Harry Potter was banned from a school!!! What do you think of this (reason below)?

Question

According to a website that focuses on books that have been banned from schools:

The Gwinnett County, Ga. school
board (2006) rejected a parent's pleas to take Harry Potter
books out of school libraries, based on the claim they
promote witchcraft. The Georgia Board of Education ruled
December 14 that the parent had failed to prove her
contention that the series "promote[s] the Wicca religion,"
and therefore that the book's availability in public schools
does not constitute advocacy of a religion. On May 29,
2007, Superior Court judge Ronnie Batchelor upheld the
Georgia Board of Education's decision to support local
school officials. County school board members have said
the books are good tools to encourage children to read
and to spark creativity and imagination. Removed from the
St. Joseph School in Wakefield, Mass. (2007) because the
themes of witchcraft and sorcery were inappropriate for a
Catholic school.

I go to a catholic school, and my school encourages that we read things like Harry Potter- what do you think of the above reason ? ^

Answer 1

I am personally against any kind of censorship in literature.



I think it is the publisher's responsibility to advise distributors if a book is unsuitable for children because of its content, for example, I wouldn't recommend placing A Clockwork Orange in the children's books section. However, when it comes to teens and adults, people are free to read what they want. If they are moved or disgusted, then that's good - at least the book has provoked some reaction. If you don't like it, you can put it down.



Now, when it comes to school's it's a grey area because you have students young enough to be considered 'children' and therefore it's the school's responsibility to protect them from unsuitable works. However, older students may be asked to read challenging and controversial books to broaden their literary knowledge.



In this case, Harry Potter, especially the earlier books, are targeted for young people, including children. The reasons stated are insufficient. The evidence of witchcraft and sorcery is presented as fantasy, JK Rowling does not state that they are otherwise. You are always going to get people who attempt to imitate fiction, however, as this is going to be studied in English Literature rather than Religious Studies, there are no grounds for it affecting the religious beliefs of the students at that school.



I think this particular school has been unnecessary and extreme in its actions; and it's a well documented fact that if you ban a book then it's popularity immediately soars. :)

Answer 2

Almost at any time when you run throughout anyone who thinks the Harry Potter books are evil, they've now not learn the books. The characters rejoice Christian vacations akin to Christmas and Easter. It is a tale of well as opposed to evil. If it was once banned out of your tuition, I'm certain it was once for a few naive motive. The humans who banned it could have certain Harry Potter seeing that of its reputation, and could were too ignorant to detect that the library was once stacked with books like that.

Answer 3

The Catholic church has overall had a positive image of Harry Potter. But private religious schools can do what they want. They are entitled to decide what reading matter they think is appropriate for their students, and parents are entitled to decide for their children.



I do not equate this with censorship-- it is censorship when literature is withheld from society (like made illegal); not when parents/schools determine what is appropriate for kids. I mean, Lady Chatterly's Lover is a classic however I wouldn't expect to see it on grade school library shelves just because it is literature.



This woman in Georgia has been trying to get Potter books banned for like 10 years and has failed. I don't see the big deal-- even if schools removed it from the shelves kids would be borrowing it from friends or going to Borders or something for a copy. It's not like it is unattainable.



I have heard Christians say- have even read some big book on the subject- that Wiccans use Harry Potter as a tool for "recruiting."



I find this laughable as most Wiccans I know turn away people who come muttering about wanting to be like Harry Potter.



I actually challenge any Christian to find out for himself by asking an actual Wiccan coven if they can join because they want to be like Harry Potter... see the reaction you get. Go ahead, lol.

Answer 4

It's stupid. It makes no sense. Plenty of Catholics find nothing wrong with Harry Potter. It's only those who haven't read them. They have no understanding of what the books are about.

Answer 5

I think that would be a silly reason for Harry Potter to be removed from a school! For a start, they're not Wiccans in Harry Potter ^_^; Harry Potter has many wonderful, positive themes. I think it's a great thing for children to read. And even if the characters were Wiccans, what would it matter? D: I doubt all of the children who read it will become Wiccans. And even if some of the children who read it did decide to become Wiccans, what would it matter? Some people who read the bible become christians, should we ban that too? :)

Answer 6

Its the parents. Some of them are, well, CRAZY. They think Harry Potter will have their child practising witchcraft or something just as stupid. They need a life and a brain.

Answer 7

I think the only book that children should be allowed to read is the Bible. Everything else is loaded with objectionable material like incest, genocide, murder, blood sacrifice, and oooh magic like talking snakes and walking on water. OOPS. (Looks sheepish. Puts hand over mouth. Ducks quickly out of the room before anybody has a chance to start thinking about what's just been said)

Answer 8

I think if my children's private school did anything so narrow-minded they'd no longer have my children as pupils.



Catholic school in the US = parents pay to send their kids there, right? Their loss. I wouldn't pay them any fees.



I'm a bit confused, though. Your article seems to say that the appeals all sided with the schools, not the parent who wanted it removed.



Edit: Son of the Sea God's answer is nonsense. I'm not aware of _any_ UK schools where it has been banned (though it's possible that some private religious schools might have done so). It certainly isn't banned in most of them - it started out as a specific publication for UK school libraries, for goodness sake!

Answer 9

You should look into the schools in the UK, most have banned HP (I know my old school banned the books way back in 2005)

Answer 10

As a former wiccan I can tell you there's nothing about wicca in Harry Potter. It's all fantasy.



I think any institution that tells you what you should and shouldn't do with your spare time is ridiculous; barring illegal things of course.

Answer 11

cathrl69 are you even in the UK? They have banned it from schools here

Answer 12

cathrl69 answer is nonsense...she isn't even british so how does she know what is going on in UK schools!

Answer 13

stupid in everyway what are we going to do cut our selves and offer it as a sacrifice to harry potter umm i dont think so we kids arent exactly idiots ya know its just reading material