“Rick” summer reading

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don’t need to be pressured into having a sexual preference at ages 10-11. This is absurd. Westland is our home school.

I kind of think the point is that you don’t need to be pressured into being straight

How about boundaries and privacy? Why is anyone discussing sexuality with pre-pubertal tweens? How is this okay?

You are clearly a white person saying this. The average age that black and brown girls start their period is NINE! So they start puberty even earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are concerned about this book having too much influence on your child, the solution is probably to have your kid read more than one book this summer? Then it will be just one book out of many.
Or, you could make a big fuss about it, and then your kid will really be interested!

+1+infinity

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much time for them to grow up, why are SO many people rushing it?

Because they are growing up right now, even if you wish they weren’t. Many kids going into sixth grade are going to have crushes, even if they don’t act on them. When you have a crush that doesn’t align with your parents’ very clear expectations for you, that can be very stressful, anxiety provoking and upsetting. The kids whose parents have a very narrow view of the “right” way to be need this book the most, to know there is nothing wrong with them if they don’t fit a certain mold.

Not all 10yo kids have crushes. It’s fine if the books are available in the library, but forcing kids to read them is another story.

What are you so afraid will happen if your 10 yo reads this book?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much time for them to grow up, why are SO many people rushing it?

Because they are growing up right now, even if you wish they weren’t. Many kids going into sixth grade are going to have crushes, even if they don’t act on them. When you have a crush that doesn’t align with your parents’ very clear expectations for you, that can be very stressful, anxiety provoking and upsetting. The kids whose parents have a very narrow view of the “right” way to be need this book the most, to know there is nothing wrong with them if they don’t fit a certain mold.

Not all 10yo kids have crushes. It’s fine if the books are available in the library, but forcing kids to read them is another story.

Rick is, in fact, a book about a ten year old who doesn't have crushes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think MCPS has gone very deep into many social justice/political topics in their choice of reading materials. As a contrast, I looked up the summer reading for incoming 6th graders in our old Brooklyn neighborhood. Much more innocuous than the mcps selections.

They don't even have to be innocuous. How about good books? These books are being assigned precisely because of their subject matter, not because they're well written or worth reading.

When i think of all the actual **literature** I read by the time I had graduated from MCPS, it just makes me want to cry. These assignments are a joke.

That school has gone off the deep end. OP, just don't have your child read it.

Wow just wow so many bigots

So you’d be okay if “Jesus is my Lord and Savior” was required summer reading?

I’d be fine with it. It’s a chance to understand why Christians think they way they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much time for them to grow up, why are SO many people rushing it?

Because they are growing up right now, even if you wish they weren’t. Many kids going into sixth grade are going to have crushes, even if they don’t act on them. When you have a crush that doesn’t align with your parents’ very clear expectations for you, that can be very stressful, anxiety provoking and upsetting. The kids whose parents have a very narrow view of the “right” way to be need this book the most, to know there is nothing wrong with them if they don’t fit a certain mold.

Not all 10yo kids have crushes. It’s fine if the books are available in the library, but forcing kids to read them is another story.

What are you so afraid will happen if your 10 yo reads this book?

The issue is not fear and bigotry to me. Those terms are too often used as a cudgel to kill any debate on this topic. It is what parents feel is appropriate concerning a sensitive subject. Public schools seem to have a one size fits all strategy for how to handle the topic of gender/sex. Not everyone subscribes to the same belief system which is fine so long as everyone is respectful of other people.

Let’s face it, we’ve come a very long way in a very short time on these issues - most people I know could care less anymore about a person’s orientation and judging by the ubiquity of Pride flags in the area I don’t think being gay has the stigma it once carried which is great but I ultimately believe parents, not the government or public schools, should handle these issues with their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much time for them to grow up, why are SO many people rushing it?

Because they are growing up right now, even if you wish they weren’t. Many kids going into sixth grade are going to have crushes, even if they don’t act on them. When you have a crush that doesn’t align with your parents’ very clear expectations for you, that can be very stressful, anxiety provoking and upsetting. The kids whose parents have a very narrow view of the “right” way to be need this book the most, to know there is nothing wrong with them if they don’t fit a certain mold.

Not all 10yo kids have crushes. It’s fine if the books are available in the library, but forcing kids to read them is another story.

What are you so afraid will happen if your 10 yo reads this book?

