*UPDATE*
Encouraged by you fine people, I called the school this afternoon. The kids finish at 12:30 on a Friday so it's a grand chance to get a teacher on the other end of the phone.

I got through to the head of English and, give him his due, he was absolutely appalled! Nay, horrified. He taught my daughter last year, and in between grovelling apologies, stated that she can read whatever she likes as she already reads at an adult level. This is not a child with literacy problems (litter problems, in her room at least, but that's another story for another time) and he agreed that "words need to be had".

The teacher concerned is on probation and hasn't exactly got off to a flying start with a complaint in the first week.

I have been assured that what they call leisure reading is highly encouraged by the school and by the English dept in particular, and that there is no such thing as "the wrong books" in their opinion. The HoD also confirmed he would speak to the class as a whole to ensure they are in no doubt about this.

Cost of a rant on b3ta? Minimal
Cost of a local rate telephone call? 5p?
Satisfaction of knowing the prat's arse is being thoroughly kicked? Priceless!
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Fri 22 Aug 2008, 16:35, Reply)