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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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Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1370
hellothere says:
I am glad the school board had some sense and didn't ban Harry Potter! That would of been so stupid if they did!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 8:51 PM EST
Substitute Chosen One
Points: 3021
Mr Fishbein says:
Remove Harry Potter books from the shelves? Who is this person? One sentence sums up the whole thing... It was later revealed that she had never read the books.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:11 PM EST
Substitute Chosen One
Points: 3021
Mr Fishbein says:
Sorry to double post, but something else jumped out at me when I read the article again. Laura Mallory. At a first glance does Mallory not look like 'Malfoy'?.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:15 PM EST
Heiress of Gryffindor
Points: 3537
Nienna Narmolanya says:
Goodness... people are still ebing so ignorant?
Heh, Poor woman, her name in the public... everyone knows that Laura Mallory hates Harry Potter and heasn't even read it yet! Ahh, now that doesn't make her a popular figure now does it?
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:17 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 449
Emma#1fan says:
whAT! ITS just a book!well, good thing, i mean its good to read, shes not trying to encourage it!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:28 PM EST
Singularly Gifted Witch
Points: 5157
Medea says:
"It was later revealed that she had never read the books."
I can't say enough how much I hate it when people talk about something they have no clue about. Ugh. I've never met any of these extremists in my life ...
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:39 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 57
Cho_Seeker4Ravenclaw says:
That's just pathtic. Someone judges HP when he/she hasn't even read it..
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:43 PM EST
Witch
Points: 869
kat_snowyowl says:
GOOD! Some Americans (like Laura Mallory - not all of them, though) can be really weird. I am SO glad there has never been a challenge to remove the books from my school shelves, though until about 2001/2002/2003 or something, my local library refused to stock them for some strange reason. I've never understood what people could possibly have against Harry Potter. Kids are smart enough to know the line of fantasy. That Laura Mallory doesn't seem to trust the kids much.
Well, at least she lost, and Georgian kids don't have to worry anymore about not being able to borrow HP from the school library. Though most of them probably OWN their own copies.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:44 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1841
Remmy4193 says:
I can't believe that they started a whole petition against Harry Potter! I can understand why it would bother some people, but the book is that harshly dark.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:49 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 436
Mugglemagics says:
I think that was absolute rubbish about what she said! She hasn't even read the books. Thank goodness the school managed to keep the books on their library shelves. It would be a pity if the books were taken away!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 10:16 PM EST
Squib
Points: 117
iNLoVeWitPiRaTes0fCaRiBeN says:
I cannot believe that the school board wanted to take the books out!!!! I mean they're FICTION!!! PLUS The whole morale of the story is Love and Loyalty which is a really good thing! THese idiots haven't even read the book!!! If their best reason to take it out is because it promotes believeing in witches and wizards, that's horrible!! Technology is improving so fast, one day it will be like magic! Plus everyone who reads them is old enough to realize that however much you hope HOgwarts is real, it isn't! I hate how people think they can just overpower people like that!!!!!!!!! THe government just has TOO MUCH CONTROL!!!
~~!!$ the ~very very very mad~ Mrs$!!~~
Posted May 12, 2006 at 10:23 PM EST
Princess of the Heliopaths
Points: 5276
Ginny Weasly says:
I can't believe in this day and age that people like Laura Mallory still exist!!! The only people that are saying things like that about the series are the ones who are closed minded and never actually read the book!!! It makes me so mad when people try to ruin a good thing for everying else with their closed mindedness!!!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 10:27 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3651
Saint Hedwig says:
That's great that they didn't remove the books. Anyone who ever criticizes a book usually hasn't even read it. I'm glad that the school board thought it through appropriately.
~
Posted May 12, 2006 at 10:42 PM EST
Witch
Points: 914
hp-luver says:
Oh my gosh! How could someone think that?! Thank goodness it was fixed. Harry Potter rocks!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 10:54 PM EST
The Keeper of Time
Points: 2604
krisie says:
That is really stupid ! If anything, Harry Potter books are good for children. The books should be available for anybody who wants to read them.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 10:57 PM EST
Witch
Points: 822
I love HP says:
We all knew that old closed minded lady would not win its ridiculios she's just plain stupid people like her make the world worse!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 11:02 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 377
Michelle&Felicis:) says:
I HATE PEOPLE LIKE THAT
what, is she mad??
she had never read the books, what does SHE know??
gosh.. glad the books are still available..
darn..
tata
*thedaVincicode*
Posted May 12, 2006 at 11:14 PM EST
Student
Points: 299
remember_c says:
ARGH! That makes me soo mad when people who havent even read the books critizise them! I am very glad that she failed. If i had a power-angry-betrayed stare like ron in GoF, I would stare at her with anger in my eyes all day long!
Long live HP!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 11:19 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 570
minister of muggles says:
YEAh, you can't whip out Harry Potter. And Laura Mallory should not make assumptions.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 11:20 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1576
ALLI8 says:
that's good, i would not survive if i did not have hp in my school. i need it to get threw it all! hahah
Alli8~
Posted May 12, 2006 at 11:22 PM EST
Auror
(Moderator)
Points: 2484
Since the Start says:
I didn't even realise the Harry Potter witch-hunters were still hanging on... won't these people ever give up?
Posted May 12, 2006 at 11:31 PM EST
Witch
Points: 818
ElizabethRG says:
That is absoulte BS that they would even consider doing that... props to those who spoke out about it.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 11:58 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 787
Beyondfreedom3 says:
I didn't even know this was going on. Anyway, from someone who lives in Georgia and is a big Harry Potter fan, let them read. A little imagination is not such a bad thing. And anyway, it's Harry Potter...you know!
Posted May 13, 2006 at 12:12 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1457
Lexii*Chiita says:
That's not nice...I mean you can't judge a book without reading it first...but what ever...it's pass already just let it go...hopefully none of this ridiculous things would happen again...:D:D:D
Posted May 13, 2006 at 12:25 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 25
magicalmaiden says:
Thats just PREPOSTOROUS!!!! (maybe i spelled it wrong). Harry Potter books adds the magical fun no regular library can ever have. Plus they failed. I betcha a million bucks JK and her witch/wizard crew put like a curse or sumthin on 'em so they couldn't get the books out. Kewl!!! I just wonder wat spell JK and the crew used...
Posted May 13, 2006 at 12:44 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1485
_sapphire_ says:
There are other alternatives to solve the *cough* suppposed Harry Potter Problem. They can A.) Tell their children not to read them. B.) Make parents sign a Harry Potter release form C.) Take it up with Voldey and D.) Stop hating on the literacy of their children, just because they have never read a book as long as HP.
Posted May 13, 2006 at 12:51 AM EST
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