Inappropriate reading book (in my opinion)

Mrs_Soup

This is a shame because it is an absolutely amazingly good book. I did read it as an adult but I got it from my sister who is a year 6 teacher - although it may have been part of her "vetting" process of checking books are suitable for class consumption. I am not sure I would be comfortable with it being a class text of any type so it was compulsory to read at primary level - however I wouldn't object to it being in a school library or year 6 book corner for the more mature readers to read. Apart form the other stuff the lead male character is at the end either executed or at least sentenced to death which is another big issue to deal with.
If your daughter is uncomfortable with it though I would stop her reading it for now as its a shame to read such a good book at an age when you can't appreciate it.

totallybored

I'm a year 6 teacher and quite a few of my class are reading this. They're all their own copies that their parents have bought them. They seem to love it and they even take their books outside at play time to read.

It does seem to be the more mature, higher ability girls who are reading it. The themes in the book aren't anything they're not already aware of - I've overheard their conversations about movies they watch and most are well aware of issues such as rape from watching Eastenders etc.

I imagine not all of the OPs class were given the book. I doubt that an entire class would be capable of reading and understanding it.

If I were the OP I'd speak to the teacher and say your daughter isn't comfortable reading it and swap it for something else. If other parents have an issue let them do the same thing. I think it would be a shame to make a fuss and try to ban the book. The children enjoying it wouldn't get to read it and then some of the less mature children would probably get their parents to buy it before they're ready to read it. Some of my class have been reading one of my books that has a rude word in it and because I said the book wasn't appropriate for all of them (it's too difficult to read and understand for most of them) they are all desperate to read it as they think I'm not allowing it because of the one s word!

iammumtoone

totallybored wrote: »

I'm a year 6 teacher and quite a few of my class are reading this. They're all their own copies that their parents have bought them. They seem to love it and they even take their books outside at play time to read.

But that is very different to the children being made to read the book at school, a book that is not recommended for this age of child. Their parents have brought it (hopefully read it) and decided their child is mature/advanced enough to read it.

Some of my sons class mates play on video games not suitable for their age, I do not allow this for my son as I know it would not be suitable for him however I don't criticise the parents allowing this, I trust they have made the right decision for their children that they are mature enough to play them. However if the school starting allowing the children to play games that are have a higher age rating without parents permission I would not be happy.

I don't see why it is any different with a book, like video games books have age suggestions and it has been identified in this thread that this book age suggestion is KS3 children not 10 year olds so I don't think the school should be allowed to give it out (if the parents want to buy it that is different).

I don't necessary think the school should ban the book but I do think they should check in advance with the parents if they are happy for their child to be given it.

Jagraf

Isn't ks3 only about 3 months away for these kids? Isn't it the right age to start the prep for ks3?

Bluemeanie_2

I've not read it so can't really comment. However, I just wanted to point out, although it may not be appropriate for all the children in the class, there are different levels of maturity and understanding. I read Danielle Steele's "Jewels" when I was 10. I was tired of the childish reading books so both me and my sister moved on to adult books. We did read "teen" books as well. "Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton remains my favourite book of all time.

adea

My daughter said it's all the children in her literacy class, about 30 children, have been given the book to read. The parents with whom I have spoken also think the same as we do and intend to speak to the school also.

Thanks for all the replies even those who's views differ from my own.

totallybored

adea wrote: »

My daughter said it's all the children in her literacy class, about 30 children, have been given the book to read. The parents with whom I have spoken also think the same as we do and intend to speak to the school also.

Thanks for all the replies even those who's views differ from my own.

I'm quite surprised it's the whole class. Either your daughter's school has an unusually high amount of gifted children that are capable of accessing a demanding text or the teacher really hasn't chosen a text that's suited to all children (regardless of more adult themes). I don't have a particularly low ability class but my average kids, never mind my lower ability, would struggle with a book like that.

If the whole class do have a copy I would have thought that the purchase of 30 books would have been authorised by someone with more authority than the class teacher. I can't order pencils without the ok of several people so I dream of the day I can order a set of 30 books.

I completely understand why you're not happy and if a parent came to me with such a complaint I'd respect their views and change the book. I have a selection of more grown up books I keep for my best readers but I let them pick what they want to read. I'd never make them read something they didn't want to and weren't ready for in primary school.

Lunar_Eclipse

Both my children have read this but I agree that the content isn't appropriate for Y6, even for mature gifted pupils. Having said that, I find a lot of girls read books that aren't really appropriate, often encouraged by teachers due to the advanced language and well written, gripping content. We are still talking about 10 & 11 year old children with plenty of time for more mature content.

Y8 is much more suitable and even then my 13 year old felt it wasn't appropriate for her, as she often says. What's the rush to read content like this?

bylromarha

Primary school teacher here as well, who has read the book and loved the series and has a Year 6 gifted reader for a son.

I'd have issue if the school gave him this book to read as it is quite emotionally challenging and as a 10 year old boy who loves Minecraft, he just isn't there and would not get the book. Which I don't think is dissimilar to most 10 year old boys.

I challenged son's teacher when son was in year 1 on the book he was given for his reading book. It was all about segregation, Rosa Parks and Ku Klux Klan. That was fun talking a 5 year old through that - I never thought that saying " Why not read your reading book while I sort out your sister?" would cause as many issues as it did! It scared me when the teacher (who was on the Senior Management team of the school) said "but it's the next book on the list - well I suppose he can miss one" - he moved school pretty soon after...

I would not give this book to a class of Year 6 to read - if a child chose to read it, fair enough, but the majority of a class would not be emotionally ready to cope with the themes and story of the books.

If your daughter nor you is comfortable with the text, then you are allowed to be the parent and ask for her not to read it. It's the sort of thing I would make a stand on TBH. But I have a real thing about "Just because a child can read the text, doesn't mean the book is suitable" - the amount of books which have been recommended to my son by bookshops and librarians through the years that have been totally inappropriate content wise scares me.

VfM4meplse

Jagraf wrote: »

I think you should read the whole book (maybe you have) so that it is seen in context. You could read lots into Shakespeare, etc,but as its in old fashioned words we don't seem to worry!

Maybe the conversations in class about the book are of benefit to the children.

You may have a point but you have to see the whole lesson planning and learning objectives behind it.

Are you for real? The context in which a mature adult would read this is very different to how a relationship-naive 11 yo would. You can be exposed to the facts of life and also be spared to the complexities of feelings, there will be enough of that in her teenage years.

I stopped reading the thread at the first page, but just had to comment in this.