A parent has expressed concerns about a secondary school’s decision, accusing them of ‘indoctrination’ after discovering that 14-year-old students were required to read a book that purportedly ‘criticizes them for their white skin’.
James Farquharson, 53, alleges that students are undergoing ‘indoctrination’ following the inclusion of the novel, The Hate U Give, in the Year 10 reading syllabus at Budmouth Academy in Weymouth, Dorset.
He argues that the book, now removed from the reading list, ‘advocates biased political views’ and causes some students to feel uncomfortable about their racial identity.
Additionally, he criticized the school for its perceived hypocrisy, maintaining a strict no-swearing policy while the book contains numerous expletives, including the F-word, which appears 89 times.
Mr Farquharson said he has also questioned the appropriateness of another book that was being read out aloud by children aged 12.
Farquharson also raised concerns over another book, Pigeon English, which he claimed explores sexual content, such as female masturbation, inappropriately, and deemed it ‘disturbing’, raising safeguarding issues for young readers.
The books are part of the Drop Everything and Reach (DEAR) initiative which aims to get people to read for a short period everyday.
Mr Farquharson has now written to the headteacher at Budmouth Academy seeking an urgent review of the titles on the school’s reading list.
James Farquharson maintains that students are being ‘indoctrinated’ after the novel, The Hate U Give, was included in the Year 10 reading agenda at Budmouth Academy in Weymouth, Dorset.
He said it is not about banning books but about giving students access to books that are appropriate for their age.
He said: ‘I found out about this last week when my 14-year-old daughter said she and her peers were having to read (The Hate U Give) out aloud.
‘She felt embarrassed and uncomfortable about it.
‘I looked through it and read the first 150 pages and thought “really?”.
‘It is full of bad language, it normalises sex and drugs, and is centred on identity politics, namely race, which blames her for her white skin.
‘It is divisive and is centred on issues of blackness and whiteness.
‘The school shouldn’t be addressing political issues with students unless they are going to balance it with the counter-arguments.
‘It is neo-Marxism being slipped into our children’s minds, not by outright political lectures but via fiction.
‘It is being incubated in their minds that there are goodies and baddies who in this case are the white kids.’
Addressing the book Pigeon English, which his Year 8 daughter is reading, he said: ‘It contains themes and language that one would hope 12-year-old kids wouldn’t be taught in school.
‘A 12-year-old reading out passages about female masturbation is a massive safeguarding red flag.’
Mr Farquharson, a media and communications manager, said other parents at the school have also raised concerns and complaints about the reading material.
Parent Vicki Burgoyne posted: ‘Why are we making our future generations read such tripe?
‘We need to educate and broaden their minds not shrink them with street slang and brain dead literature to shock them.
‘Why are we trying to shock kids by giving them such things to think about. It’s really sad. No wonder child mental health, self harm and suicide is at an all time high if this is what’s filling there heads.’
Mr Farquharson has now written to the headteacher at Budmouth Academy seeking an urgent review of the titles on the school’s reading list
The Hate U Give is a critically-acclaimed coming-of-age novel by American author Angie Thomas.
It addresses racism and stereotypes surrounding black youths and the protection of white communities.
But not everyone is against it being taught in schools.
One parent posted on social media: ‘This has been part of the school curriculum for a number of years now.
‘Rather than being offended by it (which is understandable) some consideration also needs to be given to what its trying to challenge and how it wants to provoke thought processes.
‘This is nothing new in this line of literature.
‘If taught correctly this book is a powerful tool to provoke deeper analysis and understanding of the issues that arise in pop culture today.’
A spokesperson for Budmouth Academy told the Daily Mail: ‘Following a review of our Year 10 reading list, we have taken the decision to remove The Hate U Give.
‘We acknowledge that the novel raises important themes and is promoted as appropriate for readers that are aged 14+.
‘However, after careful consideration, we have decided that there are alternative texts that raise similar themes which are better suited to our students in Year 10.
‘A second book, Pigeon English, is under review but is likely to remain on the curriculum, as it is a prescribed text for GCSE English Literature by the exam boards.’
