Is it right for a child's books to be burnt? If yes under what cicumstance?
By jessieBee
@jessieBee (1046)
Trinidad And Tobago
May 10, 2008 10:22am CST
My fellow mylot users i must say this morning i felt very hurt. Today I was walking down my street and noticed my neighbors six year old daughter crying when i asked here what 's the matter she told me her drunk mother burnt all her story books. Why did she burn her books, because she did not wash the dirty dishes, cause she was too busy reading. I told her mother that she was stupid, she said books were stupid. Is this what our society is turning too? Are we as fellow readers to sit back and ignore such actions? Are books no longer seen as important in the home? Have you had a similar experience like this before or known someone who has? Are parents setting a good example in the home when it comes to reading?
What are your opinions on this?
7 people like this
8 responses
@grammasnook (1871)
• United States
11 May 08
This is ashame. I agree I would really worry about other types of abuse. If I were there I would have called child services just to make sure that child is safe. We all need to do our share to make sure the children are well taken care of.
3 people like this
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
11 May 08
thats exactly what i was thinking! if the mother was so drunk as to burn ALL the childs books, then getting violent certainly isnt far off, if it hasnt already happened. the "smack" didnt work, so she burned the books..type of thing.
i agree, definatly have child services check in on that poor little girl. a child who loves to read, should be encouraged to continue reading, it will only serve her well in life.
@jessieBee (1046)
• Trinidad And Tobago
24 May 08
well child service doesn't really do anything where i live so they would just be a waste of time. Only if the child bared marks of abuse then they'll do something.
@shewolf52002 (1214)
• United States
11 May 08
Ok first I would NEVER burn a book! I had trouble throwing one away that was totally against my beliefs. Book are almost sacred to me. But if she had thrown away her barbies because she was playing with them instead of doing her chores would we be so upset? Of course her being drunk is totally another issue. I have bagged all my childrens toys and locked them away for months because they would not clean their rooms. I couldnt burn them because they cost too much but I thought about it.
Again I could or would NEVER burn a book my childs or anyother!
3 people like this
@jessieBee (1046)
• Trinidad And Tobago
24 May 08
yes burning books for no particular reason is just wrong. There are so many children out there that can't get or afford a book to read. The whole thing was pointless.
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
10 May 08
Honestly I keep trying to get my girls to read more and I cant. I cant believe that a mom would burn books because a 6yr old wouldent do dishes. To be honest in mu opnion a 6yr old shouldent have to do an important job like that. All she should have to do is keep her room clean and make shure her homework is done. If my daughter got distracted from her chores because she was reading I wouldent burn the books I would just temporarly take them away untill the chores are done then I would give them back not burn them.
3 people like this
@jessieBee (1046)
• Trinidad And Tobago
24 May 08
I agree fully with you. A six year old responsible for washing wares is ridiculous, but keep in mind that the mother was drunk when she burnt her books,not everyone can have a loving mother like you.
@Celanith (2327)
• United States
10 May 08
The only time I would burn any book worth reading is if it were so damaged torn, dirty, or water logged there was no recovery of it. I have done that. The children once left 5 story books outdoors and it rained and 3 of the books were so bad there was no way to recovery. But to burn just because is plain wrong, hurtful and stupid and borders on abusive.
@jessieBee (1046)
• Trinidad And Tobago
24 May 08
Yes it is abusive and stupid,I believe she only did it to hurt the child, how sad.
@wooitsmolly (3613)
• United States
10 May 08
As far as my opinions on burning books, I think it is ridiculous. If the mother was so against having her child read then she should have given them to other children. Of course, she was drunk, so all bets are off. Honestly I would be more worried about what other kind of abuse might be going on in that house. It is obvious that the mother is emotionally abusing to her daughter...
@jessieBee (1046)
• Trinidad And Tobago
24 May 08
Not only is she abusing her daughter, but she herself is also being abused. By the child's step father.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
10 May 08
That is such a sad story, jessieBee. That poor child is likely to need her books to escape into in order to get away from the obvious emotional abuse in that house. Sadly, that is likely not the only abuse she is contending with.
3 people like this
@jessieBee (1046)
• Trinidad And Tobago
24 May 08
no it isn't pots. Her mother hit her along with her step father.
@kiiizu (1901)
• Estonia
11 May 08
I guess wooitsmolly is right - something is very, very wrong in this family!
Burning books alone is bad enough, in fact,it reminds me on what nazis and soviets did! But I'm afraid, there must be more bad things going on, you just don't know about. To have a drinking parent, and especially a drinking mother must be a nightmare for a child.
FE, to teach a 6 years old to wash dishes is great, to let her time to time to wash couple of plates is OK, but to FORCE her to wash all dishes - what mother this mother actually is???!!!
@jessieBee (1046)
• Trinidad And Tobago
24 May 08
She is a bad mother i will tell you that, because three day ago she was cursing that little girl.
@teison2 (5921)
• Norway
11 May 08
I do not agree with burning books at all. What is far worse in this case is that a 6 year olds mom was drunk and destroyed the childs belongings. Is this a one time thing? I would call socialservices. Parents should not have their kids around when they are drunk. Drunk parents punishing a child is even worse.
1 person likes this
@jessieBee (1046)
• Trinidad And Tobago
24 May 08
Child service doesn't really do anything, that's what really sucks.
