“Rick” summer reading

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is MoCo pushing a book about sexuality for 5th graders going into 6th grade. I’m not having my kid read this book, and I find it extremely concerning that MoCo is pushing this. What is middle school going to be like? Are you not cool if you aren’t LGBT or gasp not yet sexual as a pre teen? What are other parents doing to complain.

My rising 4th grader and her friends discuss sexuality (NOT sex). They're at an all-girls school and have open discussions about sexuality and how they feel. My daughter also talks openly with me about what she and her friends talk about. I've created an environment where she's comfortable asking me ANYTHING because I'd rather she ask me than get misinformation elsewhere. I also have talks with her when I do audits of her text messages and phone calls. We're a hetero/cis-gen family (if I've written that incorrectly, I apologize).

You need to get a grip because your poor child is already having these conversations and may not feel comfortable talking to you about it.

You're doing a great job at home. So are we. That has nothing to do with what should or shouldn't be taught at school. Different thread.

You're NOT doing a good job at all if you think a book about acceptance and being unsure of your place during middle school is something that should be banned from school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to Westland as a 7th grader and I emailed the school to ask whether this was a requirement. It is. Apparently they'll be discussing the book ad nauseam all year.

I'm as lefty as they come, but I greatly miss the days of classical education, and reading classical literature (with appropriate explanations on misogyny, historical stance against homosexuality, class systems, etc). Rick may be a valuable book to open children's minds, but it certainly is not well-written.

I wish Westland had more of a balance between modern culture and great writing.

You want them to teach that history?!

I thought we were supposed to put our heads in the sand.

PP you replied to. Well, yes. I love the classics, I got a lot out of them (both British/American and my native country's). And when you read Dickens or Austen or Twain or Balzac, you can't let certain racial/gender assumptions and societal restrictions go without comment, can you? It's a whole teaching moment.

I'm perfectly fine with contemporary novels on current societal issues. I see it as the continuation of all the conversations I have with my kids about other novels from the past. But why just Rick? Why not pair it with a classic, and have a comparative discussion?

Basically what I'm whining about are the low standards. The kids are just asked to read one, poorly written book. It's not nearly enough. I usually curate a list of summer reading for my kids and we discuss them, but it would be nice if the school could help me out!

And yes, to answer another PP's question, this book is part of the Middle Years programme. I don't think it's easy to opt out, as this book is supposed to be discussed throughout the year. Just complement it with something YOU think your child should read

Whoa. We aren't talking about a situation where the choices were Dickens, and Balzac, and Gino. It's summer reading. If you're going to do one summer book for the whole school, including kids who are just turning 11, and kids who are recently arrived in the country (Westland has a ton of diplomatic and expat kids), you need a book with a reading level around that of Rick, which means no Austen, Hemingway, Balzac etc . . . that the vast majority of kids, without any kind of parental help, are going to be able to read.

Complaining that the book isn't Balzac is even stupider than the people who haven't opened the assignments complaining about what they imagine they might say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to Westland as a 7th grader and I emailed the school to ask whether this was a requirement. It is. Apparently they'll be discussing the book ad nauseam all year.

I'm as lefty as they come, but I greatly miss the days of classical education, and reading classical literature (with appropriate explanations on misogyny, historical stance against homosexuality, class systems, etc). Rick may be a valuable book to open children's minds, but it certainly is not well-written.

I wish Westland had more of a balance between modern culture and great writing.

You want them to teach that history?!

I thought we were supposed to put our heads in the sand.

PP you replied to. Well, yes. I love the classics, I got a lot out of them (both British/American and my native country's). And when you read Dickens or Austen or Twain or Balzac, you can't let certain racial/gender assumptions and societal restrictions go without comment, can you? It's a whole teaching moment.

I'm perfectly fine with contemporary novels on current societal issues. I see it as the continuation of all the conversations I have with my kids about other novels from the past. But why just Rick? Why not pair it with a classic, and have a comparative discussion?

Basically what I'm whining about are the low standards. The kids are just asked to read one, poorly written book. It's not nearly enough. I usually curate a list of summer reading for my kids and we discuss them, but it would be nice if the school could help me out!

