Recently my youngest daughter (9) found book number 1 of the “Series of Unfortunate Events” in my oldest daughter’s (12) room. She read it and immediately fell in love with the book. She is not a very strong reader, so I encouraged her love of the book. Once she finished it, she told me she was going to find the 2nd book at the library during her next visit at school.
The next day I received a very bummed out 4th grader off the school bus. As she was telling me about her day, she said the library WOULD NOT let her check out the next book in the Series of Unfortunate Events. Apparently she is on a 4th grade reading level, and the book is a 5th grade reading level book, so they would not let her check it out to read.
This was appaling to me. The child was excited to read a story. She was denied access to the book because they don’t think she’s a strong enough reader… WAIT… WHAT? If she’s on a 4th grade reading level, and you only ever allow her to read 4th grade and below books… how does she get better? Not only that, she went into the library searching for a book, which means she was excited to read it. You…. LEARNING CENTER…. DENIED her! Told her to go pick a different book.
I am very liberal in my children’s reading. I’ve never denied them access to a book they wanted to read. Granted they aren’t reading Harlequinn romance novels or Satanic practices, but I’ve never denied them a book they’ve requested. I damn sure wasn’t about to start now. I went to Amazon and ordered her the next book in the set. It was delivered yesterday, and a very ecstatic 4th grader ran to her room to cuddle up with her new treasure.
To deny a child a book is pure insanity to me. Then they stand around wondering why everyone’s reading levels are so low to begin with. Challenge them. Show them the world of books.
Was I out of line? Do you think that children should have to remain in their reading levels when they check out books?
Provide your children with opportunities to learn and excel??? Now WHY would a SCHOOL want to do THAT???!!! That would mean we can’t keep them in their little cookie-cutter molds. We would not be able to keep them as mindless automatons… How HORRIBLE!!! {end sarcasm}
You did well, JM!
Sid it was kind of humorous looking back on it, I pretty much freaked out over this. I couldn’t believe that would deny her a book. I don’t remember ever being told no in the library. That’s supposed to be your one little place you can go… that provides you an OPEN WORLD.
No Jeanna, you are not of of line. AT. ALL!!! WTF is wrong with the folks at the school’s library? And who in the hell thinks they really know how to measure what a 4th grade reading level is? And why in the hell do they think it is a bad idea to stretch to a higher level? Not only is this absurd, but this is maddening!
Good for you on getting her the book, though it still torques me that someone is acting like gatekeeper on what books can be checked out. Gaaaaa!!!!
Agreed! How in the world is it decided what is a 4th grade reading book and a 5th grade reading level book. I mean you don’t learn that MANY words between 4th and 5th grade that would drastically impact reading a book that much. Which is all regardless anyway, if the kid wanted to stumble her way through WAR AND PEACE… and the library has it, then by all means, it should be hers for her little 2 week period to pour herself over.
Sounds pretty much like Obama’s socialist agenda and all unions. Encourage mediocrity.
Exactly! That’s exactly how I viewed it. They were telling her in a round about way that she didn’t have the ability to read the book, to go find one she could.
I think it’s totally crazy…. If a child has to remain at a level determined by society we would never have had great minds in this world…. They clearly did not read or ‘perform’at their level…. My motto is to encourage my child to do perform at a level she is most comfortable with….. BTW… You don’t hear of this in India too much… We’re always encouraging people to perform beyond ‘their’ level
I completely agree. I was so excited when she picked up the book to start with, because she’s not a very strong reader, which means, if she finds something she enjoys reading… we should be encouraging that! Not denying it! I could not believe an educating “source” would deny education.
Absolutely not! When I was in elementary school, I was told that I had comprehension issues for years. The reality was that I wasn’t interested in the material they wanted me to read, and we would read prompts that had no relevancy to what we were learning. When I was 8, the first novel I read was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which is at least a 5th grade (sometimes considered 7th grade) reading level. I understood it fine for my age and Mark Twain became one of my favorite authors and I went on to become an avid reader. I don’t think kids should be denied an opportunity to pursue their interests, especially something as simple as reading a book.
Yes! This is my thought exactly! If she really enjoys these books, they could be the start of a very avid little reader! It could help her read better and to read more often. Thank you so much for your comment, I feel very justified in buying her the new book!
I’ve read the entire SoUE collection. These books are designed to teach children new words and new ways of thinking about the world. And they’re fun. I don’t know how the schools decide the reading level, but one reason it’s a 5th grade reading level might be that they are a little dark, but the whole point is that the children overcome the obstacles.