The issue is not fear and bigotry to me. Those terms are too often used as a cudgel to kill any debate on this topic. It is what parents feel is appropriate concerning a sensitive subject. Public schools seem to have a one size fits all strategy for how to handle the topic of gender/sex. Not everyone subscribes to the same belief system which is fine so long as everyone is respectful of other people.

Let’s face it, we’ve come a very long way in a very short time on these issues - most people I know could care less anymore about a person’s orientation and judging by the ubiquity of Pride flags in the area I don’t think being gay has the stigma it once carried which is great but I ultimately believe parents, not the government or public schools, should handle these issues with their kids.

Okay, I will rephrase. What are you concerned will happen if your child reads this book? There’s no reason to oppose it so vehemently if you think it will have no impact on kids, so clearly there is something that troubles you about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much time for them to grow up, why are SO many people rushing it?

Because they are growing up right now, even if you wish they weren’t. Many kids going into sixth grade are going to have crushes, even if they don’t act on them. When you have a crush that doesn’t align with your parents’ very clear expectations for you, that can be very stressful, anxiety provoking and upsetting. The kids whose parents have a very narrow view of the “right” way to be need this book the most, to know there is nothing wrong with them if they don’t fit a certain mold.

Not all 10yo kids have crushes. It’s fine if the books are available in the library, but forcing kids to read them is another story.

What are you so afraid will happen if your 10 yo reads this book?

The issue is not fear and bigotry to me. Those terms are too often used as a cudgel to kill any debate on this topic. It is what parents feel is appropriate concerning a sensitive subject. Public schools seem to have a one size fits all strategy for how to handle the topic of gender/sex. Not everyone subscribes to the same belief system which is fine so long as everyone is respectful of other people.

Let’s face it, we’ve come a very long way in a very short time on these issues - most people I know could care less anymore about a person’s orientation and judging by the ubiquity of Pride flags in the area I don’t think being gay has the stigma it once carried which is great but I ultimately believe parents, not the government or public schools, should handle these issues with their kids.

Okay, I will rephrase. What are you concerned will happen if your child reads this book? There’s no reason to oppose it so vehemently if you think it will have no impact on kids, so clearly there is something that troubles you about it.

How about: I want to discuss issues of gender and sex with my child within the confines of my family? I don’t see it as the place for the government and it’s employees to educate my child on these issues. I prefer public schools focus more on traditional core subjects like math, english/literature/grammar, science etc. Personally speaking, i would not “fear” my child reading this nor do I think they’d be adversely affected by it, rather i just don’t see it as the state’s place to infringe in how I educate my kids on such subjects. I believe in teaching tolerance and respect for everyone but that does not mean I go along with every with every position on sex/gender/trans issues as espoused by some public schools.

[Anonymous]

Culture is doing a fine enough job teaching kids about sex and gender. And in my opinion confuses them.

Let culture and parents continue to teach it. Schools do not need to get involved in this mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much time for them to grow up, why are SO many people rushing it?

Because they are growing up right now, even if you wish they weren’t. Many kids going into sixth grade are going to have crushes, even if they don’t act on them. When you have a crush that doesn’t align with your parents’ very clear expectations for you, that can be very stressful, anxiety provoking and upsetting. The kids whose parents have a very narrow view of the “right” way to be need this book the most, to know there is nothing wrong with them if they don’t fit a certain mold.

Not all 10yo kids have crushes. It’s fine if the books are available in the library, but forcing kids to read them is another story.

What are you so afraid will happen if your 10 yo reads this book?

The issue is not fear and bigotry to me. Those terms are too often used as a cudgel to kill any debate on this topic. It is what parents feel is appropriate concerning a sensitive subject. Public schools seem to have a one size fits all strategy for how to handle the topic of gender/sex. Not everyone subscribes to the same belief system which is fine so long as everyone is respectful of other people.

Let’s face it, we’ve come a very long way in a very short time on these issues - most people I know could care less anymore about a person’s orientation and judging by the ubiquity of Pride flags in the area I don’t think being gay has the stigma it once carried which is great but I ultimately believe parents, not the government or public schools, should handle these issues with their kids.

Okay, I will rephrase. What are you concerned will happen if your child reads this book? There’s no reason to oppose it so vehemently if you think it will have no impact on kids, so clearly there is something that troubles you about it.