And yes, to answer another PP's question, this book is part of the Middle Years programme. I don't think it's easy to opt out, as this book is supposed to be discussed throughout the year. Just complement it with something YOU think your child should read

Whoa. We aren't talking about a situation where the choices were Dickens, and Balzac, and Gino. It's summer reading. If you're going to do one summer book for the whole school, including kids who are just turning 11, and kids who are recently arrived in the country (Westland has a ton of diplomatic and expat kids), you need a book with a reading level around that of Rick, which means no Austen, Hemingway, Balzac etc . . . that the vast majority of kids, without any kind of parental help, are going to be able to read.

Complaining that the book isn't Balzac is even stupider than the people who haven't opened the assignments complaining about what they imagine they might say.

PP you replied to. Yes, we are foreigners, and generally the diplomat and expats have a rather high reading level in their native language. Language barrier aside, because that's a whole other discussion, my point is that we need way, way, higher reading standards. There are plenty of classics that were originally written for the middle school set. As a child in France, I was assigned a ton of Balzac in middle school. Since I went to an international school, that's also when we started Shakespeare. I read my first Bronte novel at 12. You have no idea what you're talking about, my friend.

The standards here are too low. I know MCPS is a public school, not a private school, but that's really not an excuse.

But the richest part of all this is that you think people who want higher standards are "stupid". Way to reverse the charges

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is MoCo pushing a book about sexuality for 5th graders going into 6th grade. I’m not having my kid read this book, and I find it extremely concerning that MoCo is pushing this. What is middle school going to be like? Are you not cool if you aren’t LGBT or gasp not yet sexual as a pre teen? What are other parents doing to complain.

My rising 4th grader and her friends discuss sexuality (NOT sex). They're at an all-girls school and have open discussions about sexuality and how they feel. My daughter also talks openly with me about what she and her friends talk about. I've created an environment where she's comfortable asking me ANYTHING because I'd rather she ask me than get misinformation elsewhere. I also have talks with her when I do audits of her text messages and phone calls. We're a hetero/cis-gen family (if I've written that incorrectly, I apologize).

You need to get a grip because your poor child is already having these conversations and may not feel comfortable talking to you about it.

You're doing a great job at home. So are we. That has nothing to do with what should or shouldn't be taught at school. Different thread.

You're NOT doing a good job at all if you think a book about acceptance and being unsure of your place during middle school is something that should be banned from school.

Who said it should be banned from school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to Westland as a 7th grader and I emailed the school to ask whether this was a requirement. It is. Apparently they'll be discussing the book ad nauseam all year.

I'm as lefty as they come, but I greatly miss the days of classical education, and reading classical literature (with appropriate explanations on misogyny, historical stance against homosexuality, class systems, etc). Rick may be a valuable book to open children's minds, but it certainly is not well-written.

I wish Westland had more of a balance between modern culture and great writing.

You want them to teach that history?!

I thought we were supposed to put our heads in the sand.

PP you replied to. Well, yes. I love the classics, I got a lot out of them (both British/American and my native country's). And when you read Dickens or Austen or Twain or Balzac, you can't let certain racial/gender assumptions and societal restrictions go without comment, can you? It's a whole teaching moment.

I'm perfectly fine with contemporary novels on current societal issues. I see it as the continuation of all the conversations I have with my kids about other novels from the past. But why just Rick? Why not pair it with a classic, and have a comparative discussion?

Basically what I'm whining about are the low standards. The kids are just asked to read one, poorly written book. It's not nearly enough. I usually curate a list of summer reading for my kids and we discuss them, but it would be nice if the school could help me out!

And yes, to answer another PP's question, this book is part of the Middle Years programme. I don't think it's easy to opt out, as this book is supposed to be discussed throughout the year. Just complement it with something YOU think your child should read

Whoa. We aren't talking about a situation where the choices were Dickens, and Balzac, and Gino. It's summer reading. If you're going to do one summer book for the whole school, including kids who are just turning 11, and kids who are recently arrived in the country (Westland has a ton of diplomatic and expat kids), you need a book with a reading level around that of Rick, which means no Austen, Hemingway, Balzac etc . . . that the vast majority of kids, without any kind of parental help, are going to be able to read.

Complaining that the book isn't Balzac is even stupider than the people who haven't opened the assignments complaining about what they imagine they might say.

PP you replied to. Yes, we are foreigners, and generally the diplomat and expats have a rather high reading level in their native language. Language barrier aside, because that's a whole other discussion, my point is that we need way, way, higher reading standards. There are plenty of classics that were originally written for the middle school set. As a child in France, I was assigned a ton of Balzac in middle school. Since I went to an international school, that's also when we started Shakespeare. I read my first Bronte novel at 12. You have no idea what you're talking about, my friend.

