Inappropriate reading book (in my opinion)

Fireflyaway

I would be really unhappy if my daughter was sent home with a book like that too! Good for you that you took a look. Many parents don't check these things out - you would assume you could trust the teachers to pick suitable books!
Its all very well being aware of social issues but not rape, sex and teenage pregnancy at the age of 10! Would be more suitable for GCSE students to discuss in PHSE lessons I think.
I just had a peek on the TES website and there is a discussion aboit this book. The teachers on there agree that the subject matter is not appropriate for kids younger than year 8 / 9.

moomoomama27

I would not want my daughter or son reading that at such a young age.

I am not a prude, and work in a school, so am well aware of topics that get discussed both within peer groups and also sex education content, and IMO this is too graphic at this point.

There is being aware of dangers, and using age appropriate terms, and then there is over exposure to sexually explicit content at a young age!

I'm grateful my 10 and 12 year old's are not interested in being streetwise and much prefer to be children. In fact my 12 year old daughter tells me she doesn't want to wear makeup, wear 'tarty' clothes and use social media like the girls in her class, so I embrace that!

Jagraf

I feel sorry for schools whose parents come from both perspectives. Not everyone is going to be happy and it creates mayhem. It's a shame if one set of viewpoints influences everything. Oh well, I suppose schools are used to it!

I would be cross, I have to be honest, if a learning experience that I was happy with was taken away because another child's parent wasn't.

Perhaps two reading groups?

tabouleh

Omg, I am shocked. Yes, I would certainly object to this as reading material! I understand that there are children witnessing all kinds of horrors and need to understand how to recognise abuse; however, this ott approach is a kind of abuse in itself. As a youngster, at a friend's house I watched a movie about a sexually abused girl who was adopted into a new family. This really stuck with me and ever since I have retained the traumatised feeling to the point where a friend sincerely asked me whether it had happened to me. Another person I know had a similar experience - being exposed to material portraying abuse - not explicitly, but in a narrative form with blurred, shadowy images of figures entering children's bedrooms, etc. - and they too retain this traumatised feeling and memory. My friend's parent was very irresponsible to have the film on at the time and so I think it is certainly responsible of you and your husband to be concerned about this material and object. Good luck.

Jagraf

tabouleh wrote: »

Omg, I am shocked. Yes, I would certainly object to this as reading material! I understand that there are children witnessing all kinds of horrors and need to understand how to recognise abuse; however, this ott approach is a kind of abuse in itself. As a youngster, at a friend's house I watched a movie about a sexually abused girl who was adopted into a new family. This really stuck with me and ever since I have retained the traumatised feeling to the point where a friend sincerely asked me whether it had happened to me. Another person I know had a similar experience - being exposed to material portraying abuse - not explicitly, but in a narrative form with blurred, shadowy images of figures entering children's bedrooms, etc. - and they too retain this traumatised feeling and memory. My friend's parent was very irresponsible to have the film on at the time and so I think it is certainly responsible of you and your husband to be concerned about this material and object. Good luck.

But as has been said, every child is different. My DD is petrified of clowns, due to something she saw when she was very little. However, she will quite happily watch anything with blood and gore in it. I was frightened of rumpelstiltskin - his face haunted me. What about all the fairy tales - wickes stepmothers being one which is in almost every book!

adea

Jagraf wrote: »

I feel sorry for schools whose parents come from both perspectives. Not everyone is going to be happy and it creates mayhem. It's a shame if one set of viewpoints influences everything. Oh well, I suppose schools are used to it!

I would be cross, I have to be honest, if a learning experience that I was happy with was taken away because another child's parent wasn't.

Perhaps two reading groups?

Jagraf, It wasn't just us who complained. The school wouldn't look into things if it were just one set of parents. We didn't speak to any teacher and the office staff member relayed the message from the Deputy Head, that the matter was being looked into. We spoke with some of my daughters friends and they were uncomfortable with the book, so shouldn't their views count?

There are already two reading groups as there are two Year 6 literacy classes and I don't think the school would have the funds/time resources to create a third.

With respect, have you read the book?
I have read it and enjoyed it and can see where all the concerning scenes fit into the story, but I know it would not suit my daughter and possibly a lot of other children younger than her.
Do 10/11 year olds really need to read about an alcoholic adult and a 14 year old who gets drunk? Or about the frequency of different people being assaulted?
I don't think they do but I respect that others may not share my concerns.

Jagraf

adea wrote: »

Jagraf, It wasn't just us who complained. The school wouldn't look into things if it were just one set of parents. We didn't speak to any teacher and the office staff member relayed the message from the Deputy Head, that the matter was being looked into. We spoke with some of my daughters friends and they were uncomfortable with the book, so shouldn't their views count?

There are already two reading groups as there are two Year 6 literacy classes and I don't think the school would have the funds/time resources to create a third.

With respect, have you read the book?
I have read it and enjoyed it and can see where all the concerning scenes fit into the story, but I know it would not suit my daughter and possibly a lot of other children younger than her.
Do 10/11 year olds really need to read about an alcoholic adult and a 14 year old who gets drunk? Or about the frequency of different people being assaulted?
I don't think they do but I respect that others may not share my concerns.

Adea, I'm glad you read it all in the end. My DD read this (not through school though) at the same age, it wasn't something she mentioned til I asked her the other day. She has been fine with it, but I do appreciate every child is different and different things affect them (as I said, my DD is petrified of clowns but the school would laugh at me lol).

I haven't read it myself no. I will do though after this discussion . at my DD school we very often got letters relating to things that might have two (or more perspectives). For example, with sex ed we could join our children if we wanted to :eek: or children could be removed from the class. The lessons still went ahead though.

I'm not saying for one minute you shouldn't voice your concerns. But I would go for 'opting out' of those particular lessons, rather than changing the whole set up of the class.

Alcoholic adults and 14 year old drunks are a way of life for many I'm afraid. Not in our house I hasten to add (well if so its been hidden well). In my eyes its no worse than my DD being asked to read a book about clowns. She would probably opt out too.

Anatidaephobia

I have downloaded the book on Kindle as a result of this thread

adea

It is a very good book, I couldn't put it down and now want to read the other titles in the series!

It is a very well written book and makes you think about things.
I would recommend to a lot of people, just not my daughter yet!
I said to her and her friends that it would be a good book for them to read when they are older and feel more comfortable with the subject matter!
It just shows her attitude to reading when I said that I had read the book (in 1 1/2 days!) her response was "You read too much." to which I replied that she doesn't read enough!
If it's not on her phone or a game on her PC, she's not interested sadly
.
Even though she has books on her phone to read she'd rather talk to her friends than read, something we hope will change when she goes to senior school.

Jagraf

adea wrote: »

It is a very good book, I couldn't put it down and now want to read the other titles in the series!

It is a very well written book and makes you think about things.
I would recommend to a lot of people, just not my daughter yet!
I said to her and her friends that it would be a good book for them to read when they are older and feel more comfortable with the subject matter!
It just shows her attitude to reading when I said that I had read the book (in 1 1/2 days!) her response was "You read too much." to which I replied that she doesn't read enough!
If it's not on her phone or a game on her PC, she's not interested sadly
.
Even though she has books on her phone to read she'd rather talk to her friends than read, something we hope will change when she goes to senior school.

At least she's still talking to you in whole sentences rather than just grunting!

I sometimes wonder why we educate them at all