How about: I want to discuss issues of gender and sex with my child within the confines of my family? I don’t see it as the place for the government and it’s employees to educate my child on these issues. I prefer public schools focus more on traditional core subjects like math, english/literature/grammar, science etc. Personally speaking, i would not “fear” my child reading this nor do I think they’d be adversely affected by it, rather i just don’t see it as the state’s place to infringe in how I educate my kids on such subjects. I believe in teaching tolerance and respect for everyone but that does not mean I go along with every with every position on sex/gender/trans issues as espoused by some public schools.

Nothing about this book is preventing you from teaching your children your own values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much time for them to grow up, why are SO many people rushing it?

Because they are growing up right now, even if you wish they weren’t. Many kids going into sixth grade are going to have crushes, even if they don’t act on them. When you have a crush that doesn’t align with your parents’ very clear expectations for you, that can be very stressful, anxiety provoking and upsetting. The kids whose parents have a very narrow view of the “right” way to be need this book the most, to know there is nothing wrong with them if they don’t fit a certain mold.

Not all 10yo kids have crushes. It’s fine if the books are available in the library, but forcing kids to read them is another story.

What are you so afraid will happen if your 10 yo reads this book?

The issue is not fear and bigotry to me. Those terms are too often used as a cudgel to kill any debate on this topic. It is what parents feel is appropriate concerning a sensitive subject. Public schools seem to have a one size fits all strategy for how to handle the topic of gender/sex. Not everyone subscribes to the same belief system which is fine so long as everyone is respectful of other people.

Let’s face it, we’ve come a very long way in a very short time on these issues - most people I know could care less anymore about a person’s orientation and judging by the ubiquity of Pride flags in the area I don’t think being gay has the stigma it once carried which is great but I ultimately believe parents, not the government or public schools, should handle these issues with their kids.

Okay, I will rephrase. What are you concerned will happen if your child reads this book? There’s no reason to oppose it so vehemently if you think it will have no impact on kids, so clearly there is something that troubles you about it.

How about: I want to discuss issues of gender and sex with my child within the confines of my family? I don’t see it as the place for the government and it’s employees to educate my child on these issues. I prefer public schools focus more on traditional core subjects like math, english/literature/grammar, science etc. Personally speaking, i would not “fear” my child reading this nor do I think they’d be adversely affected by it, rather i just don’t see it as the state’s place to infringe in how I educate my kids on such subjects. I believe in teaching tolerance and respect for everyone but that does not mean I go along with every with every position on sex/gender/trans issues as espoused by some public schools.

DP. When you elect to send your kids to public schools, it becomes the state's place to educate them, and there's no way to educate them for 13 years without teaching something that contradicts someone's sincere beliefs, especially in literature classes. When I was a kid, literature was where we were exposed to feminism, pacifism, religion, and politics, all of which was contrary to the belief of at least one person in the class.

You're still free to teach your kids what you believe, just like everyone with any kind of minority opinion has had to do since public education began, but in class you have to expect that they're going to get the community consensus beliefs as well. I think most parents are in this position on one issue or another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much time for them to grow up, why are SO many people rushing it?

Because they are growing up right now, even if you wish they weren’t. Many kids going into sixth grade are going to have crushes, even if they don’t act on them. When you have a crush that doesn’t align with your parents’ very clear expectations for you, that can be very stressful, anxiety provoking and upsetting. The kids whose parents have a very narrow view of the “right” way to be need this book the most, to know there is nothing wrong with them if they don’t fit a certain mold.

Not all 10yo kids have crushes. It’s fine if the books are available in the library, but forcing kids to read them is another story.

What are you so afraid will happen if your 10 yo reads this book?

The issue is not fear and bigotry to me. Those terms are too often used as a cudgel to kill any debate on this topic. It is what parents feel is appropriate concerning a sensitive subject. Public schools seem to have a one size fits all strategy for how to handle the topic of gender/sex. Not everyone subscribes to the same belief system which is fine so long as everyone is respectful of other people.

Let’s face it, we’ve come a very long way in a very short time on these issues - most people I know could care less anymore about a person’s orientation and judging by the ubiquity of Pride flags in the area I don’t think being gay has the stigma it once carried which is great but I ultimately believe parents, not the government or public schools, should handle these issues with their kids.

