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 Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:59 pm
For the time being, I'm studying in order to become an elementary school teacher. I have an Elementary Literature Class, and we are supposed to read about 30 books for children by the end of the year. There's a big list of things you can read, but there's been some things we talked about in class that surprised me: 1) Most people know the Harry Potter series, I assume? Apparently, it's perfectly fine to read some of the earlier books to children, but after about the 4th or 5th book, they are considered too mature for young readers. 2) Oddly enough, Twilight is considered a children's book (I plan on reading it for my class.) However, every book after that is also considered too mature. 3) I recently heard about a book dealing with a pair of gay penguins that is being read... to kindergardeners! I can't really think of any other examples, but what do you guys think about this stuff? Just how young should a child be allowed to read some of these books? (Especially number three) And when it comes to series like Harry Potter and Twilight, should they even be allowed at school even though some of the latter books are considered too mature? Would YOU let your kids read these books? This is purely discussion. Feel free to add anything if I forget it.
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:11 pm
I guess I should put my own response. I think if a book series starts out okay, then becomes too mature, it should not be allowed in an elementary school library. Because let's face it: if I read the first book and like, I want to read every book that follows. So, either have the whole series there, or none at all for me. If my kids want to read the Harry Potter series, I'll get it for them, but only if a) if it's rated teen, they have to wait until they are a teen, or at least close to the age. (about 1, maybe even 2 years off) and b) they realise that it's a fiction book, and if they did some of the stupid stuff in there, they are going to be in big trouble. As for the gay penguin book.... what the heck were they thinking? (I don't think it's everywhere in the US, but still, it's surprising to me) Most kids don't even know what gay is, and there's probably lots of parents out there would not want their kids reading anything like that. I consider gay issues in connection with sex ed: only for older kids, and only allowed if the parents agree to it. The birds and the bees talk and all things with it is something the parents should be dealing with, not the teachers. HOWEVER, I think it's alright to have books where a child figure is being raised by two men or two women. Because there are plenty of people like that: sisters helping sisters, brothers and brothers... moms and daughters, ect. Just like there are married couples and single parents. They should be taught that it's ok to have two guardians of the same gender, but not gay rights. They're too young. Anyway, I'm about asleep, so I'll check on this tommorrow. Night everyone. rofl
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 12:11 am
I don't think Twilight should be read to elementary school children.
I'm anti-Twilight.
And yes, the first is the most innocent of the series, but I still don't think it's appropriate for children.
But my opinion on Twilight is biased since I'm an anti
I remember reading Harry Potter as a child and I would say it is okay
But then I realized when I was reading Harry Potter
For my generation, senior in high school now, I basically grew up with Harry Potter.
The first books are very good for a second to fourth grade level.
And as the books were released they slowly became more mature
But that audience reading them in the third grade, when I read the first one, were growing more mature as well.
So by the time the last ones were coming out, I was a sophomore in high school and was able to handle the more mature content of the latter books.
I guess that up until about... three or four you could read them to smaller children, second grade.
(You could read the latter ones but I'd leave that to the parents to decide.)
As for the gay penguins, I'd have to read the book to say.
I'd heard of it and that people were outraged.
But I want to know the content of this book before I formulate an opinion.
From what you're saying, I think that a book where the child is being raised by two parents of the same gender, I'm perfectly alright with that.
It's becoming more common so children should know that it's not someone to be ashamed of.
But if the book is about gay rights, I assume from what you said, then I think elementary school is a tad too young for that.
If I were to have children, I would let them read Harry Potter.
But introduce the series to them when they're maybe in fourth or fifth grade so that when they get to the more serious books they aren't so young.
(I'd probably read it with them too because Harry Potter is a fun series)
As for Twilight, I would allow them to read it probably in middle school.
That's the age it would amuse them, I read it freshman year and my reading level had long passed it so it was kind of boring.
But I would discuss the book with them, see what they think of it.
Discuss with them the more mature issues in it.
Let them know I'm anti-Twilight so my opinions on the book will be biased but tell them the logical reasons why I don't think the book is good other than "SMeyer is dumb"
I still want to read the gay penguin book before I say but if it's just about a penguin with two daddys then they can read it in kindergarten as long as they don't tell me I should be a man so they can have two daddys.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:31 pm
I honestly think the whole Harry Potter series is fine for kindergardeners.
In my experience adults tend too think kids are waaaaay more sensetive then they really are.
Kids have been surviving the Grimm fairytales for wuite some time now
and Harry Potter is in no way as brutal as those.
but at the same time I think it should be to the parents themselfs too decide if they wanted their children to read the more recent books
and therefor no.
They most likely should not be read to kindergardeners
(because parents today are so freaking sensitive.)
The Twillight series however?
I would not read this too kids quite honestly,
and no, it's not because I personaly think it's badly written since when reading too kids it shouldnt be about what you enjoy but what they enjoy
but honestly more because such a big part of that book is sexual frustratioooooon. And when I say big part I kinda mean the whole series what with it being a romance book.
And honestly, even if some of the more girly girls in the class would enjoy it
most of the boys and girls would propobly be suffering every minute of the whole "I love him and he's so handsome and epic romance and omg he watches me sleep and oh dear they are like sooo fighting over me because I'm so perfect but yet so plain and lets get married and have babies."
