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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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226-250 251-275 276-300 301-325 326-350 351-375 376-399
Points: 3289
Crimson_Tears says:
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
some people can be soo stupid... read it then judge it!!!!
-Leigh
Posted May 12, 2006 at 7:32 AM EST
Witch
Points: 627
~DetailedDragon~ says:
That is so dumb! And she hadn't even read the books! That makes me so mad! She says they are evil and premote witchcraft butt she doesn't even know what they are about! That is just thats just plain stupid! I'm very glad she lost! She had no right to win!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 7:39 AM EST
Squib
Points: 136
mollytheknitter says:
I am a born again Christian that does not object to these books. In fact, I feel they are superbly written. I think what parents need to consider is whether they feel the books are appropriate for THEIR children ONLY, their ages, whatever, but they must not make the decision without reading at least one of the books. If you never discuss books with your children, ie this is fantasy, these things do not exist in this way, etc. you are only doing them harm not good. Also, I feel it is unfair to consider these books "promoting witchcraft" when the CS Lewis books, which most Christian parents gladly let their children read, though not as dark, are certainly the same genre. I am a 50+ grandmother who was a naysayer in the beginning until my daughter encouraged me to read one of the books before making remarks about it, which I did. I find it funny that like I was in the beginning, the only ones that truly object to the books are adults who have not picked one up and read it.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 7:46 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1500
krystle_clear says:
Gggrrrrr, i dont care if people dont like the books, fine they dont have to, but you cant judge somthing if you havent read it!!!! im so glad they are keeping the books in the library at this school, if perants dont want there kids reading them, then there kids dont have too!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 7:55 AM EST
Delusional Army Soldier
Points: 4400
ILoveHP! says:
It's a good thing the school board decided that. I really can't see where they get all the stuff about HP encouraging witchcraft & demonic activities...
Posted May 12, 2006 at 8:13 AM EST
Student
Points: 226
MINACAT says:
Thank god!!!! What is wrong with people these days? She didnt even read the books. When I was in school they had already taken classics out of schools and now some nut job wants to remove Harry Potter. I'm sick of people preaching that its for the good of the children, when the truth is they dont have a clue how to raise a cat let alone a child. These people want to act like the worlds greatest parents when in reality the dont want to spend the time to explain what anything is about. Harry Potter is a seris of books that are based on Good vs Evil. Good provails! If she would have read the books she would know that there is no real witch craft in them. And it does not promote devil worship. This case is a prime example of a person who is ignorant who wants to sound smart and concerned. I'm a mother of 2 little boys and frankly i think Harry Potter is the best literary character to come around in a long time. He has morals and a heart full of love. That is the type of chracter that any GOOD parent would want there child to read about.Im am sick and tired of stupid people trying there best to screw the world up. Take the time to read the books before commenting on them.Wake up and see what your doing to the youth of America and the world. We are going to have kids that know nothing about the anything and who are scared of there own shadow because there parents told them that everything is bad. Thank god that school board stood up and said Harry Potter stays.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 8:19 AM EST
Witch
Points: 927
Moggiesmom says:
It never ceases to amaze me how incredibly ignorant some people are. As we HP fans know, these bokks are delightful and any book that encourages children to read are a remarkable thins. She should take a less on from Umbridge - banning something creates more demand for reading it! ^..^
Posted May 12, 2006 at 8:24 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 90
Weasley Cousin says:
Good grief... I'm ashamed to be from Georgia. If the idiot had actually read the book, she would have seen that it's all about relationships and what people mean to each other... the witchcraft and wizardry comes after. People can just be so close-minded.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 8:27 AM EST
Witch
Points: 642
Fairy Foozle says:
Yes! More people can leagally read Harry Potter!
Did any one else notice that the womens last name looks kind of like Malfoy? (Mallory) Concidnece... maybe...
Posted May 12, 2006 at 8:34 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1825
Veela_gurl says:
Well, I recently moved to Atlanta and applied for a job in Gwinnett county. I'm glad to see that the school board chose to give the students a choice, and leave the books on the shelves. Way to go Atlanta.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 8:36 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2018
Marauder Girl says:
I don't understand how people come up with things like this. And she hasn't even read the books! Her poor children, they probably won't be allowed to read them either.
I mean I'm Christian but I would never dream of saying the books encourage "demonic activity" and witchcraft!!! That's just totally crazy. I'm glad they've decided to keep the books on the shelf.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 8:49 AM EST
Keeper of the Faeries
Points: 5256
juliebug04 says:
Good...if you haven't even tried to make a determination on your own by READING the books in question, keep your mouth shut. Ignorance--pure and simple--actually it's worse. They have an opportunity to read it, choose not to, and then still condemn it. Those types of people are the ones that burned "witches" at the stake.
