Condoms, Drug Dealers, Drunk Fathers – Are these good books for 6th graders?

[Anonymous]

Did you even read the commonsense media recommendations you linked? Ghost is 10+, which is perfectly acceptable for a class of 6th graders who are aged 11-12. (Ghost is actually required reading for our second semester 6th grade).

The Hate U Give is 13+, which means it is a bit mature for 6th grade, but I could see how it might make it onto a reading list that covers a broad range of ability and maturity. 12 year olds are certainly aware of condoms, drugs and alcohol; and if they're not, you are not doing a good job of parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as my kids read, I’m fine with their reading just about anything. And 6th graders already know about condoms, drugs and drinks. They have access to TV, the internet and they talk.

Well, yes, but this is a pretty lazy goal for the education of your children. Literature is meant to inspire, expose people to beautiful words and new ideas, etc. Schools of education now think that kids need to "relate" to everything. No, kids have been imagining themselves in other worlds and times for several centuries through literature. Why not choose books that elevate rather than degrade. And "just reading anything" is a pretty low standard.

Funny you should say that. A PP mentioned A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. There's a part where Francie writes stories based on her own life (which involves poverty, starvation, and drunkenness), and the teacher gives her Cs and says, ""But poverty, starvation and drunkenness are ugly subjects to choose. We all admit these things exist. But one doesn't write about them...One delves into the imagination and finds beauty there. The writer, like the artist, must strive for beauty always." and it goes downhill from there. That's you.

[Anonymous]

Oh, OP. Those are good books.

[Anonymous]

Jason Reynolds is one of my 11-year-olds favorite authors.

[Anonymous]

Wow the banning book people are out in force.

People if your kid is in 6th grade they understand all the words, all the subjects.

Let them read, read and read. All they want. And you should butt out.

this PP well said! "Did you even read the commonsense media recommendations you linked? Ghost is 10+, which is perfectly acceptable for a class of 6th graders who are aged 11-12. (Ghost is actually required reading for our second semester 6th grade).

The Hate U Give is 13+, which means it is a bit mature for 6th grade, but I could see how it might make it onto a reading list that covers a broad range of ability and maturity. 12 year olds are certainly aware of condoms, drugs and alcohol; and if they're not, you are not doing a good job of parenting."

[phone]

[Anonymous]

I read The Thornbirds in 6th grade in Catholic school because someone mishelved a donated book. It was very educational!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as my kids read, I’m fine with their reading just about anything. And 6th graders already know about condoms, drugs and drinks. They have access to TV, the internet and they talk.

Well, yes, but this is a pretty lazy goal for the education of your children. Literature is meant to inspire, expose people to beautiful words and new ideas, etc. Schools of education now think that kids need to "relate" to everything. No, kids have been imagining themselves in other worlds and times for several centuries through literature. Why not choose books that elevate rather than degrade. And "just reading anything" is a pretty low standard.

Degrade?

Clearly all of this is lacking in your kids life if you have sheltered him from it, I’m glad the schools are helping kids like yours be less sheltered so they are not afraid of their own shadow.

Yes, condoms, drug dealers and drunk fathers are thankfully lacking in my chid's life. Sorry for yours they are the main feature of your household (assuming a father is even present int he home). I don't need you or MCPS deciding what my child is exposed to. Take your liberal crap and shove it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as my kids read, I’m fine with their reading just about anything. And 6th graders already know about condoms, drugs and drinks. They have access to TV, the internet and they talk.

Well, yes, but this is a pretty lazy goal for the education of your children. Literature is meant to inspire, expose people to beautiful words and new ideas, etc. Schools of education now think that kids need to "relate" to everything. No, kids have been imagining themselves in other worlds and times for several centuries through literature. Why not choose books that elevate rather than degrade. And "just reading anything" is a pretty low standard.

Degrade?

Clearly all of this is lacking in your kids life if you have sheltered him from it, I’m glad the schools are helping kids like yours be less sheltered so they are not afraid of their own shadow.

Yes, condoms, drug dealers and drunk fathers are thankfully lacking in my chid's life. Sorry for yours they are the main feature of your household (assuming a father is even present int he home). I don't need you or MCPS deciding what my child is exposed to. Take your liberal crap and shove it.

NP. Whoa Karen — calm down!

[Anonymous]

OP, you obviously don't know this, but Jason Reynolds is an acclaimed, celebrated, wonderful YA author who is a black man who write for and about black kids (and for white kids, too). https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/28/books/jason-reynolds-look-both-ways.html

Here are ton of others, including Angie Thomas: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/02/19/black-ya-novelists-to-read-angie-thomas-walter-dean-myers-nicola-yoon-tracy-deonn-tomi-adeyemi/4403818001/

These authors are shared and praised by librarians, teachers, and parents all over the country for centering and celebrating diverse perspectives, and their books are intended to be read by YA audiences as young as middle schoolers.

The only people you're gonna find objecting to them with outrage are bigots, parents who wish to bubble and shelter their kids against "other"ness, and prudes.