The standards here are too low. I know MCPS is a public school, not a private school, but that's really not an excuse.

But the richest part of all this is that you think people who want higher standards are "stupid". Way to reverse the charges

I graduated from MCPS schools. I already posted that I got a top-notch education. My kids have gone through MCPS. My youngest is entering high school. The books they've read are crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is MoCo pushing a book about sexuality for 5th graders going into 6th grade. I’m not having my kid read this book, and I find it extremely concerning that MoCo is pushing this. What is middle school going to be like? Are you not cool if you aren’t LGBT or gasp not yet sexual as a pre teen? What are other parents doing to complain.

My rising 4th grader and her friends discuss sexuality (NOT sex). They're at an all-girls school and have open discussions about sexuality and how they feel. My daughter also talks openly with me about what she and her friends talk about. I've created an environment where she's comfortable asking me ANYTHING because I'd rather she ask me than get misinformation elsewhere. I also have talks with her when I do audits of her text messages and phone calls. We're a hetero/cis-gen family (if I've written that incorrectly, I apologize).

You need to get a grip because your poor child is already having these conversations and may not feel comfortable talking to you about it.

You're doing a great job at home. So are we. That has nothing to do with what should or shouldn't be taught at school. Different thread.

You're NOT doing a good job at all if you think a book about acceptance and being unsure of your place during middle school is something that should be banned from school.

Who said it should be banned from school?

Exactly. Nobody said the book needs to be banned from schools. This discussion is about whether the book should be mandatory summer reading for 11 year olds. And whether the accompanying slides and discussion are appropriate for a Language Arts class (versus in the Family Life unit).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to Westland as a 7th grader and I emailed the school to ask whether this was a requirement. It is. Apparently they'll be discussing the book ad nauseam all year.

I'm as lefty as they come, but I greatly miss the days of classical education, and reading classical literature (with appropriate explanations on misogyny, historical stance against homosexuality, class systems, etc). Rick may be a valuable book to open children's minds, but it certainly is not well-written.

I wish Westland had more of a balance between modern culture and great writing.

You want them to teach that history?!

I thought we were supposed to put our heads in the sand.

PP you replied to. Well, yes. I love the classics, I got a lot out of them (both British/American and my native country's). And when you read Dickens or Austen or Twain or Balzac, you can't let certain racial/gender assumptions and societal restrictions go without comment, can you? It's a whole teaching moment.

I'm perfectly fine with contemporary novels on current societal issues. I see it as the continuation of all the conversations I have with my kids about other novels from the past. But why just Rick? Why not pair it with a classic, and have a comparative discussion?

Basically what I'm whining about are the low standards. The kids are just asked to read one, poorly written book. It's not nearly enough. I usually curate a list of summer reading for my kids and we discuss them, but it would be nice if the school could help me out!

And yes, to answer another PP's question, this book is part of the Middle Years programme. I don't think it's easy to opt out, as this book is supposed to be discussed throughout the year. Just complement it with something YOU think your child should read

Whoa. We aren't talking about a situation where the choices were Dickens, and Balzac, and Gino. It's summer reading. If you're going to do one summer book for the whole school, including kids who are just turning 11, and kids who are recently arrived in the country (Westland has a ton of diplomatic and expat kids), you need a book with a reading level around that of Rick, which means no Austen, Hemingway, Balzac etc . . . that the vast majority of kids, without any kind of parental help, are going to be able to read.

Complaining that the book isn't Balzac is even stupider than the people who haven't opened the assignments complaining about what they imagine they might say.

PP you replied to. Yes, we are foreigners, and generally the diplomat and expats have a rather high reading level in their native language. Language barrier aside, because that's a whole other discussion, my point is that we need way, way, higher reading standards. There are plenty of classics that were originally written for the middle school set. As a child in France, I was assigned a ton of Balzac in middle school. Since I went to an international school, that's also when we started Shakespeare. I read my first Bronte novel at 12. You have no idea what you're talking about, my friend.

The standards here are too low. I know MCPS is a public school, not a private school, but that's really not an excuse.

But the richest part of all this is that you think people who want higher standards are "stupid". Way to reverse the charges

I have family around the world and I agree with this. I grew up in another part of the country and attended public school. Immigrated here as a young age.

