The View From Saturday

Phil Colins made a bad song

On page 2 “Both maxwell boys’ voices had deepened and the girls displayed lacy bra straps inside their T-shirt necklines. The fact the necklines were outsized and the two pairs of straps matched—they were apricot-colored—made Mrs. Olinski believe that they were not making a fashion statement as much as they were trying to say something. To her sixth grader puberty was something they could spell and define but had yet to experience” UMM what? Why is a teacher talking about students (8th graders) bras and what they may be suggesting by the straps showing.. this is grooming. This is telling a child it’s normal for my teacher to notice my underwear and think I’m suggesting something with it. Not only is it so common it’s in a book it’s in a school approved book so it must be ok. page 8 says grandma Sadie said “Nathan, how can you stand playing the same piece over and over again?” And grandpa Nate answered “why don’t you ask me how I can stand making love to the same woman over and over again?” This book online says for 4th-6th grade.. I don’t think and 8 year old over any aged child needs to have the image of grandpa unhappily having sex with grandma in their head. The negative tone is also not reinforcing a healthy relationship. Page 17 says “even before izzy stopped kissing the bride I knew what I could do. (Fact: it was a long and thorough kiss)” again it’s suggestive imagery for a child to imagine what a long and thorough kiss may be.. I know I’m my mind I saw a couple French kissing. I stopped reading because this was enough for me to choose not to allow my child to read farther.. it concerns me if this is on page 2,8 and 17 what will be on farther pages.. I read it cusses and uses slurs as well but I didn’t read and find them. This book is in the 9-11 grade curriculum from Moving Beyond the Page. I do not think any sexual content belongs in a child’s curriculum. If someone want to buy it for their child knowing the content fine but it shouldn’t be being used in public schools and it is. How far is too far. Not all children are ready for talk like this at 8,9,10 or beyond. The problem isn’t the kids who are ready it’s the kids who aren’t and are having it forced on them in school. Many parents have no idea what their kids are reading in class. So to protect families moral values we shouldn’t allow sexual content in LA class.