Adults - Why so much morbidity assigned to 6th & 7th Grade Readers?

My grand kids are going through this stage now. Everything is dark witches, wizards, vampires and bogeymen and death of all kinds. It gets worse, they go next through the addiction themed novels when they get to high school. Both are hard to take seriously as the focus is so over the top, insincere and dramatic.

My take on this is the need for empathy at this very self-centered stage of development called adolescence combined with the modern experience of the current generations expanding brain usage and decreasing self-awareness. As a parent, you are aware that self-centered and lack of self-awareness are not mutually exclusive in teens and preteens. Maturity will cure that.

In looking at your list, the entire list strikes me as accounts soliciting empathy for the burdens of others. It may simply be that Death would be the most universal affliction. The next on the list from racism, to war, to gender brutality and the rest do not pale in pain, but lessen in experience. Just my two cents.

Morbid? Are you sure that's the right word? The things that I've had to read in sixth and seventh grade aren't all that morbid (even if the novels contain some of these themes.) I've read pleny of things that are more mature and contain more adult themes than what has been assigned to me in sixth and seventh grade.

The bottom line is were becoming teenagers and I feel that the school do this as a way to let these kids who are growing about at these things. So they can be aware.

You can't and shouldn't hide these things from kids just because of their grade level.

They need to know about these things to know that it does happen and to prepare them for what goes on in the real world.

Some parents don't talk to their children about these things and maybe you just feel it's morbid when others would feel it isn't

And I wouldn't say they assign so much morbidity. The term banned book is called banned for a reason. Schools and libraries in certain counties have outlawed certain books from the school systems with minmal reasoning. Novels such as classics (To Kill a Mocking Bird, Dracula, etc.) have been banned in some places.

Even the works of authors that write books for teens about facing the challenges of growing up are banned(Are you there God? It's Me Margaret, The Pigman, The Chocolate War, etc.)

I wouldn't call it morbid or anything of that such. So you think sixth and seventh graders aren't mature enough? Many of them can handle novels like that. If you think sixth and seventh graders aren't ready for novels like that then what about eighth - twelveth grade. 8th - 12th may be older but that doesn't nessarily mean certain individuals in those levels are more emotionally mature that a sixth grader. You have to take that into account to.

Dunno if I'm considered an adult in your eyes (I'm three months from 20, and I've been acting as an extra parent to my sister for the past four years), but here goes anyway.

Because the world sucks.

Because kids are growing up sooner and sooner in a world that is growing increasingly worse. Because there's less of a taboo about death and suicide and violence. Back in the old days, these were things that were Not Mentioned, Ever, Save The Children. Nowadays, it's discussed. And that's a good thing.

Personally I think the world is getting too sanitized. I compare the TV shows and books I grew up with and the ones my sister--born a decade later--is growing up with. It's a little bit of a shock.

Besides, what do you want your kids to read? Unicorn Rainbow Happy Field? And I doubt the teachers are going to make your kids read books with heavy issues without discussing said issues.

i think of your writing potential some distance surpasses a 6th grader's. different than for some lacking commas and punctuation marks, and one misspelling this is probable in basic terms a typo, you're sturdy to bypass. Why is it that your writing point is so some distance above your examining? ought to dyslexia or another gaining awareness of incapacity account to your undesirable rankings at examining comprehension? i'm unsure what supplies are available in for adults with undiagnosed gaining awareness of disabilities. yet i could ask a doctor to refer you to a psychologist or different expert which could diagnose gaining awareness of disabilities. What a not ordinary question you're asking. in case you could believe the pundits, an person with in basic terms a 6th grade examining point does not have the potential to earn distinct money, so no, i assume i does not pay for Sylvan classes. And being that my income could probable be very low, i don't think of all of us could be keen to lend me the money, the two. i actually desire you get the help you want. on the off probability you reside in Hawaii, i could be greater desirable than happy to attempt and coach you. I want you fulfillment on your experience.

A lot of what children are exposed to is a sugar-coated view of the real thing. Kids movies (Disney movies in particular) tend to avoid any theme of death or dying because it tends to frighten viewers. Children should not recieve a sugar-coated view of the world! If Disney wants to turn to notches down on death, why bother putting death in your films? Children need a realistic portrayal of death (a part of life that everyone experiences) and other seemingly morbid subjects so they can be prepared.

That age group is developmentally reaching the stage when they begin to truly understand death and it's emotional impact. It is also the age when many of them who are predisposed to it begin to display mood and emotional difficulties and suicidal tendencies. Through literature and discussion topics, young teens can begin to explore the topics more deeply while in a "safe" environment with adults who can guide them and answer questions.

In all honesty, once you see the basic themes in most high school reading lists, you will wonder why you worried about death as a prevalent theme in sixth and seventh grade reading.

quite frankly, most classic literature is rather dark, as great writing tends to showcase elements of society that influenced the authors-either that occured to them or they have witnessed in the world they live in. literature in general is about the struggles of humanity, be it over death, sexuality, unrequited love, or the need for attention. schools are trying to introduce middle school kids to often heavy themes of classic literature without suddenly sending them into shock with the average "darkness" of these works. students must start somewhere, because jumping from something like the magic treehouse books to crime and punishment would overwhelm the kids. great writing is morbid, it is dark, and it isn't going to sugarcoat the world because some 21st century parents are concerned about, gasp, letting their kids know what actually goes on in the world.

as i said earlier, relax on this "morbid" literature thing, because most high school reading lists are full of sex-ridden (brave new world, 1984, even undertones in romeo and juliet), violence-ridden (hamlet, crime and punishment), and drug-ridden (one flew over the cuckoo's nest) novels. and furthermore, very few of these novels are "happy" reading. while "pride and prejudice", may be an exception, take note of the quintessential american novels, like "grapes of wrath", "the great gatsby", and "the scarlet letter", all of which deal with (very) depressed characters unable to fix their lives.

by the way...this comes from someone still in high school. being as exposed to this literature as much as i am, i figured that i wouldn't just "pass on responding". many students have more of an idea as to why we read what we do than our parents know. try asking your child why he/she is reading the books you don't like. the answer might surprise you.

I think hun, you are one noisy mother. This is how i see it. If they didnt learn about Death, dying, suicide and murder at school how else are they supposed to be aware of it when they are older. My child went to school with a girl whose mother would not let her read to kill a mocking bird. And this girl was 15 and in 9th grade. you've got to let the schools do their work, how else is your child going to learn?

Would you care to be a bit more specific here and tell us which books you're referring to?

This is far too vague to give an appropriate answer.