This is very true. The standards here are VERY low. Across the board. Especially for Math, but that’s a whole other thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to Westland as a 7th grader and I emailed the school to ask whether this was a requirement. It is. Apparently they'll be discussing the book ad nauseam all year.

I'm as lefty as they come, but I greatly miss the days of classical education, and reading classical literature (with appropriate explanations on misogyny, historical stance against homosexuality, class systems, etc). Rick may be a valuable book to open children's minds, but it certainly is not well-written.

I wish Westland had more of a balance between modern culture and great writing.

You want them to teach that history?!

I thought we were supposed to put our heads in the sand.

PP you replied to. Well, yes. I love the classics, I got a lot out of them (both British/American and my native country's). And when you read Dickens or Austen or Twain or Balzac, you can't let certain racial/gender assumptions and societal restrictions go without comment, can you? It's a whole teaching moment.

I'm perfectly fine with contemporary novels on current societal issues. I see it as the continuation of all the conversations I have with my kids about other novels from the past. But why just Rick? Why not pair it with a classic, and have a comparative discussion?

Basically what I'm whining about are the low standards. The kids are just asked to read one, poorly written book. It's not nearly enough. I usually curate a list of summer reading for my kids and we discuss them, but it would be nice if the school could help me out!

And yes, to answer another PP's question, this book is part of the Middle Years programme. I don't think it's easy to opt out, as this book is supposed to be discussed throughout the year. Just complement it with something YOU think your child should read

Whoa. We aren't talking about a situation where the choices were Dickens, and Balzac, and Gino. It's summer reading. If you're going to do one summer book for the whole school, including kids who are just turning 11, and kids who are recently arrived in the country (Westland has a ton of diplomatic and expat kids), you need a book with a reading level around that of Rick, which means no Austen, Hemingway, Balzac etc . . . that the vast majority of kids, without any kind of parental help, are going to be able to read.

Complaining that the book isn't Balzac is even stupider than the people who haven't opened the assignments complaining about what they imagine they might say.

PP you replied to. Yes, we are foreigners, and generally the diplomat and expats have a rather high reading level in their native language. Language barrier aside, because that's a whole other discussion, my point is that we need way, way, higher reading standards. There are plenty of classics that were originally written for the middle school set. As a child in France, I was assigned a ton of Balzac in middle school. Since I went to an international school, that's also when we started Shakespeare. I read my first Bronte novel at 12. You have no idea what you're talking about, my friend.

The standards here are too low. I know MCPS is a public school, not a private school, but that's really not an excuse.

But the richest part of all this is that you think people who want higher standards are "stupid". Way to reverse the charges

Wait a minute, you read a Bronte novel at age 12? You mean you were exposed to..wait for...sexuality, addiction, family dysfunction, etc..etc.. at age 12? And you're still alive to tell the tale? It's a miracle! I thought only parents could teach their kids that stuff. According to parents on this thread, smut like that has no place in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Wow - this thread has gone 360 degrees multiple times. So stupid at this point.

[Anonymous]

The book is trash. Written poorly and trash. There is no redeeming qualities other than political ones. Stop grooming kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The book is trash. Written poorly and trash. There is no redeeming qualities other than political ones. Stop grooming kids.

LOL. It got great reviews. Just because you don't like it doesn't change that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to Westland as a 7th grader and I emailed the school to ask whether this was a requirement. It is. Apparently they'll be discussing the book ad nauseam all year.

I'm as lefty as they come, but I greatly miss the days of classical education, and reading classical literature (with appropriate explanations on misogyny, historical stance against homosexuality, class systems, etc). Rick may be a valuable book to open children's minds, but it certainly is not well-written.

I wish Westland had more of a balance between modern culture and great writing.

You want them to teach that history?!

I thought we were supposed to put our heads in the sand.

PP you replied to. Well, yes. I love the classics, I got a lot out of them (both British/American and my native country's). And when you read Dickens or Austen or Twain or Balzac, you can't let certain racial/gender assumptions and societal restrictions go without comment, can you? It's a whole teaching moment.

I'm perfectly fine with contemporary novels on current societal issues. I see it as the continuation of all the conversations I have with my kids about other novels from the past. But why just Rick? Why not pair it with a classic, and have a comparative discussion?

