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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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Prefect
Points: 305
hoggywartswitchwannabe says:
I can't believe that they would do such things?!! Harry potter book are awsome, I mean it really does not teach on witchcraft!!! I get so mad when people say things like that!!!
Posted May 13, 2006 at 5:06 PM EST
Student
Points: 229
AAR4EVER says:
I can't believe parents make such a fuss! I read HP books but I'm not there with a cauldron acting like I'm going to do a weird vudo thing on my little brother or something. They need to let their kids have their own freedom. *shakes head with frustraion* People STOP worrying! I don't even know what the whole fuss is! You should take care of your daughters that are acting like s***s instead of worrying about something REALLY STUPID!
Posted May 13, 2006 at 5:37 PM EST
Student
Points: 229
AAR4EVER says:
And those people who are only putting a line ot two about this are out of their minds! You need to put much more! This is a big cause! *shakes head with frustration*
Posted May 13, 2006 at 5:40 PM EST
Witch
Points: 915
Hermione-half&half says:
I'm glad the school board saw sense. Honestly, the witchcraft used in Harry Potter is so fictional it's the kind that nobody could practice in any sense, only children when playing games could pretend to live in that world. They clearly hadn't read the books because it would have been so obvious so to them. People like that are so daft...you can't judge books these if you haven't even read them!
Posted May 13, 2006 at 5:56 PM EST
Muggle Representative
Points: 9117
The Lime says:
Thank God it failed. I still don't see why the Harry Potter books should be banned - it's the best books ever! Go Potter, haaha!
Posted May 13, 2006 at 6:36 PM EST
Princess of Fantasy
Points: 2538
magiclover13 says:
How can she make such an statement against the hp books! And she hasn't even read them!!!
Posted May 13, 2006 at 6:41 PM EST
Witch
Points: 817
PadmaPatilPassion says:
I am SO GLAD the rule didn't pass. Nobody should have the rights of Potter taken from them. I'm glad they didn't ban it from libraries. People should read what they want! I mean, it's a library!
Posted May 13, 2006 at 6:45 PM EST
Squib
Points: 143
{HungarianHorntail} says:
That's kinda ridiculous in may ways. I mean, one, she didn't even read the books and she just thinks it will encourage witchcraft and demonic activity. If she'd actually read the books, she might have found that there wasn't really 'demonic activity' of that sort, like voodoo or something. And if kids did think, hey, let's try some magic, what would they do? Go around pointing a stick at people and muttering Avada Kedavra? Big whoop.
I know there are some schools that have banned Harry Potter, but I can't see why. Many children who had to be forced to read a couple of pages are now reading the increasingly thick Harry Potter novels and enjoying them. They appeal to all ages; I'm 16 and I'm reading it with my brother who's 6. And just like in Book 5, where Umbridge banned the Quibbler: if they ban Harry Potter, then more kids are going to want to read it just to see what the big deal is about.
Posted May 13, 2006 at 7:41 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 628
Ronian says:
Hmm... Some people just don't understand the difference between evil witchcraft and Harry potter! when will they learn???
Posted May 13, 2006 at 8:13 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 337
Cindy Weasley says:
Why would they want to remove harry Potter books from the school?? They aren't that bad to the children are they? it just serves to give hte child more imagination.
-Ron's Wife
Posted May 13, 2006 at 8:14 PM EST
Loose Canon
Points: 3411
JustHarry says:
It's really quite pitiful that, in this day and age of supposed enlightenment and information, there is still the rampaging desire to censor -- not out of a belief to protect, but out of sheer ignorance. If these knee-jerk reactionaries, who were so strident to ban HP books, put forth the effort to just sit down and read these books, they would not only insist that these works become part of the school syllabus, but also they would write a heartfelt letter of apology to JKR.
I hate ignorance. Stupidity is unfortunate, but understandable. Ignorance isn't.
Posted May 13, 2006 at 8:47 PM EST
Points: 360
ladybug says:
I'm so glad there keeping the books. It'd be a shame to see it banned.
Posted May 13, 2006 at 8:50 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1152
fire_cookie says:
People should stop trying to get rid of hp. They're just wasting their time...he's not going anywhere!
Posted May 13, 2006 at 8:55 PM EST
Prof. of Jamology
Points: 4545
Karentia says:
Good grief - another muggle who can't seem to read. How deplorable. Take the time, read the subject you are getting ready to villify, and THEN form an EDUCATED opinion. HMMPF.
