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MAY 12, 2006 at 3:52 AM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: Gwinnett Daily Post via Yahoo! News
A challenge to remove all of JK Rowling's Harry Potter books from the library shelves of Gwinnett Public Schools in Georgia has failed
.
The school board there voted Thursday to keep the books available. It was the final action for a petition that began in November and culminated at an April clash in which nearly 100 people attended to voice their opinions.
Laura Mallory, a parent of three children at an elementary school in the district, argued that the books encouraged witchcraft and demonic activity. It was later revealed that she had never read the books. School board officials said the process for determining the series' suitability was unbiased, and they sought mainly to decide if the books were obscene or not.
Still, removing the books would have opened the school system to "ridicule by many of its citizens as well as citizens of the nation," Su Ellen Bray told the Gwinnett Daily Post.
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Auror
Points: 2495
Jbird says:
I can't believe how far some of these parents take thier dislike for the HP books. It's just a book, why are people flipping up about it, if they disapprove that's fine, don't let your kids read it, but it is by no means inappropriate.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 2:49 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1227
I Who Lived..To Read says:
Ah, that is a good decision! I think it is just ridiculous to try and get the books off of the shelves...pfft, and they tell kids to read more. Censoring books actually probably would help because it seems that once kids know they aren't supposed to do something...they do it anyways...
Posted May 12, 2006 at 2:56 PM EST
Sarcastic Sally
Points: 5088
Lucius's Luscious Lady says:
removing the books would have opened the school system to "ridicule by many of its citizens as well as citizens of the nation
Yeah...that's a big ten-four.
Seriously, thow thick can you get?
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:00 PM EST
Student
Points: 271
Germz says:
Harry Potter definately shoudn't be removed!
<3 Germz.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:00 PM EST
Witch
Points: 675
Heiress_ to_Slytherin says:
I'm so happy for the kids of Georgia, I mean Harry Potter books are encouraging people (even adults) to read more because of their tempting story lines that make you want to keep reading, they only encourage minds to use their small imaginations, I mean yes I suppose that they encourage 'witchcraft and 'demonic' activity', but I think I might be talking for my self as well as other people when I say that most people in this day in age know that magic nor 'Demons' dont actually exist. I mean if some parent wants to try and ban magically inspired children books, then they may as well ban all of the books on aliens and live on other planets, because they encourage people to believe U.F.O's and aliens, don't they!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:04 PM EST
Witch
Points: 657
krissiebear says:
You know I live in Georgia... and I have to say that I am not surprised in the slightest that they tried to remove the books from the library. Some people are just too conservative for their own good. I mean really.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:16 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1514
MollyMomma says:
I am a Christian mom and I let my kids read the books. I would prefer that not everyone knock Christianity and that all Christians are freaks because this woman didn't do her homework and find out more about what she was trying to ban. I am not a freak. I think I can believe in God and still enjoy HP books.
That being said, I see nothing wrong with having those books on library shelves, but it is the parents' choice what their children read, and she can keep her children away. But I truly think that it would be a better idea for her to read them WITH her children, and if they disagree on the morals, then discuss the reasons why, rather than shielding them from something illusive she doesn't know about.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:26 PM EST
Squib
Points: 194
Fairy_Night says:
This is such good news. It is sad to hear people trying to remove books from shelves. Most parents don't understand the importants of the books there children read and don't take the time to understand them. I am so glad to hear this failed it will open the eyes of many parents and children.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:27 PM EST
Half-Blood Princess
Points: 2875
Katie Bloom says:
That is the most stupid this on earth!!!:_-
Harry Potter books are a clasic..I mean a library with no Harry Potter books cant be called a library!!!!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:29 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2470
mar66 says:
Wow, that is just crazy.