When my oldest entered the public school system some 11 years ago, I had to stumble into the world of this kind of dictatorship. It’s usually mostly led by the very frustrating “AR” program. I felt that no matter what situation my child was in, the program, rather than helping kids, ended up locking them into a box. Whatever happened to just reading what you enjoy? Either my child couldn’t read too far up, or she couldn’t read anything “down”, either. Gaaaahhhh. I suppose in a way, we just circumvent this by going to the city library or my own very ample home library and letting my kids read anything they want to, but at the same time, they HAVE to pick something out at the school library at certain times, too, so they’re still stuck there. I’ll also add that this happens everywhere, as we’ve lived in Alabama and California, and I’ve heard about it from friends all over. But it also differs in severity depending on where you are too, because different schools and systems use the AR program or similar strictures in varying ways and amounts.
Our schools use the AR program as well, and I agree it does create boxes around children. When they began learning to read everything was based on sight words… instead of learning phonics. If you learn to read based solely on the sight of words, kids are constantly mixing up words and letters as they try to read quickly. I’ve been very disappointed in the reading programs and we do indeed have a very large library for them at home, because I feel like they should be challenged in their reading, and enjoy it as well. No matter what book they pick up. If Cat in the Hat is their favorite all time book, so be it. I just feel that limiting them in their “education source” is idiocracy at its finest.
Yep. Education absolutely makes me crazy. This is just one little aspect of it. I’ve learned that I have to step in a lot to be sure my four kids are getting educated, as well as giving them lots of informal, supplemental education. Obviously, that’s part of my job as a parent, but the school system and federal rules and all that stuff actually make my job more difficult, not easier. I figure I’ve basically taught my kids to read at home as we read together and sound things out, and the school has been backup. My 14-year-old, who has Down syndrome, is even a great reader and can sound out anything because of what we’ve done at home.
Not out of line at all! Always encourage reading I say!
One would think the school system would be on board with that theory!
I agree!
There’s nothing wrong with what the school is doing. This is the perfect example of how we should be teaching our youth that to reach over your head or dare to dream of being more than we are or for that matter, simply want something other than what we have (scratch “have,” that should read “given to us”) is not only absurd but not (GOD DAMN I hate this word) “allowed.”
There has, at no time in our history, been any advancement in society or inclusions to the history books…that were brought about by or pertaining to…..those who took from the shelf they were supposed to. If I were you, I would do the unthinkable. I would have sent her back to school with my permission to take the book whether she was allowed to, or not. Aside from an education, there is nothing else on Earth that is acceptable for someone to take without it being considered “stealing.” An education has never been considered “a given.” If an organization operating under the pretentious guise of a “school system” denies a child more than what they deem the child “capable” of handling, they are not providing an education. They are providing a day care.
By George, I believe I agree on parts of this Frank? An education should not have limitations determined by someone other than self. I think the lesson Faith will ultimately receive from all of this, is to see the backbone in her mother and realize the marrow that is in her own bones. To stand up and say OH BUT I CAN. You have shown her that someone telling us NO isn’t always the end of the trail. Yes your issue with the school is valid, but your lesson to Faith was,that there are more ways than one to skin a cat. She has the book and is enjoying it! I say GO MOM!!! You have taught her, that when you believe your right, don’t stop.
My second son was reading by age four. When he was six, nearly seven, his teacher came to me excitedly declaring that he was now “reading” and showed me the very basic books he was reading at school. The next day I showed her the advanced children’s encyclopaedias he was reading at home. She was awestruck. Long story shortened …. he was finding it really difficult “reading” the books at school as he was far past that level and he struggled to do it in the way that was expected of him (by sounding the words out, letter by letter) so the teacher thought he was only at that level. Always, always, always trust your own maternal / paternal instincts on what your child is capable of.
I think children should be encouraged to read & if they enjoy reading something they should not be denied access. It’s good you got her the next book – I would have gone for the whole series & gotten a deal.
Stupidest thing a library and librarian could do. A child WANTS to read and they say no. My grade 3 comes home with books that are a stretch at times and the librarian at school encourages it. She did the same with my now grade 8 child and he is an insatiable reader.
No overreaction on your part at all.
Well I’m from the UK, not that that makes much difference. The whole situation is beyond ridiculous and sounds like something out of a comedy sketch. People get so locked in to “rules” and “guidlelines” that they seem to lose all sight of common sense. Having a kid that wants to read and then saying “No”. I’m just shaking my head over here.
Good call, Jeanna. That policy is insane. Haven’t they ever heard of challenging a kid or encouraging a child when they show an interest in something? Your daughters are fortunate to have such a progressive and rational mother.