Okay, I will rephrase. What are you concerned will happen if your child reads this book? There’s no reason to oppose it so vehemently if you think it will have no impact on kids, so clearly there is something that troubles you about it.

How about: I want to discuss issues of gender and sex with my child within the confines of my family? I don’t see it as the place for the government and it’s employees to educate my child on these issues. I prefer public schools focus more on traditional core subjects like math, english/literature/grammar, science etc. Personally speaking, i would not “fear” my child reading this nor do I think they’d be adversely affected by it, rather i just don’t see it as the state’s place to infringe in how I educate my kids on such subjects. I believe in teaching tolerance and respect for everyone but that does not mean I go along with every with every position on sex/gender/trans issues as espoused by some public schools.

Nothing about this book is preventing you from teaching your children your own values.

Of course not. Never wrote that it did. I simply wrote that it is a subject natter I prefer discussed with my child in my home as opposed to the government teaching them about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much time for them to grow up, why are SO many people rushing it?

Because they are growing up right now, even if you wish they weren’t. Many kids going into sixth grade are going to have crushes, even if they don’t act on them. When you have a crush that doesn’t align with your parents’ very clear expectations for you, that can be very stressful, anxiety provoking and upsetting. The kids whose parents have a very narrow view of the “right” way to be need this book the most, to know there is nothing wrong with them if they don’t fit a certain mold.

Not all 10yo kids have crushes. It’s fine if the books are available in the library, but forcing kids to read them is another story.

What are you so afraid will happen if your 10 yo reads this book?

The issue is not fear and bigotry to me. Those terms are too often used as a cudgel to kill any debate on this topic. It is what parents feel is appropriate concerning a sensitive subject. Public schools seem to have a one size fits all strategy for how to handle the topic of gender/sex. Not everyone subscribes to the same belief system which is fine so long as everyone is respectful of other people.

Let’s face it, we’ve come a very long way in a very short time on these issues - most people I know could care less anymore about a person’s orientation and judging by the ubiquity of Pride flags in the area I don’t think being gay has the stigma it once carried which is great but I ultimately believe parents, not the government or public schools, should handle these issues with their kids.

Okay, I will rephrase. What are you concerned will happen if your child reads this book? There’s no reason to oppose it so vehemently if you think it will have no impact on kids, so clearly there is something that troubles you about it.

How about: I want to discuss issues of gender and sex with my child within the confines of my family? I don’t see it as the place for the government and it’s employees to educate my child on these issues. I prefer public schools focus more on traditional core subjects like math, english/literature/grammar, science etc. Personally speaking, i would not “fear” my child reading this nor do I think they’d be adversely affected by it, rather i just don’t see it as the state’s place to infringe in how I educate my kids on such subjects. I believe in teaching tolerance and respect for everyone but that does not mean I go along with every with every position on sex/gender/trans issues as espoused by some public schools.

DP. When you elect to send your kids to public schools, it becomes the state's place to educate them, and there's no way to educate them for 13 years without teaching something that contradicts someone's sincere beliefs, especially in literature classes. When I was a kid, literature was where we were exposed to feminism, pacifism, religion, and politics, all of which was contrary to the belief of at least one person in the class.

You're still free to teach your kids what you believe, just like everyone with any kind of minority opinion has had to do since public education began, but in class you have to expect that they're going to get the community consensus beliefs as well. I think most parents are in this position on one issue or another.

Some good points here that I agree with. I do believe that the subject of sex, though, and the audience being young children, I much prefer to be the person guiding them through those waters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much time for them to grow up, why are SO many people rushing it?

Because they are growing up right now, even if you wish they weren’t. Many kids going into sixth grade are going to have crushes, even if they don’t act on them. When you have a crush that doesn’t align with your parents’ very clear expectations for you, that can be very stressful, anxiety provoking and upsetting. The kids whose parents have a very narrow view of the “right” way to be need this book the most, to know there is nothing wrong with them if they don’t fit a certain mold.

Not all 10yo kids have crushes. It’s fine if the books are available in the library, but forcing kids to read them is another story.

What are you so afraid will happen if your 10 yo reads this book?

The issue is not fear and bigotry to me. Those terms are too often used as a cudgel to kill any debate on this topic. It is what parents feel is appropriate concerning a sensitive subject. Public schools seem to have a one size fits all strategy for how to handle the topic of gender/sex. Not everyone subscribes to the same belief system which is fine so long as everyone is respectful of other people.