Basically what I'm whining about are the low standards. The kids are just asked to read one, poorly written book. It's not nearly enough. I usually curate a list of summer reading for my kids and we discuss them, but it would be nice if the school could help me out!

And yes, to answer another PP's question, this book is part of the Middle Years programme. I don't think it's easy to opt out, as this book is supposed to be discussed throughout the year. Just complement it with something YOU think your child should read

Whoa. We aren't talking about a situation where the choices were Dickens, and Balzac, and Gino. It's summer reading. If you're going to do one summer book for the whole school, including kids who are just turning 11, and kids who are recently arrived in the country (Westland has a ton of diplomatic and expat kids), you need a book with a reading level around that of Rick, which means no Austen, Hemingway, Balzac etc . . . that the vast majority of kids, without any kind of parental help, are going to be able to read.

Complaining that the book isn't Balzac is even stupider than the people who haven't opened the assignments complaining about what they imagine they might say.

PP you replied to. Yes, we are foreigners, and generally the diplomat and expats have a rather high reading level in their native language. Language barrier aside, because that's a whole other discussion, my point is that we need way, way, higher reading standards. There are plenty of classics that were originally written for the middle school set. As a child in France, I was assigned a ton of Balzac in middle school. Since I went to an international school, that's also when we started Shakespeare. I read my first Bronte novel at 12. You have no idea what you're talking about, my friend.

The standards here are too low. I know MCPS is a public school, not a private school, but that's really not an excuse.

But the richest part of all this is that you think people who want higher standards are "stupid". Way to reverse the charges

I graduated from MCPS schools. I already posted that I got a top-notch education. My kids have gone through MCPS. My youngest is entering high school. The books they've read are crap.

I also graduated from a W 30 years ago. I went to an ivy, but I feel my kid's education is much better than my experience. They've been able to qualify various G&T programs like what today is called CES or magnets. My point is a great education is there for anyone who wants it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to Westland as a 7th grader and I emailed the school to ask whether this was a requirement. It is. Apparently they'll be discussing the book ad nauseam all year.

I'm as lefty as they come, but I greatly miss the days of classical education, and reading classical literature (with appropriate explanations on misogyny, historical stance against homosexuality, class systems, etc). Rick may be a valuable book to open children's minds, but it certainly is not well-written.

I wish Westland had more of a balance between modern culture and great writing.

Your post is also not well written, since you inserted the extra hyphen there. Generally, we do not use a hyphen between an adverb and an adjective. We also don't use a hyphen between two adjectives when used as a predicate adjective. You should go back to school to learn how to write properly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to Westland as a 7th grader and I emailed the school to ask whether this was a requirement. It is. Apparently they'll be discussing the book ad nauseam all year.

I'm as lefty as they come, but I greatly miss the days of classical education, and reading classical literature (with appropriate explanations on misogyny, historical stance against homosexuality, class systems, etc). Rick may be a valuable book to open children's minds, but it certainly is not well-written.

I wish Westland had more of a balance between modern culture and great writing.

You want them to teach that history?!

I thought we were supposed to put our heads in the sand.

PP you replied to. Well, yes. I love the classics, I got a lot out of them (both British/American and my native country's). And when you read Dickens or Austen or Twain or Balzac, you can't let certain racial/gender assumptions and societal restrictions go without comment, can you? It's a whole teaching moment.

I'm perfectly fine with contemporary novels on current societal issues. I see it as the continuation of all the conversations I have with my kids about other novels from the past. But why just Rick? Why not pair it with a classic, and have a comparative discussion?

Basically what I'm whining about are the low standards. The kids are just asked to read one, poorly written book. It's not nearly enough. I usually curate a list of summer reading for my kids and we discuss them, but it would be nice if the school could help me out!

And yes, to answer another PP's question, this book is part of the Middle Years programme. I don't think it's easy to opt out, as this book is supposed to be discussed throughout the year. Just complement it with something YOU think your child should read

Whoa. We aren't talking about a situation where the choices were Dickens, and Balzac, and Gino. It's summer reading. If you're going to do one summer book for the whole school, including kids who are just turning 11, and kids who are recently arrived in the country (Westland has a ton of diplomatic and expat kids), you need a book with a reading level around that of Rick, which means no Austen, Hemingway, Balzac etc . . . that the vast majority of kids, without any kind of parental help, are going to be able to read.

