Reluctant reader - an offensive term?

[Jerbil]

Well, it is to me anyway. It's not about me - DS1 has been referred to as this now a number of times by teachers. He has visual stress- of course he is going to be reluctant! Am I being oversensitive? To me it's like criticising him and his needs.

Rant over!

I don't find it at all offensive. I'm a reluctant exerciser! What would you prefer the teachers to say?

Sorry but I think you are being oversensitive about this - I don't think the term is offensive. My dd (nt) could be described as reluctant reader, it's true, she is!

Doesn't offend me, either. It's nicer than poor reader.

my NT dd is a reluctant writer :) I dont think its offensive compared to being called stubborn, non compliant (hate that one), bloody minded (that one has come out twice)

reluctant I take as meaning unsure, not keen etc :)

Maybe me then. On top of all the stuff implying he has no needs, his behaviour is 'all down to choice' (psychologist has dealt with them on that one), 'he wouldn't be the first one to just not want to read'. There's nothing about why he doesn't want to. yes, we've had non-compliant, and has he got ODD, OCD, and in the next breath he's just a normal boy! Think they bring you down to a state of paranoia sometimes.

at least you guys are honest :-)

Jerbil

I am a reluctant reader, because of my APD issues, until i force myself to read things so that i can have a better understanding of issues, and that is because society does not provide mass communication that matches my communication disability and ability needs; Pictures, diagrams, charts etc, society prefers text it is cheaper to mass produce.
It is like the old claim that dyslexic children came from homes that had few books, which is not very surprising, as the underlying cognitive causes of the dyslexic symptom are genetic, and so why would dyslexic adults torture themselves by filling their homes with books, reminding themselves of their disability and the excessive stresses reading can cause them.

I think the way it was said the first time to me has put me in that frame of mind... to quote the first time it was said by his CT "it could be that he is just a reluctant reader" followed by oppositional comments about why he doesn't have visual stress (because the CT cannot tell he has a prob). yes, she who is not a behavioural optometrist.

I can see it from the other perspective now though thanks. And yes I agree it doesn't have to be offensive, it just was the way it was used in our case in the first instance I think that got me thinking this way.

Not an offensive term in general, just an offensive teacher/SENCo maybe!

Agree with Ellen its the teacher more than the words :)

Next time she says she cant see anything wrong be blunt and politely ask "when did you pass a test on behavioural optometry? (sp) You havent? oh well when you do I would be more than glad to meet with you to pick the current report to bits".............