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It's great to hear about a kid reading because he wants to.
My kids love to read. They really really like non fiction. My oldest is into history. He loves military history, ancient history and anything political. He is 15 and we really do not censor his reading at all. He can read what he wants.
My middle likes silly stuff. Anything funny and geared towards guys. He likes political humor. He is almost 13 and we really don't heavily censor his reading either. I do look to see that none of the books he is reading have content that is degrading or have pornographic pictures, but I do not stop him from reading books that may contains some sexual content. My thought is that either he gets its or he doesn't. If he gets it there is really no reason for him not to be allowed to read it. If he doesn't get it, he will ask and that gives me a chance to teach him what I think.
My youngest has very diverse tastes in reading. He likes fictional stories, true crime stories, books about the environment and biographies. He is very interested in history, law and crime so naturally some of the books he chooses have some gruesome stories attached to them. I don't like him to see disturbing visual images but I really do not stop him from reading about famous historical events. Many historical events are violent in nature. I cannot see sanitizing history. If something bothers him he will put it down.
Yes the book is the Steffens and Staples book. He is quite capable of understanding the book. His reading level is about 9th grade right now (as reported by his school). I do not see anything in the book that indicates it is for grades 9-12. The only thing I see that indicates it is for kids is on the back cover where it says "Quality nonfiction for libraries and classrooms" and on the inside cover where it indicates the book is for juviniles. Neither specifies an age.
I am not sure why the subject matter would not be appropriate. It was a very famous trial. Although it is a gruesome story, many children (not all) are intrigued by such things. I don't think it means a child is going to grow up to be a mass murderer just because he is interested in past stories. My son also loves Forensic Files. He is really into forensic investigation and loves to hear how the investigators put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
My son was reading the book independently. Nobody else was reading it. It was in his backpack and he took it out when they were supposed to be doing independent reading. I don't think this is "exposing" anyone else to anything inappropriate. I don't think my son has to be stopped from reading something because someone else might have irrational thoughts. It's just not his job to protect other people from irrational thoughts.
This teacher is another 4th grade teacher. The team works together and sometimes teachers need to cover for one another for short periods of time. So he knows her, but she is not his regular teacher.
The book has pictures, but no graphic pictures. Although the story is told in the book the book is part of the Famous Trials series and focuses on why this particular trial is important and worth of study. It does highlight with historical accuracy the issues of racial tension and people who dropped out of regular society that was prevalent at the time of the murders.
I'd much rather a teacher ask my child to not read about serial killings than to ignore it and have it negatively impact another student. This particular subject isn't just a run of the mill subject after all.
Not to mention, I don't think I'd let my child take that kind of book to school anyway since I wouldn't want a teacher to feel obligated to make mention to the counselor/principal about what my child was reading and cause undue concern about my child. Ya know?
I think we start getting into some scary territory when teachers start censoring too much. An very religous teacher might be opposed to many books. I have family members that were against the Harry Potter books because they talked about witchcraft. Does that mean that kids in schools cannot read Harry Potter books? In the OP's case, she allowed her son to read the book. It is independent reading, so he's not supposed to be sharing the book with other students. There should be that much of a problem.
I'd much rather a teacher ask my child to not read about serial killings than to ignore it and have it negatively impact another student. This particular subject isn't just a run of the mill subject after all.
Not to mention, I don't think I'd let my child take that kind of book to school anyway since I wouldn't want a teacher to feel obligated to make mention to the counselor/principal about what my child was reading and cause undue concern about my child. Ya know?
It is a subject of historical record. I don't see anything wrong with kids being interested in gory stuff. Aren't there tons of folks who love horror movies? How many books have been written about Jack the Ripper? Are all those folks disturbed in some way?
I think that overall behavior is much more indicative of a disturbed child than the fact that a boy likes a grisly story. Boys have liked gross and disturbing things since the beginning of time. It is only recently that we have begun to treat these boys as if they were pathological in some way.
I really don't sit at home and worry that a teacher is going to send my child to a counselor because she didn't like his book. I am thinking she would need more than that.
As a teacher, I would also have wondered at such a choice. Let's face it--that kind of book is not exactly conventional, especially for a fourth grader.
If your son attends a private school, then I think that you have more say with regard to what you wish him to read. As long as he has your permission, and you think that it is in his interest to read the book, then I don't think that the teacher should really have a problem with it (although I do understand how it might make her feel uncomfortable.) But only if he were attending a private-school, simply b/c there are so fewer liabilty issues, and the parents have much more say with regard to such details.
If he attends public school, then I would say that, no, he shouldn't be reading it b/c if something happens that could in any way be linked to his being allowed to read the book during school hours, then the teacher and/or administration could be held liable, even if you had given your permission.
As a general rule, public school curriculum and student behavior is dictated by the district in order to comply with federal guidelines and laws, which teachers must follow. If that's the case, then the teacher was just doing her job.
I think teachers are just suffering from hyper sensitivity due to the school violence we have seen the last several years. We always hear, after the fact, that student X was a fan of certain music, or criminals, etc. and then people yell and scream about red flags and how someone should have done something! This teacher was probably thinking of that when she acted. A simple note or phone call should clear it up. I wouldn't be too upset with the teacher (unless she continues to insist it's not appropriate...then you do have a problem) since they are under alot of pressure these days to spot trouble before it starts.
If he attends public school, then I would say that, no, he shouldn't be reading it b/c if something happens that could in any way be linked to his being allowed to read the book during school hours, then the teacher and/or administration could be held liable, even if you had given your permission.
As a general rule, public school curriculum and student behavior is dictated by the district in order to comply with federal guidelines and laws, which teachers must follow. If that's the case, then the teacher was just doing her job.
There's no curriculum for independent reading. A child is supposed to read a book that is on their level (not too hard or not too easy).
I don't think that teachers should generally censor what students read for independent reading but I can certainly understand a teacher questioning a student reading a book about Charles Manson. I would personally be appalled if one of my kids at age eight was interested in reading about the horrific murders. I read Helter-Skelter years and years ago when I had a stronger stomach for horror. Sharon Tate, who was one of the victims, was eight months pregnant when she was murdered. She was stabbed 16 times and begged for them not to kill her baby. I would absolutely question a young child reading anything to do with this. While I understand the book was about the trial, the trial was about grisly murders. So in this particular case, yes, I think the teacher would want to ask some questions.
I would raise all holy hell if my kid's personal reading got censored. The school district would wish they had never heard my name.
Then give him knife to go along with the book...He can reenact the crime!!!
While you are at it just give him a copy of Playboy to read....No need to censor a 10 year old.
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