I can't believe the lengths some people go to just in order to ban a book that CLEARLY does NOT promote "demonic activity." That woman didn't even READ the book! That is rediculous. If they banned it then next they would have to ban every other fantasy book out there, which would be impossible in an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Its obviously a really stupid accusation, when the books actually promote the whole good vs evil thing, and that it is clearly for the whole good side winning. Wow, I'm heated.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:34 PM EST
Student
Points: 299
Raukainuial says:
Yamookit! The books stay. I'm glad that the books are staying on the shelves. Just because one person or one group of people are ignorant prejudices that is no reason to ban wonderfully written literature.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:35 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 518
theduece says:
I still don't understand what the big deal is. There is no demonic symbols in any of the books. There isn't really a promotion of actual witchcraft. They don't seem to care about C.S.Lewis's Book and they where full of magic and magic creature the only big difference is in C.S.Lewis's books it all had religous symbolism.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:46 PM EST
Witch
Points: 874
Together Forever, H/Hr... says:
Wow some people are really out just to stir up trouble. I mean come on. Shesnever even read the books and shes saying witchcraft and demonic activity... what? Some people will really do anything to get attention.
*%* Susanna *%*
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:47 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1451
leeanne<3ron says:
I can't believe she said that about the books without even reading them.Thats just injudice on JK.How can you ban a book when 5/7 children would want to read it.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:51 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3041
ThePhoenix'sSong says:
Yeah! I am glad they did not ban it. If you don't like it don't read it. Just don't stop others from making the decesion to read it. I don't think it encourages wich craft I have read all the books and watched all the movies and I have not praticed witch craft. Anyway how would she know if she did not read it? People really need to focus on more important things. Plus if you ban it, it just makes people especially children want to read it more and it has not harmed anyone that I have heard of. I mean have you really heard of someone reading Harry Potter and trying to bewitch someone?
what would happen if they banned one book? What would happen to our freedom to chose what we want to read? They would ban HP and start bannin all kind of other stories. It is just rediculus. This just up holds our rights and I suppot this decesion. If when I have kids they ever tried to ban a book that was not inappropriat for the age group (which HP is not inappropriate) I would fight against it. It is just some of the stupidest stuff I have ever heard of. Just don't read it and get over it!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:56 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 462
DJan says:
Thats awsome , You canot change or take Jo.or hP fron any ones heart
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:58 PM EST
Witch
Points: 739
The 4th Champion says:
How can you say it encouraged witchcraft and demonic activity, when you haven't even read it?!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 3:59 PM EST
Witch
Points: 722
x-Adorkable-x says:
Buhahahaha, thank God. I thought they were going to ban them, then the poor, poor children will never read them and arous themselves. But I'm glad they didn't, it's senseful.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 4:04 PM EST
The Faerie Queene
Points: 3277
merri maven says:
I still can't believe that some people think that HP promotes witchcraft! Plus, aren't we supposed to be against censorship?
Posted May 12, 2006 at 4:05 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1819
*~Destiny's*Curse~* says:
Good thing it didn't work, think how many children would have missed out!!!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 4:08 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2223
Pheonixflames says:
I dont know where people's fondness for imagination has gone nowadays...there are no other books that could be better for opening young readers minds than those written by JK Rowling...its an absurdity to think that a book that is purely fiction could be harmful in anyway...are we to have no enjoyment when reading? And such people should not make accusations about something they havent even looked at! They need to get their head out of the clouds!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 4:12 PM EST
Squib
Points: 167
Miss Eeylop says:
I'm glad that officials are giving these sorts of things a little more thought before plunging into rash decisions in which bias runs rampant.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 4:21 PM EST
Harry's Lost Brother
Points: 10058
American Harry Potter says:
HOLY COW!! My region of the world is worthy enough to make it onto this web site? Oh my gosh! I live near Gwinnet County! It's just a "hop" over Fulton (I live in Cherokee). This debate has been on our local news nonstop. Ahhh! Can't believe it!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 4:24 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2401
tonks 27 says:
Sheesh, people...read the books before going off on them about being demonic! they so aren't! and Su Ellen has it right...any place is going to be seriously ridiculed by everyone for taking such wonderful books off their shelves.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 4:32 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 427
Padfoots Escape says:
That lady wanted to get rid of harry potter at a school? Was she crazy? If she really has a problem with them dont read them and just dont let you kids, which i would discourage a lot! UHHH! people these days...
Posted May 12, 2006 at 4:35 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 392
A_Mom_Like_Molly says:
YES!! I have never been happier to read about Harry in the news. The thought that this woman might actually get the books removed scared me beyond all comprehension. Thank goodness for the rest of the population who know the difference between reality and fantasy!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 4:36 PM EST
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