NO books in school! (Full Version)

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coolfamily6 -> NO books in school! (8/12/2008 9:10:27 PM)

This was the shocking directive from our new principal. Only curriculum assigned/given books are allowed on the school grounds. So, if my child finishes an assignment she cannot quietly take out a book and read but must sit still and wait for the others to finish.

I find this odd. Most schools encourage kids to read whenever they have a free moment right?

(This is a Christian school)



csl7037 -> RE: NO books in school! (8/12/2008 9:24:38 PM)

I would think it was going overboard to see a list of "approved books" or if they sent a list with specific things not approved - if they take issue with Harry Potter or something like that. But to say nothing other than what's part of the curriculum, I think is just weird. Makes me wonder if they are taking issue with certain books, or have had complaints about certain books, but are not brave enough to just say so. But how could they even have complaints about what a kid might bring in to read for themselves. If my kid's teacher told them to read "Harry Potter" I'd flip out! But if the kid next to her is reading it in her free time, what's it to me?

Could she check things out of the library to read on her own time or free time during school?



coolfamily6 -> RE: NO books in school! (8/12/2008 9:31:33 PM)

We are avid readers and if my kids have 5 minutes they are usually in a book. I also understand them being worried about the content of books, this is an independent Baptist school (EXTREMELY conservative). Last year, my son would finish an assignment with 30 minutes to spare and the teacher would not let him read. He was expected to just sit and wait for the others to catch up. I thought it was the teacher but I guess it was the changes on the horizon.

My daughter is in 2nd grade and the teacher has a great "library" in the room, so I am not worried about that. It is the idea as a whole.



JuliaHop -> RE: NO books in school! (8/12/2008 9:46:45 PM)

I would wonder if they have had a problem with children bringing completely inappropriate books into the school.

My ds could bring in outside books to school for book reports and projects, however, had he done this the school would have needed to approve the use of that book.

Having had problems with children bringing inappropriate books into the school that my now adult children attended (the peer pressure was very difficult to combat) I could see where they might have had problems.

Will they be permitted to read school library books?



Karaboo2 -> RE: NO books in school! (8/12/2008 9:53:45 PM)

My dd's private school was like that ... and she is a reader extraordinaire. Since she wasn't allowed to bring books in to read, her teacher would go into the next classroom and get her one of those to read. The administrator found out about that, and quashed it as well, since it was for a grade level "we hadn't paid for". Even if we bought our own copies of the higher level books, she still wouldn't have been allowed to read them, as her teacher wasn't being paid to "supervise activities not approved for that grade level"



csl7037 -> RE: NO books in school! (8/12/2008 9:59:10 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Karaboo2

My dd's private school was like that ... and she is a reader extraordinaire. Since she wasn't allowed to bring books in to read, her teacher would go into the next classroom and get her one of those to read. The administrator found out about that, and quashed it as well, since it was for a grade level "we hadn't paid for". Even if we bought our own copies of the higher level books, she still wouldn't have been allowed to read them, as her teacher wasn't being paid to "supervise activities not approved for that grade level"


That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of!!



Karaboo2 -> RE: NO books in school! (8/12/2008 10:04:41 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: csl7037
That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of!!


Tell me about it! We pulled dd from that school as soon as the year finished (we could have pulled her earlier, but we would have still been on the hook for the full tuition) -- yet another "administrator" decision ...



garsyt -> RE: NO books in school! (8/12/2008 10:05:35 PM)

Oh Jeepers! My children would NOT function well in a school that restricted reading to books curriculum related! Now I can understand having a list of inappropriate reading materials but to require a kid to simply sit there while the rest of the class catches up, well that's not very encouraging now is it. I would worry about this. I would hope that it wouldn't but it could lead to even classroom libraries being off limits except when teacher directed and then with only curriculum assigned books.

My children are also avid readers and every spare moment is spent with their nose in a book - I'm thankful that they can pretty much read anything made available to them either by me or by their classroom libraries and teachers!

Blessings,

Garsy



stellaluna -> RE: NO books in school! (8/12/2008 11:25:47 PM)

I experienced just such a Christian school. I couldn't wait to get out of there and I have been forever grateful to my parents who let me go back to public school!!!



Jenny-Fair -> RE: NO books in school! (8/12/2008 11:29:05 PM)

Do they not have a school library? Are the kids allowed to check books out?