Let’s face it, we’ve come a very long way in a very short time on these issues - most people I know could care less anymore about a person’s orientation and judging by the ubiquity of Pride flags in the area I don’t think being gay has the stigma it once carried which is great but I ultimately believe parents, not the government or public schools, should handle these issues with their kids.

Okay, I will rephrase. What are you concerned will happen if your child reads this book? There’s no reason to oppose it so vehemently if you think it will have no impact on kids, so clearly there is something that troubles you about it.

How about: I want to discuss issues of gender and sex with my child within the confines of my family? I don’t see it as the place for the government and it’s employees to educate my child on these issues. I prefer public schools focus more on traditional core subjects like math, english/literature/grammar, science etc. Personally speaking, i would not “fear” my child reading this nor do I think they’d be adversely affected by it, rather i just don’t see it as the state’s place to infringe in how I educate my kids on such subjects. I believe in teaching tolerance and respect for everyone but that does not mean I go along with every with every position on sex/gender/trans issues as espoused by some public schools.

Nothing about this book is preventing you from teaching your children your own values.

This books specifically pushes the “if parents don’t get you then friends and other adults will be your guide.”

Meaning, “your parents don’t understand you.”

It’s already a natural feeling kids have, so I’m not concerned there. We just don’t need them to have even *less* confidence in parents to be loving.

I’m fairly conservative, can you tell? And in my friend groups, I believe 99.999% of my friends would accept whatever their kid chooses on any level. Come on, people. Show these kids that they CAN trust us.

In fact, my take is that we should all be letting them be KIDS for longer. Hence my post above, why are we rushing them into growing up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much time for them to grow up, why are SO many people rushing it?

Because they are growing up right now, even if you wish they weren’t. Many kids going into sixth grade are going to have crushes, even if they don’t act on them. When you have a crush that doesn’t align with your parents’ very clear expectations for you, that can be very stressful, anxiety provoking and upsetting. The kids whose parents have a very narrow view of the “right” way to be need this book the most, to know there is nothing wrong with them if they don’t fit a certain mold.

Not all 10yo kids have crushes. It’s fine if the books are available in the library, but forcing kids to read them is another story.

What are you so afraid will happen if your 10 yo reads this book?

The issue is not fear and bigotry to me. Those terms are too often used as a cudgel to kill any debate on this topic. It is what parents feel is appropriate concerning a sensitive subject. Public schools seem to have a one size fits all strategy for how to handle the topic of gender/sex. Not everyone subscribes to the same belief system which is fine so long as everyone is respectful of other people.

Let’s face it, we’ve come a very long way in a very short time on these issues - most people I know could care less anymore about a person’s orientation and judging by the ubiquity of Pride flags in the area I don’t think being gay has the stigma it once carried which is great but I ultimately believe parents, not the government or public schools, should handle these issues with their kids.

Okay, I will rephrase. What are you concerned will happen if your child reads this book? There’s no reason to oppose it so vehemently if you think it will have no impact on kids, so clearly there is something that troubles you about it.

How about: I want to discuss issues of gender and sex with my child within the confines of my family? I don’t see it as the place for the government and it’s employees to educate my child on these issues. I prefer public schools focus more on traditional core subjects like math, english/literature/grammar, science etc. Personally speaking, i would not “fear” my child reading this nor do I think they’d be adversely affected by it, rather i just don’t see it as the state’s place to infringe in how I educate my kids on such subjects. I believe in teaching tolerance and respect for everyone but that does not mean I go along with every with every position on sex/gender/trans issues as espoused by some public schools.

Nothing about this book is preventing you from teaching your children your own values.

This books specifically pushes the “if parents don’t get you then friends and other adults will be your guide.”

Meaning, “your parents don’t understand you.”

It’s already a natural feeling kids have, so I’m not concerned there. We just don’t need them to have even *less* confidence in parents to be loving.

I’m fairly conservative, can you tell? And in my friend groups, I believe 99.999% of my friends would accept whatever their kid chooses on any level. Come on, people. Show these kids that they CAN trust us.

In fact, my take is that we should all be letting them be KIDS for longer. Hence my post above, why are we rushing them into growing up?

In the book, the adult who gets him is his grandfather. If that's a problem, so is Moana.