is fine.

I don't think swearing is an issue personally, they hear it all the time at school I am sure.
I have never censored anything with swearing in for dd

I'm not familiar with the book, but I did have reason for disquiet when DD1 was 14

• they did 'Bouncers' in GCSE drama, lots of inappropriate language there. I can see it is a good play for various reasons, but there again, surely there are good plays without all the language. The play she did for her final performance was much better.

• they did film reviews in English. Pupils were reviewing 'over-age' films. I would have thought the teacher should have set the guidance on a maximum rating to be reviewed, especially as it involved showing trailers in class

We as a family don't swear and I don't like hearing people swear. (I put up with the language on MN because I like the rest of the discourse.)