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

[Anonymous]

I mean, when I was 12 I was happily reading Flowers in the Attic, and am no worse for the wear. It's not like I read it and then wanted to have sex with my brother. Or wanted to grow up to have children and then kill them.

OP the reality is that kids are dealing with these issues in their lives even if you're not hearing about them.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Hypocrites- if MCPS was recommending books about pro life, abstinence from sex or drugs and religion the majority of people on this board would be howling and melting down.

No, sweetie. We would be happy to have our kids read books that present someone else’s life. It’s not like the books are advocating for a pro-life stance, just like the books discussed here aren’t advocating for drunk fathers.

Oh yes, sweetie, you would.

I would be happy? Yes, I would! Glad we’re in agreement.

You missed the point, Larla.

No you did — unlike you, we like having our kids exposed to a variety of perspectives and people’s lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hypocrites- if MCPS was recommending books about pro life, abstinence from sex or drugs and religion the majority of people on this board would be howling and melting down.

True

I mean, I would be pretty irate if any public school was including non fiction on the syllabus that was evangelizing kids or something, but the MCPS curriculum does feature fiction with good and bad examples of people (racist, justice-minded, evil, good, etc...). That's just...literature.

[Anonymous]

Why is anyone surprised MCPS is pushing this crap?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope - I am disgusted by what counts as youth literature nowadays. I think they think it will help some kids relate to the characters, but I think it promotes bad stereotypes.

Agree 100%.

My 7th grader is reading We Beat the Streets so I got myself a copy to read. I am understand the need for ‘inspirational’ books for young black boys, but this book is absolutely terrible. SO poorly written. And yes, it promotes stereotypes. Plus a scene where one of them ends up in jail and hears another joy being raped in a cell that night.

High school? Maybe, though it’s not a well-written book.

By for a 12 year old? Not necessary, when there are a ton of other well-written books for kids to read.

I’m pretty lenient, but it’s one thing to have crappy books in the school library for kids to read. But maybe MCPS can do better with its required reading. I’m with you OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you want your kids to read, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm?

Yes, what is wrong with that? Most older books have better vocabulary and real grammar.

It's fine to have that in the mix, but it's not really relevant to the life of today's children.

[Anonymous]

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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.

Opt out? By doing what? Are you going to send an e-mail to the teacher?

Dear [Teacher],

This is just to let you know that Larla will not read the assigned book, because there are [curse words/condoms/drug dealers/drunk fathers] in it.

Sincerely,

Larla's Parent

If you use Larla you are automatically a loon.

Really? It’s pretty standard on DCUM as a stand-in for a kid’s name.

Uh oh. PP just revealed themself as a newcomer to DCUM, here to stir up conservative sh*t. If you know Larla, you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP is this a rhetorical question? Why are you asking?

Maybe because OP cares about his/her kids and cares about their education. Why would you NOT be interested in what your kid is reading in school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hypocrites- if MCPS was recommending books about pro life, abstinence from sex or drugs and religion the majority of people on this board would be howling and melting down.

No, sweetie. We would be happy to have our kids read books that present someone else’s life. It’s not like the books are advocating for a pro-life stance, just like the books discussed here aren’t advocating for drunk fathers.

Oh yes, sweetie, you would.

I would be happy? Yes, I would! Glad we’re in agreement.

You missed the point, Larla.

No you did — unlike you, we like having our kids exposed to a variety of perspectives and people’s lives.

Unlike you, my children are well traveled and exposed to many, many different cultures. We just don't think it's necessary they be exposed to drug and sex when they are 10. But you go ahead and show your kids porn since your son is apparently wacking off to his phone as another poster said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, sweetie. We would be happy to have our kids read books that present someone else’s life. It’s not like the books are advocating for a pro-life stance, just like the books discussed here aren’t advocating for drunk fathers.

Oh yes, sweetie, you would.

Please keep your affair off-line!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hypocrites- if MCPS was recommending books about pro life, abstinence from sex or drugs and religion the majority of people on this board would be howling and melting down.

No, sweetie. We would be happy to have our kids read books that present someone else’s life. It’s not like the books are advocating for a pro-life stance, just like the books discussed here aren’t advocating for drunk fathers.

Oh yes, sweetie, you would.

I would be happy? Yes, I would! Glad we’re in agreement.

You missed the point, Larla.

No you did — unlike you, we like having our kids exposed to a variety of perspectives and people’s lives.

Unlike you, my children are well traveled and exposed to many, many different cultures. We just don't think it's necessary they be exposed to drug and sex when they are 10. But you go ahead and show your kids porn since your son is apparently wacking off to his phone as another poster said.

You think these books are akin to showing kids porn?!

WTH is wrong with you?

And for your information, my kid has been to Europe 3 times already, and we have plans to take another international trip when COVID restrictions ease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Opt out? By doing what? Are you going to send an e-mail to the teacher?

Dear [Teacher],

This is just to let you know that Larla will not read the assigned book, because there are [curse words/condoms/drug dealers/drunk fathers] in it.

Sincerely,

Larla's Parent

If you use Larla you are automatically a loon.

Really? It’s pretty standard on DCUM as a stand-in for a kid’s name.

Uh oh. PP just revealed themself as a newcomer to DCUM, here to stir up conservative sh*t. If you know Larla, you know.

You mean liberal sh*t. I would take being a newcomer on this board to be much better than a sad sack who lives on here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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]

Nobody wants to BAN any books. Keep them all in the library and available to kids.

But the assigned readings in MCPS should be age appropriate. And there are plenty of better options than the crap MCPS is assigning to our middle schoolers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Opt out? By doing what? Are you going to send an e-mail to the teacher?

Dear [Teacher],

This is just to let you know that Larla will not read the assigned book, because there are [curse words/condoms/drug dealers/drunk fathers] in it.

Sincerely,

Larla's Parent

If you use Larla you are automatically a loon.

Really? It’s pretty standard on DCUM as a stand-in for a kid’s name.

Uh oh. PP just revealed themself as a newcomer to DCUM, here to stir up conservative sh*t. If you know Larla, you know.

You mean liberal sh*t. I would take being a newcomer on this board to be much better than a sad sack who lives on here.

I love it when people shit on DCUM posters, while they ... post on DCUM.

Hilarious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, when I was 12 I was happily reading Flowers in the Attic, and am no worse for the wear. It's not like I read it and then wanted to have sex with my brother. Or wanted to grow up to have children and then kill them.

OP the reality is that kids are dealing with these issues in their lives even if you're not hearing about them.

I was going to say the same thing. I read all the Judy Blume books in middle school and didn't have sex for the first time until a decade later.