Complaining that the book isn't Balzac is even stupider than the people who haven't opened the assignments complaining about what they imagine they might say.

PP you replied to. Yes, we are foreigners, and generally the diplomat and expats have a rather high reading level in their native language. Language barrier aside, because that's a whole other discussion, my point is that we need way, way, higher reading standards. There are plenty of classics that were originally written for the middle school set. As a child in France, I was assigned a ton of Balzac in middle school. Since I went to an international school, that's also when we started Shakespeare. I read my first Bronte novel at 12. You have no idea what you're talking about, my friend.

The standards here are too low. I know MCPS is a public school, not a private school, but that's really not an excuse.

But the richest part of all this is that you think people who want higher standards are "stupid". Way to reverse the charges

I graduated from MCPS schools. I already posted that I got a top-notch education. My kids have gone through MCPS. My youngest is entering high school. The books they've read are crap.

I also graduated from a W 30 years ago. I went to an ivy, but I feel my kid's education is much better than my experience. They've been able to qualify various G&T programs like what today is called CES or magnets. My point is a great education is there for anyone who wants it.

??? - The magnets are application programs. Many people want that great education and don’t get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to Westland as a 7th grader and I emailed the school to ask whether this was a requirement. It is. Apparently they'll be discussing the book ad nauseam all year.

I'm as lefty as they come, but I greatly miss the days of classical education, and reading classical literature (with appropriate explanations on misogyny, historical stance against homosexuality, class systems, etc). Rick may be a valuable book to open children's minds, but it certainly is not well-written.

I wish Westland had more of a balance between modern culture and great writing.

You want them to teach that history?!

I thought we were supposed to put our heads in the sand.

PP you replied to. Well, yes. I love the classics, I got a lot out of them (both British/American and my native country's). And when you read Dickens or Austen or Twain or Balzac, you can't let certain racial/gender assumptions and societal restrictions go without comment, can you? It's a whole teaching moment.

I'm perfectly fine with contemporary novels on current societal issues. I see it as the continuation of all the conversations I have with my kids about other novels from the past. But why just Rick? Why not pair it with a classic, and have a comparative discussion?

Basically what I'm whining about are the low standards. The kids are just asked to read one, poorly written book. It's not nearly enough. I usually curate a list of summer reading for my kids and we discuss them, but it would be nice if the school could help me out!

And yes, to answer another PP's question, this book is part of the Middle Years programme. I don't think it's easy to opt out, as this book is supposed to be discussed throughout the year. Just complement it with something YOU think your child should read

Whoa. We aren't talking about a situation where the choices were Dickens, and Balzac, and Gino. It's summer reading. If you're going to do one summer book for the whole school, including kids who are just turning 11, and kids who are recently arrived in the country (Westland has a ton of diplomatic and expat kids), you need a book with a reading level around that of Rick, which means no Austen, Hemingway, Balzac etc . . . that the vast majority of kids, without any kind of parental help, are going to be able to read.

Complaining that the book isn't Balzac is even stupider than the people who haven't opened the assignments complaining about what they imagine they might say.

PP you replied to. Yes, we are foreigners, and generally the diplomat and expats have a rather high reading level in their native language. Language barrier aside, because that's a whole other discussion, my point is that we need way, way, higher reading standards. There are plenty of classics that were originally written for the middle school set. As a child in France, I was assigned a ton of Balzac in middle school. Since I went to an international school, that's also when we started Shakespeare. I read my first Bronte novel at 12. You have no idea what you're talking about, my friend.

The standards here are too low. I know MCPS is a public school, not a private school, but that's really not an excuse.

But the richest part of all this is that you think people who want higher standards are "stupid". Way to reverse the charges

I graduated from MCPS schools. I already posted that I got a top-notch education. My kids have gone through MCPS. My youngest is entering high school. The books they've read are crap.

I also graduated from a W 30 years ago. I went to an ivy, but I feel my kid's education is much better than my experience. They've been able to qualify various G&T programs like what today is called CES or magnets. My point is a great education is there for anyone who wants it.

Do you know how many kids qualify for a magnet but don’t get in? So many. So many kids would benefit from the Magnet programs but are not able to avail themselves of that curriculum because there are limited seats.

So, no, the education is not ‘there for anyone who wants it’.

My kids was in the CES in ES, then rejected for the MS Magnet and then attended a Magnet HS. MS at the home school was TERRIBLE. Truly.