Enjoy Ghost -- that series is absolutely excellent! My son won a Trivial Pursuit game last week because he got a question right about what the 4th person in a relay race is called. I said "how'd you know that" and he said "from those runner books you got me." Note he didn't say "the black books" or "the condom books" or whatever...he said THE RUNNER BOOKS. Do your kid a favor and check them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Degrade?

Clearly all of this is lacking in your kids life if you have sheltered him from it, I’m glad the schools are helping kids like yours be less sheltered so they are not afraid of their own shadow.

Yes, condoms, drug dealers and drunk fathers are thankfully lacking in my chid's life. Sorry for yours they are the main feature of your household (assuming a father is even present int he home). I don't need you or MCPS deciding what my child is exposed to. Take your liberal crap and shove it.

If you don't want MCPS deciding what your child is exposed to, then you need to withdraw your child from MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as my kids read, I’m fine with their reading just about anything. And 6th graders already know about condoms, drugs and drinks. They have access to TV, the internet and they talk.

Well, yes, but this is a pretty lazy goal for the education of your children. Literature is meant to inspire, expose people to beautiful words and new ideas, etc. Schools of education now think that kids need to "relate" to everything. No, kids have been imagining themselves in other worlds and times for several centuries through literature. Why not choose books that elevate rather than degrade. And "just reading anything" is a pretty low standard.

Degrade?

Clearly all of this is lacking in your kids life if you have sheltered him from it, I’m glad the schools are helping kids like yours be less sheltered so they are not afraid of their own shadow.

Yes, condoms, drug dealers and drunk fathers are thankfully lacking in my chid's life. Sorry for yours they are the main feature of your household (assuming a father is even present int he home). I don't need you or MCPS deciding what my child is exposed to. Take your liberal crap and shove it.

NP. Whoa Karen — calm down!

No, Karla, you calm down and shove it also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Degrade?

Clearly all of this is lacking in your kids life if you have sheltered him from it, I’m glad the schools are helping kids like yours be less sheltered so they are not afraid of their own shadow.

Yes, condoms, drug dealers and drunk fathers are thankfully lacking in my chid's life. Sorry for yours they are the main feature of your household (assuming a father is even present int he home). I don't need you or MCPS deciding what my child is exposed to. Take your liberal crap and shove it.

If you don't want MCPS deciding what your child is exposed to, then you need to withdraw your child from MCPS.

No, we won't. We will just opt out like all of the there ridiculous things MCPS faces our children to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Degrade?

Clearly all of this is lacking in your kids life if you have sheltered him from it, I’m glad the schools are helping kids like yours be less sheltered so they are not afraid of their own shadow.

Yes, condoms, drug dealers and drunk fathers are thankfully lacking in my chid's life. Sorry for yours they are the main feature of your household (assuming a father is even present int he home). I don't need you or MCPS deciding what my child is exposed to. Take your liberal crap and shove it.

If you don't want MCPS deciding what your child is exposed to, then you need to withdraw your child from MCPS.

No, we won't. We will just opt out like all of the there ridiculous things MCPS faces our children to do.

+forces

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as my kids read, I’m fine with their reading just about anything. And 6th graders already know about condoms, drugs and drinks. They have access to TV, the internet and they talk.

Well, yes, but this is a pretty lazy goal for the education of your children. Literature is meant to inspire, expose people to beautiful words and new ideas, etc. Schools of education now think that kids need to "relate" to everything. No, kids have been imagining themselves in other worlds and times for several centuries through literature. Why not choose books that elevate rather than degrade. And "just reading anything" is a pretty low standard.

Degrade?

Clearly all of this is lacking in your kids life if you have sheltered him from it, I’m glad the schools are helping kids like yours be less sheltered so they are not afraid of their own shadow.

Yes, condoms, drug dealers and drunk fathers are thankfully lacking in my chid's life. Sorry for yours they are the main feature of your household (assuming a father is even present int he home). I don't need you or MCPS deciding what my child is exposed to. Take your liberal crap and shove it.

NP. Whoa Karen — calm down!

No, Karla, you calm down and shove it also.

Are you off your meds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as my kids read, I’m fine with their reading just about anything. And 6th graders already know about condoms, drugs and drinks. They have access to TV, the internet and they talk.

Well, yes, but this is a pretty lazy goal for the education of your children. Literature is meant to inspire, expose people to beautiful words and new ideas, etc. Schools of education now think that kids need to "relate" to everything. No, kids have been imagining themselves in other worlds and times for several centuries through literature. Why not choose books that elevate rather than degrade. And "just reading anything" is a pretty low standard.

Degrade?

Clearly all of this is lacking in your kids life if you have sheltered him from it, I’m glad the schools are helping kids like yours be less sheltered so they are not afraid of their own shadow.

Yes, condoms, drug dealers and drunk fathers are thankfully lacking in my chid's life. Sorry for yours they are the main feature of your household (assuming a father is even present int he home). I don't need you or MCPS deciding what my child is exposed to. Take your liberal crap and shove it.

NP. Whoa Karen — calm down!

No, Karla, you calm down and shove it also.

I think everyone else in this thread is relatively calm already.