That rule would've killed me. I was so bored during school. In the 6th grade and on, I generally read all through classes. Annoying to my teachers, yes, but it kept me out of trouble I'd otherwise have been in. In jr. high I worked in the school library and read every book that it held that I cared to read in 6 months.



stellaluna -> RE: NO books in school! (8/12/2008 11:41:28 PM)

My school didn't have a library.

We were using the ACE curriculum, so in high school our "English" courses alternated between grammar and literature. If we were in a literature workbook, we were allowed to read the corresponding book, otherwise no books at all. (Even if your parents approved, still no books.)



garsyt -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 12:03:39 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna

My school didn't have a library.

We were using the ACE curriculum, so in high school our "English" courses alternated between grammar and literature. If we were in a literature workbook, we were allowed to read the corresponding book, otherwise no books at all. (Even if your parents approved, still no books.)


[sm=eek.gif][sm=icon_smile_yikes.gif]

That is SO wrong!! Just blows my mind that a place that calls itself a school would forbid kids to read. I can understand limiting reading choices to appropriate reading materials, but to forbiding a child read altogether? I, honestly, am speechless!

Coolfamily - If I were you I would be drafting a letter to the principal asking for help in understanding the need for this "directive." I would be asking LOTS of questions regarding the implications of this in the classroom.

Blessings,

Garsy



Jenny-Fair -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 12:34:45 AM)

Isn't the ACE curriculum work at your own pace? If so, there'd have been no 'down time' during which to read, so perhaps they were trying to keep kids from goofing off...of course, I am of the school that believes some goofing off is a good thing, lol, and I hate to interrupt the kids when they are reading to make them do schoolwork.



JuliaHop -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 3:27:04 AM)

quote:

My school didn't have a library.

We were using the ACE curriculum, so in high school our "English" courses alternated between grammar and literature. If we were in a literature workbook, we were allowed to read the corresponding book, otherwise no books at all. (Even if your parents approved, still no books.)



My ds has been encouraged to read at his Christian school. His last years teacher had a great classroom library and the school library was excellent. He was even permitted to check out more than one book per visit to the library. My older children also had a great library at their elementary school and plenty of reading time. My middle son's kindergarten teacher even had a reading "loft" in her classroom. I do appreciate that my youngest child's school is careful about the reading materials brought into the school.

Why would a school discourage free time for reading?



IonMoon -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 7:43:50 AM)

I would talk to the teacher/administrators and ask that they either allow books from the school library or have a small library in each classroom (which might be books that are rotated between classrooms or that kids bring in to share and are approved) that the kids can go to if there is downtime.

Tara P



stellaluna -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 10:05:58 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jenny-Fair
Isn't the ACE curriculum work at your own pace? If so, there'd have been no 'down time' during which to read, so perhaps they were trying to keep kids from goofing off...of course, I am of the school that believes some goofing off is a good thing, lol, and I hate to interrupt the kids when they are reading to make them do schoolwork.

Technically, yes, it is work at your own pace. But what that translates to is that you set a goal for each subject everyday. Once you meet your goals for the day, you're pretty much on your own. However, ACE curriculum--at the time--wasn't exactly rocket science. There were plenty of kids who would sit down with a new workbook and have it completed in an hour. I remember several occasions that kids finished every workbook they had and had nothing to do for an afternoon. No books--and no personal effects--inside a cubicle makes for a really boring school day.

(Also, no reading at lunch or recess.)



twoboys -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 2:01:41 PM)

What about library books?



TeachingforHim -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 5:58:21 PM)

Wow! I've never heard of anything like this! How are we supposed to get kids excited about literature if they can't get into their own books? My class if filled with probably 5000 books that I've picked up here and there, kids are free to bring their own books from home (I send back ones that may be iffy...). I also go to the public library once a week and get out about 50 books that the kids might not otherwise be exposed to! The idea of not allowing children to bring their own books floors me!



garsyt -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 6:01:48 PM)

quote:

My class if filled with probably 5000 books that I've picked up here and there, kids are free to bring their own books from home (I send back ones that may be iffy...). I also go to the public library once a week and get out about 50 books that the kids might not otherwise be exposed to! The idea of not allowing children to bring their own books floors me!


My 5th grader read your post over my shoulder and immediately said "Mom, I would LOVE that classroom!!!"

Of course as a mom I'm in the library at least every two weeks and check out at least that many books just for my 4 kids!

