In the past, dashing through school corridors during breaks was typical, with educators frequently advising students to sit down and read. Many of us might remember yielding to this advice…
Fast forward to today, the narrative has changed. It’s now not rare to see school officials encouraging children to engage in physical activity during breaks. In fact, some teachers have been known to take books away from students engrossed in reading.
Such an incident occurred with a young girl named Cleo, as shared by her parent on Reddit. Cleo, an 11-year-old in the 5th grade with ADHD, has faced challenges in making friends due to past bullying experiences, finding comfort in books instead.
“Cleo has ADHD and faced bullying in 3rd and 4th grade. While things improved by 5th grade, she still struggles to connect with her peers. She often spends recess reading alone. Although we’re not overly concerned, her teacher mentioned this to us, to which we explained that Cleo is very social and active outside of school,” the parent mentioned.
Cleo’s passion for reading was put to the test when her book was taken away during recess. Upset and worried about her mother’s response, Cleo returned home distressed, leading her father to step in. Reassuring Cleo that she had done nothing wrong, he confronted the teacher, asking for the return of her book and questioning the teacher’s decision.
“I took Cleo to school early the next day and asked the teacher for the book. She complied but tried to justify her actions. I firmly told her she had overstepped her boundaries. Recess is free time, and there’s no rule forcing Cleo to engage in physical activity. We’ve never expressed concerns about her activities during recess,” the father recounted.
He continued: “The teacher argued that she had the right to set boundaries for her class. I reminded her that recess is free time, not a structured class. After a heated discussion, I informed her I’d be discussing the matter with the principal.”
Despite the father’s strong stance, his actions became a topic of discussion among faculty, including his cousin who also teaches at the school. Despite the backlash, the parents believed they were right to advocate for their daughter, especially given their upcoming move from the school.
Many Reddit users weighed in on the situation, overwhelmingly supporting the father’s actions.
One commented: “How can a teacher discourage reading and still call herself a teacher????”
Another said: “Why teach if you discourage children from reading in their leisure time? The only time a teacher complained about my reading was when I was ahead of the class in reading The Scarlet Letter during junior year.”
Another user added: “You supported your child and let her know you’re on her side. You taught her that it’s okay to be herself and spend her free time as she wishes. That’s a powerful message, regardless of what others in the school think.”
What would you do if faced with a similar situation? Share your thoughts below!
