Male english teacher reading inappropriate book out loud to class

[geranium68]

My daughter is in the Canadian equivalent of year 9 (age 14). For the past couple of weeks, her male teacher has been reading out loud a book called "Word Nerd" by Susin Neilson. It has some very inappropriate passages, referring to girls' body parts and clothing, and boys' reactions to them. This has made some of the girls feel uncomfortable, and I think the teacher sensed this because he said something to the effect that, stop complaining, the book is written by a woman after all! I would really like to make the Principal of the school aware of what is going on, but term finishes in a couple of weeks over here and my daughter doesn't want me to make a fuss. I am going to get a copy of the book out of the library today and read it for myself, then decide what to do. Do you think I should let it go, or does this man need a good telling off? Of all the beautiful literature they could have been reading...

[NotCitrus]

Sounds like a reasonable book to use as a class text, but is he really reading out loud for most of each lesson? That doesn't sound good practice. And if he were really reading out just the dirty bits, to make the kids squirm, that should be unacceptable.

Can't come to any conclusions without more information.

[partialderivative]

Review from School Library Journal
“This is a tender, often funny story with some really interesting characters. It will appeal to word nerds, but even more to anyone who has ever longed for acceptance or had to fight unreasonable parental restrictions.”

It was also a nominee for the Canadian Library Association - Book of the Year for Children.

I haven't read it, but it doesn't sound too bad.

[ImperialBlether]

fourchetteoff, maybe I'm older than you and things were certainly less stringent a while back, but all of my friends (all going to different schools) can remember a teacher who was a creep. I maybe outing myself to anyone who went to my school, but we had a teacher called Fingers Foster who used to run his hands up each girl's back to see whether she was wearing a bra.

I know things are different now, but that doesn't mean all girls will be comfortable with all teachers reading aloud passages of text about their bodies.

[CaptainHolt]

It sounds like a good book for the age group (I may buy it for ds) but some things you should be allowed to discover for yourself, privately. The equivalent might be having Judy Blume's 'Forever' read out loud. I don't think it's unreasonable for girls to not want to have sit in mixed company while a man reads passages about their bodies. Not all of the girls will have the luxury of being able to remain dispassionate or mature as their minds are expanded.

Anyone remember the thread started my a male mate teacher about the use of SLUT as a acronym?

[Icimoi]

What surprises me about this is a teacher reading out loud to 14 year olds. Surely that's a dreadful waste of lesson time?

[fourchetteoff]

Imperial - that is nonsense!!

I've never had an experience of a 'dodgy' male teacher. All the male teacher's I have have been a blend of indifferent to excellent - the same as female ones. It is no wonder that schools are crying out for men to enter the teaching profession, and why many good men are reluctant to do so any more.
I agree that there are some predatory men out there, but this is a book being read aloud in front of many children, not being read in a broom cupboard with a scared year 8.

Books do become more sexually explicit around age 12, with the themes becoming more mature. As I said before, the OP should raise the issue of her DD being uncomfortable with the content being read out, but I also feel that it is getting on strange territory if only female teachers are allowed to touch on subjects in literature which can be challenging. That would instantly make many classics completely out of bounds.

[jacobibatoli]

I agree with your 1st paragraph
can't comment on the 2nd para as I am not a teacher nor a female
If the book is inappropriate then withdraw it
if it is only appropriate for female teachers then that is a different issue
I'll gracefully duck out whilst I can

[ImperialBlether]

Jacob, I don't know why the book had to be read aloud. I taught for many years and would never want a child to be uncomfortable in the class. The OP says that the teacher seems to sense they are uncomfortable. In that case I think he could get them to read it themselves and have a discussion afterwards, if he felt the book was so great that it needed to be looked at.

Everyone's had experiences of dodgy teachers, particularly men, who we wouldn't have wanted to be alone in a room with. There's something really horrible about having to listen to a man reading something that refers to women's sexual organs and being unable to complain about it.

[jacobibatoli]

Soup, my thoughts too
Imperial, would it have been ok if a female teacher was reading that same book?

[Madsometimes]

When dd was in Y9 (summer birthday so aged 13) her class read A Taste of Honey. She found it quite uncomfortable but I explained she had to take a mature approach because Y9 is when more adult texts are introduced in preparation for GCSE. She also read To Kill a Mockingbird and Romeo and Juliet which reference rape, general sexual themes and suicide and are standard school texts.

Dd1 read My family and other animals in Y6 - an innocent text - but that book contains swearing.

[MythicalKings]

I think it sounds an interesting choice. I work with this age group and it seems very suitable to me.

The OP's DD thinks it's rubbishy, yet it's won awards. I think I'll take the word of the judges over that of a 14 year old and see for myself.

[Minifingers9]

My boys (9 and 11) LOVE a bit of smut.

It would certainly get their interest and maybe encourage them to read.

The swearing in the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time was a god-send. My smutty 11 year old would never have taken such an interest if it hadn't had any. As it was we read the whole thing together and he ended up really enjoying the book.

[ImperialBlether]

It's because of the descriptions of female body parts, I think, Soup.

[SoupDragon]

I'm curious as to why the teachers gender is relevant. Would the book be more appropriate had he been female?

[ragged]

Have you started reading it, OP? What do you think?

Is it worse than Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, or Hunger Games? (I've seen both recommended on MN for 9 yr olds - that's age 9, not yr 9 ).

[HmmAnOxfordComma]

I have just read We Are All Made Of Molecules by the same author, OP. It's very good, very well written.

[geranium68]

Kickassangel Thanks, your comments about body privacy are spot on: you obviously understand this age group well. In contrast, the sex education class this week was done amazingly well and apparently enjoyed by all, with the students being given electronic devices to record their responses to various issues - no embarrassment there.

[geranium68]

Kickassangel: You have hit the nail on the head with what you say = obvious that you understand this age. Thank you. In contrast, the sex education lessons have been done excellently well at the school this week with students being given electronic devices to record their responses = no embarrassment there. So what you say about privacy etc is spot on, thanks.

[Walnutpie]

It sounds as though the teacher is taking them to the edge. Education has to do that. It's a growth point. It's how you extend your boundaries, by widening your comfort zone.

'Broad minded' means just that....very extended edges!

[geranium68]

Thanks everyone for your comments, got more reaction than I expected, it's lovely to see some good lively (British) debate going on - that's one of the reasons we're returning to Uk this summer after 12 years here.
I'll read the book this weekend and talk to my daughter again before deciding what to do. Incidentally, daughter did mention that some boys in the class have gone uncharacteristically quiet and appear to be extremely embarrassed by the book.

[SaulGood]

This helps explain some of the current issues around boys and reading.

[BertrandRussell]

"I'm not overly keen on your implying that boys are less intellectual and require specially written stuff to "get them reading" either."

Not sure about "less intellectual" but boys certainly need stuff to "get them reading"..........it's a serious issue in education.

[BertrandRussell]

They are reading Macbeth in my ds's class. Loads of embarrassing stuff in Shakespeare...........

[geranium68]

Just something the teacher has decided to use. Reading aloud takes ages too, this has been going on for at least two weeks now. They haven't had to write or discuss or do any activity on the book yet BertrandRussell, not sure if they will because we only have another week of actual lessons over here.

[SaulGood]

Why don't you try talking to the teacher? Ask why the book is being used. If you dd is embarrassed by you doing this in person, telephone or email. Find out what's actually happening and then act if necessary.