Blessings,

Garsy



Jenny-Fair -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 6:07:48 PM)

My two favorite grade school classrooms were those that had reading areas set up. One had a whole big loft--about double the size of a king size bed...or at least it seemed that big to me, lol. There were bean bags up there and stuff. The other had an 'island' in the corner surrounded by paper palm trees and stuff, with a mattress inside and shelves full of books. Those were good teachers.



hjemerson -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 7:22:30 PM)

Sound like a good time for a parent intervention, Talk bring it up at the next parent teacher orgz,(PTA) I sure the school will want you to do fund raiser !~ Maybe that woudl be a good ideal to get aproved!! Book for each class, Unless the adm owns the school the parent and techer need to have some say in the way a school is run ,Your are paying them !!! I have worked and have many friends that teach Adm. many time think they are doing what is best and sre out of touch with what going on in the class room I feel to have any child just sit and waste time is abused and is a waste of the parents hard earned money. they shoul be able to read or do something to use the time wisely Mnay a BIBLE type word seach or cross word for buliding the child mind! I fee for the children but also for the techer that have to deal with this too!!



coolfamily6 -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 7:45:51 PM)

Sorry for not responding to questions. I went to watch the Olympics last night and just got home today!

The school does not have a library. The principal said during the Parent/Teacher conference "sermon" that the one of his main goals was to teach the kids that the person in authority is not to be questioned. The person in authority is ALWAYS right (I do NOT agree with this). He used an example of getting a ticket for running a red light that he really didn't run. He paid the ticket because the police officer is the authority and he had no right to argue or question it. My thought is we live in America that is what traffic court is for. The officer told him that he writes a ticket everytime he pulls someone over even if it is an error. What would a judge think? Anyway, I felt that it was a warning to parents not to question his authority. He even tied this to the scripture that we are supposed to abide by the authority placed over us.

I am also on the hook for full tuition if I pull dd out ($4000) our neighborhood school is not good and I cannot afford double tuition. Her teacher will be great, I am just praying that I can keep my feelings about the new principal seperate from the classroom stuff. I know dd's teacher because she had her for kindergarten; I am 100% sure the classroom itself will be fine. It is just the parent/teacher conferences, etc that will bother me.



garsyt -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 8:22:32 PM)

quote:

The principal said during the Parent/Teacher conference "sermon" that the one of his main goals was to teach the kids that the person in authority is not to be questioned. The person in authority is ALWAYS right (I do NOT agree with this). He used an example of getting a ticket for running a red light that he really didn't run. He paid the ticket because the police officer is the authority and he had no right to argue or question it. My thought is we live in America that is what traffic court is for. The officer told him that he writes a ticket everytime he pulls someone over even if it is an error. What would a judge think? Anyway, I felt that it was a warning to parents not to question his authority. He even tied this to the scripture that we are supposed to abide by the authority placed over us.


Okay this is simply stupid. The bible also says that those in authority are not suppose to take advantage of that authority. This is like saying that because someone in authority over a child says that a child is supposed to listen to that person and then the person sexually assults them. This is like saying that because a husband is in authority over his wife and children that they are not to question his actions even if they are detrimental to the family.

I would be pulling my kids regardless of how much money I had invested in this because it makes NO sense whatsoever. He sounds like a man that is getting so caught up in his position of authority that he doesn't realize the harm this is going to cause. He is going to have a lot more discipline problems because kids are bored. He's going to end up not cultivating a love of learning which should be the goal of any school.

Blessings,

Garsy



ladyingrace1979 -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 10:57:22 PM)

You say your neighborhood school is no good, but you are willing to leave your child in an authoritarian environment where the administrator wants to be a dictator? Is this a new administrator? Did you have any clue as to the attitude/environment of this administrator and this school? I'd pull my kid so fast their head would spin, money or no money.

I wonder if there is any legal recourse as far as the tuition? It seems to me that if this is not what you expected in a school and it wasn't clearly spelled out that you might have grounds for breach of contract or something like that.
Just thinking out loud.

Anyway, at the very least I would be speaking to him about teaching children to think and make decisions rather than dictating to them.
Kim Q



coolfamily6 -> RE: NO books in school! (8/13/2008 11:02:42 PM)

Garsy,
My husband was not at the meeting last night but has spoken to the principal a few times. He said we will wait and see how things go during the first quarter then decide. DH thinks that my personality and the principal's just do not mesh but that dd will do fine because she will not be affected by the things he is changing, other than the reading and as I said her teacher has a lot of books in the class as options.

My first job when things get back to normal is to check out other schools in the area just in case we pull her.



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