MoCo Middle School assigned books are so depressing!

[Anonymous]

I agree, OP. I am sick of the dystopian literature trend for young adults and super depressing books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Of course "The Pearl" is a classic. Charles Dickens' works and "Little Women" are classics, too, but they have romance and humor.
I'll see if we are allowed to read, " The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie. Summary: Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by Ellen Forney that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

OP, I like "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian", and so do my kids (in fact one of them read it at school, maybe in tenth grade?), but you know it's really quite depressing, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Pearl is a classic. It's sad you don't see that.

It's a classic, but my DD was offended that she had to spend months reading and thinking about prostitution, with terribly moderated class discussion that, frankly, perpetuated stereotypes and misogyny.

“Offended??”

Time to raise a kid who is a little more resilient and who can read great literature without personalizing it. Lots of books are offensive. It doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be read.

Honestly, raising a DD made me realize how much misogynist, sexist BS women have to tolerate from a very young age. She’s tired of it and so am I. The emotional labor of constantly being forced to explain why depictions are sexist or racist, then having to defend your dissent, worry about retaliation, etc. - well it’s draining and it’s time and energy that she could put to better use. But if you don’t oppose it, then it just perpetuates. Either way, women keep losing.

Also, I’m fine with the free speech or will to read offensive books. I’m not fine with being forced to read sexist ideas which then are not discussed critically in the classroom and instead just perpetuate the tropes.

I’m thinking specifically about MS sex Ed in MCPS which uses a video in which a girl speaks about her rape while under the influence and blames herself. Subsequent class discussion, led by the boys, and supported by the male teacher, centered on why drunk girls have no one to blame but themselves when they get raped. I have a thousand stories like that from DD’s education - books, video, teacher talks, administrative decisions, etc.

[Anonymous]

I agree. Our 7th grader is seriously fed up with the dystopian bent of all of the books she is required to read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree, OP. I am sick of the dystopian literature trend for young adults and super depressing books.

But young adults aren't sick of the trend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, raising a DD made me realize how much misogynist, sexist BS women have to tolerate from a very young age. She’s tired of it and so am I. The emotional labor of constantly being forced to explain why depictions are sexist or racist, then having to defend your dissent, worry about retaliation, etc. - well it’s draining and it’s time and energy that she could put to better use. But if you don’t oppose it, then it just perpetuates. Either way, women keep losing.

Also, I’m fine with the free speech or will to read offensive books. I’m not fine with being forced to read sexist ideas which then are not discussed critically in the classroom and instead just perpetuate the tropes.

I’m thinking specifically about MS sex Ed in MCPS which uses a video in which a girl speaks about her rape while under the influence and blames herself. Subsequent class discussion, led by the boys, and supported by the male teacher, centered on why drunk girls have no one to blame but themselves when they get raped. I have a thousand stories like that from DD’s education - books, video, teacher talks, administrative decisions, etc.

If this had happened to one of my daughters (which fortunately it didn't), the principal would have heard about it from me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree, OP. I am sick of the dystopian literature trend for young adults and super depressing books.

But young adults aren't sick of the trend.

The 7th grader in 16:17 would beg to differ, as would all of my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Pearl is a classic. It's sad you don't see that.

It's a classic, but my DD was offended that she had to spend months reading and thinking about prostitution, with terribly moderated class discussion that, frankly, perpetuated stereotypes and misogyny.

“Offended??”

Time to raise a kid who is a little more resilient and who can read great literature without personalizing it. Lots of books are offensive. It doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be read.

+1

[Anonymous]

This is so that they can employ mental health staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree, OP. I am sick of the dystopian literature trend for young adults and super depressing books.

But young adults aren't sick of the trend.

The 7th grader in 16:17 would beg to differ, as would all of my kids.

Sure. Not everybody likes the same thing. But a trendy thing is a trendy thing because lots of people do like it.

[Anonymous]

My 9 yo had to read Walk Two Moons for school and while I thought the themes were a bit mature for his age, I was glad he read it. I feel like kids have it really easy in this country and sometimes need a dose of reality. Life is not all Nintendo switch’s and birthday parties. My DS is extremely sheltered so I am all for having a reality check once in awhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, raising a DD made me realize how much misogynist, sexist BS women have to tolerate from a very young age. She’s tired of it and so am I. The emotional labor of constantly being forced to explain why depictions are sexist or racist, then having to defend your dissent, worry about retaliation, etc. - well it’s draining and it’s time and energy that she could put to better use. But if you don’t oppose it, then it just perpetuates. Either way, women keep losing.

Also, I’m fine with the free speech or will to read offensive books. I’m not fine with being forced to read sexist ideas which then are not discussed critically in the classroom and instead just perpetuate the tropes.

I’m thinking specifically about MS sex Ed in MCPS which uses a video in which a girl speaks about her rape while under the influence and blames herself. Subsequent class discussion, led by the boys, and supported by the male teacher, centered on why drunk girls have no one to blame but themselves when they get raped. I have a thousand stories like that from DD’s education - books, video, teacher talks, administrative decisions, etc.

If this had happened to one of my daughters (which fortunately it didn't), the principal would have heard about it from me.

Honey, the principal heard about it and other incidents, but didn’t give a shit. See what I mean? Exhausting!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, raising a DD made me realize how much misogynist, sexist BS women have to tolerate from a very young age. She’s tired of it and so am I. The emotional labor of constantly being forced to explain why depictions are sexist or racist, then having to defend your dissent, worry about retaliation, etc. - well it’s draining and it’s time and energy that she could put to better use. But if you don’t oppose it, then it just perpetuates. Either way, women keep losing.

Also, I’m fine with the free speech or will to read offensive books. I’m not fine with being forced to read sexist ideas which then are not discussed critically in the classroom and instead just perpetuate the tropes.

I’m thinking specifically about MS sex Ed in MCPS which uses a video in which a girl speaks about her rape while under the influence and blames herself. Subsequent class discussion, led by the boys, and supported by the male teacher, centered on why drunk girls have no one to blame but themselves when they get raped. I have a thousand stories like that from DD’s education - books, video, teacher talks, administrative decisions, etc.

If this had happened to one of my daughters (which fortunately it didn't), the principal would have heard about it from me.

Honey, the principal heard about it and other incidents, but didn’t give a shit. See what I mean? Exhausting!

I'm sorry. When something similar happened in my daughter's PE class, I e-mailed the principal, and the principal did care. Some principals are better, some principals are...well, not better.

[Anonymous]

I am personally VERY affected by depressing literature.
I think they pick these books in part because they think the teens will like them—especially all the apocolyptic stuff. But I do worry about how they affect kids who are already prone to depression. I have been trying to find less depressing stuff for my kid as a counter-balance. Suggestions are welcome! So far we have tried jane Austen, Shakespeare, and Agatha Christie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am personally VERY affected by depressing literature.
I think they pick these books in part because they think the teens will like them—especially all the apocolyptic stuff. But I do worry about how they affect kids who are already prone to depression. I have been trying to find less depressing stuff for my kid as a counter-balance. Suggestions are welcome! So far we have tried jane Austen, Shakespeare, and Agatha Christie.

Less depressing stuff, like King Lear?