Waht a waste.
Posted May 13, 2006 at 9:12 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 678
SirPhil says:
Why would anyone want to ban the HP books? Why on earth would anyone want to ban a series that encourages kids to read? The HP series in no way encourages demonic activity. As for witchcraft, it depends on your definition. If you are refering to doing magic well ya it does, but what is the harm there? Of course banning the books would have opeaned the school to "ridicule by many of its citizens as well as citizens of the nation," as it should. They are amazing books, best sellers, read and loved by countless people. Why some ignorant person in Georgia, who has never read the books, wants to ban them is beyond me.
Posted May 13, 2006 at 9:25 PM EST
Lady of Godric's Hollow
Points: 5292
GodricsGirl says:
Pardon me while I say...
HA HA HA HA HA HA Hee hee hee hee hee hee!
HA HA HA HA HA HA Hee hee hee hee hee hee!
HA HA HA HA HA HA Hee hee hee hee hee hee!
HA HA HA HA HA HA Hee hee hee hee hee hee!
Posted May 13, 2006 at 9:30 PM EST
Student
Points: 255
half*blood*princess says:
As if you would!!! They are the most popular series ever!!!! You cant do that especially if you havnt even read the book... there is not only bed magic but good magic in it to and because J.K Rowling has made the reader go for the good side then i really dont hink people are going to be any dark spells in the near future, if they could anyway!!!
Posted May 13, 2006 at 10:09 PM EST
Witch
Points: 670
Goebchez says:
It never ceases to amaze me that the people who love to judge and ban things do not know what they are talking about half of the time, or most of the time. Maybe even all of the time. I agree with Godrics Girl, as she so eloquently posted:
HA HA HA HA HA HA Hee hee hee hee hee hee!
Posted May 13, 2006 at 11:49 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 419
Madeline Belle says:
Utter Disdain....... Ugh *shakes head with disbelief*
I mean I don't even know what to say to that.....
Well I do but It would come out between lashes of anger and not be pretty.....
I agree with Goebchez as she had consented with GodricsGirl.
HA HA HA HA HA HA He he he he he he!
~ Bell
Posted May 14, 2006 at 12:08 AM EST
Magical Sanitary Supplier
Points: 2518
5225 says:
I used to have that same presumption, but now I am addicted to Harry POtter. And I don't find myself practicing witchcraft or those things that she had accused HP had on children. And one more thing, children are often more exposed to other things than HP, sex for example? Why does she not worry about that?
Posted May 14, 2006 at 1:03 AM EST
Dumbledore's Muse
Points: 2959
Alchemical Auror says:
Laura Mallory - if you're going to demand that books be removed from a library the least you could do is read them first, you complete moronic ignoramous.
I tell you - everyone is entitled to their opinion and beliefs, but this woman needs a serious wake up call. Good on the school board officials for keeping a rational head about things.
Posted May 14, 2006 at 3:57 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 73
harry_ruls says:
I don't understand how can somebody band harry potter or want others to bend it before even reading the book!!!!
some people realy have problems!!
Sort me!
Posted May 14, 2006 at 8:23 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1307
Catfish on the table says:
That's rediculous! As we know very well, if you ban something people are even more likely to want to read it (like when Umbridge banned the Quibbler after Harry's interveiw)... and also a complete waste of time. At least it didn't work!
Posted May 14, 2006 at 8:26 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2621
hbluvhp says:
It's good to know that good sense and logic prevailed in Georgia. I'm all for the expression of personal opinions but come on... it's almost laughable!
Yeah for HP!
Posted May 14, 2006 at 9:17 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 616
Ganriki says:
Stupid woman, why the hell did she whanted to ba HP??? and it didnt even read the books...
Posted May 14, 2006 at 10:06 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 303
Draco'sGirl2121 says:
It's so stupid that people wopuld even consider banning the Harry Potter series in schools. There is nothing wrong with children or even young adults getting invloved in worlds that are not real. Its part of life. Where would we be without our imaginations? Isn't that the point of life? to use your imagiation to explore new possiablities. Also, its stupid that the lady in the article that wanted to ban to books hadn't even read them.
Posted May 14, 2006 at 11:26 AM EST
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