Since honestly. Most kindergardeners are just not that much into romance.
(plus some parts of that books are amasingly sexists. Bouth towards guys and girls. But that's just my personal opinion and if anyone here enjoy the books I'm not trying too offend you or your taste.)
I would not want my own children reading this at such a young age.
Since again.
Sexual frustratiooooon.
More of teen kinda book in my opinion (god knows I would have fallen asleep over it as a child, I was not a big romance fan nore was the rest of my class if I remember correctly.)
The gay penguins?
I think I saw the book once,
looked like it was just about that it's alright too have two parental figures of the same sex.
But I read alot about people freaking out about it being aimed at turning young kids gay?
Which I found rather silly.
Since honestly.
Reading a book about gay penguins is not going too turn your kid gay
just like a fairytale with a prince and a princess in love is going too turn your kid straight.
But yes, that book would cause all sort of trouple for teachers if they tried reading it so I say leave it be for now.
But I wouldnt hesitate reading it to my own children
since I would want any offspring of mine too understand that there is nothing wierd or wrong about being gay.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 3:23 pm
I have yet to read Twilight, so I'm not a really good source about it. (Though certainly, I plan on it, since it will count as part of my class project.) As for the gay penguins, again, if it's about gay rights, no. Don't let the kids read it. If it's to show that it's ok to have parents of the same sex, then fine. That's perfect. Again, there's all sorts of parental figures out there. Like grandma helping mom, dad helping his brother, single parents, straight couples married for years, gay couples for just as long, or, in my case, raised by a mom and grandparents, and recently finding out about 8 little siblings, with three different mommies and one dad. (In total, 3 that raised me, and 4 parental figure i had never met. lol) The Harry Potter series is based off a child who goes to a wizard school for... seven years i think? so obviously, with every new year, there's going to be more mature situations, but again, I would rather prefer to let my children read the whole series at the same time, and so, I would prefer them to read it later on say in middle school, not elementary. (I don't know if other places are like this, but my school system recently changed its system so 7th grade goes to elementary, 9th grade is considered junior high, and then high school only deals with 10-12. I would allow my own kids to read Harry Potter if they were in 7th grade, but when I teach, I probably won't even touch the book for my class.)
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 3:38 pm
That sounds like a good plan,
and yes. Your plan on the HP sounds decent,
since when taking care of other peoples children on cant be quite as free as with ones own kids.
Like when my mom was babysitting she always made sure anything the kids watched was very child apropriate, Donald Duck and such,
but with me she though most horror movies were perfectly fine since she knew I could handle them.
But with a group you always have too make sure the most sensitive kids are not getting freaked out.
And that is precicely why I would never be able too teach and babysit young children.
(although it might also be why so many kids seem too absolutely love hanging around me, I honestly never remember to cencor myself infront of children >.>)
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Moonlight_HuangHou Captain
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 5:40 pm
Wow wow!! Interesting! I had no idea about any of those.
Harry Potter I've never read but from what I heard it doesn't seem like a bad book and actually seems like it would fit that of a kid (fairytale?) and up kind of book.
Twilight (laughs historically). Seriously? There is no way this is a child book. Everything Zizzy and klikkhaus said is true. This is all about romance and some parts are sexist while the whole book sounded like her sex fantasy book... I admit I read the first thought it was OK and read the 2nd and thought it was horrible and stopped after one page of the third....So I'll say that I'm anti-twilight but I read enough to be able to say it's not a kids book but a teenage book and shouldn't be read to little kids. Plus...I don't think a kindergardener would be that interested in romance books to top it off. Wouldn't that put them to sleep. If we want to introduce vampires let's stick to classics also.....
Gay Penguins? I haven't heard of this and so I'm oblivious to it. But I'm with klikkhaus again. What makes parent's think that reading a book of two gay penguins will turn your kid gay? Actually doesn't that help kids who have gay parent's adapt more into society as "normal"? So other kids understand it's fine? But at the moment...it might be something like...teachers not being able to say weather they're a republican or democrat in school...
..... But still.....it makes kids open minded unlike closed minded adults. Thinking of racial issues....younger and current generations are most likely open minded unlike elder generation adults who can be racial.....
I know it's being prejudiced and not racist but I mean it's an example of change and understanding....
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:15 pm
But if you think about it, prejudice and racism pretty much go hand in hand. In both situations, it deals with discriminating someone simply for the fact that they are different. My opinion is that kids should read books about all sorts of cultures and familes, but they don't need to be really controversial just to grab the public's attention. There's plenty of good books out there that teach "Love everyone no matter what they look like." And they don't involve Vampires and Werewolves fighting for a human chic just to get laid. xp @Moonlight: LOL, yeah I laughed at the Twilight thing, too, but I think it's more towards fourth and fifth grade, not kindergarden. I think I'd throw a fit if they had a book like that in the kindergardener section. @Klikk: Kids love people that behave like a rebel. I used to play wrestle with a bunch of little tykes while in high school. (Our bus schedule was weird, and we rode three buses a day sweatdrop ) They loved being able to hit one of the bigger kids and not get in trouble. lol. I don't think I've ever cussed in front of them, though. My friends usually did, though. rofl
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