I am a mom and I read them before I let my kids read them...I love them and I think they teach many valuable lessons. Glad the courts were smart.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 8:52 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1301
hmrpotter says:
As an Atlanta native and a library assistant, I am glad to see that the Gwinnett County School System has made an informed and correct decision regarding the Harry Potter books. Delores Umbridge is defeated yet again! :)(That's who my Media Specialist says Ms. Mallory reminds him of.)
Posted May 12, 2006 at 8:53 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1348
~*Veela Grl *~ says:
I still don't understand why they try to banish books when they are books kids want to read. I mean we're trying so hard to get kids to read these days and then there is a book series they like and we try to get it banished from libraries? Well all I know is I'm glad that it failed.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:02 AM EST
Witch
Points: 649
Spell_Bound says:
You would think that a grown person would know better than judge something before they have experienced it. That's not teaching her children anything. And speaking of her children I bet she's not going to let them read the Harry Potter books and that is a shame. When I have kids I'm going to read them like a bed time story. I'm glad that the library didn't do anything rash.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:02 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2047
Lisa Diggory says:
oh wow.
I think its weird when people try to ban their kids from readin the books.. cause the kids can just read their friends or watch it at their house.
i like how she had never read the books...
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:22 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1280
MRC says:
I'm really glad this worked out the way it did. Honestly, to accuse the Harry Potter series of encouraging demonic activity and witchcraft, and then to have NOT READ THEM... that's rediculous. She has some nerve...
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:25 AM EST
Witch
Points: 851
Wesleylove says:
i think some people are going to over board with taking Harry Potter on the shelf. i am a preschool teacher and my children and my parents love it when i read them a Harry Potter book. i have a pop up harry potter book though. If i was a parent and my child was reading a harry potter book i would be happy cause he or she is read a book. some kids i see dont even pick up a book they would rather be on the xbox,cells or at the mall. For me i never really read a whole book myself maybe the first to chapters. the first book that i read through all the chapters was Harry Potter. that was when i was 21 yrs old now im 24. since than i love reading books. parents should be happy that their child is reading any kind of book as long as they are reading.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:37 AM EST
Overqualified Jester
Points: 2783
jurassicfatt says:
Your gosh darn right it would have oppened them up to ridicule.
And why do people hate things they know nothing about?
People need to have a little more faith in their kids if they think they don't know what make believe is, jeepers.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:38 AM EST
Witch
Points: 917
hermioneadmirer says:
I hate when people say that even when they haven't read the books.I don't think parents want their kids to read these days.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:53 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1252
1USHPFN says:
Really it's amazing that people who haven't read something v]can condemn it. If the mother had read the books and objected, I could at least feel that she was making an informed concerned decision and would respect her right to keep the books from her children, but only her children. This is the USA and there are still some things that we parents get to decide for our own children.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:53 AM EST
Padfoot’s Playmate
Points: 5374
Siriusbeau says:
Oh, these kind of things make me physically ill! I wrote a letter to their editor and am seriously considering sending it. I am so sick of this type of thing!
Here's the letter!
Books Books Books Bla Bla Bla !
Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, pixie dust, flying boys and girls. Cinderella, a fairy Godmother, magic wands, mice into horses, a pumpkin into a stagecoach and a beautiful rags to riches story. The Little Mermaid, a sea witch named Ursula and her evil eels casting spells on the merfolk. Hercules and his horse named Pegasus who can fly. Mulan and her friendly dragon named Mushu. Pocahontas and a magical tree name Grandmother Willow.
Just a few examples that some of the best stories ever told are full of witches and wands, magic and spells, good and evil, right and wrong.
I am writing this letter to the editor in regards to an article in a Georgia’s Gwinnett Daily Post. Harry Potter books being removed from library shelves in J.C. Magill Elementary school. It seems that some parents would rather see their children do nothing rather than pick up a book and read. From everything that I have seen, heard and read, JK Rowling has children of ALL ages reading again. I think the saddest part is that she is going to stop at book number seven.
Please don’t rob children of their imagination. What kind of life can you expect your for your child if it’s all in black and white? Let them enjoy the splash of colors given to them through the words of extremely talented people like JK Rowling. It’s a parents job as well as teachers to teach children right from wrong - good from evil. You can not shelter children from the world, let me repeat that, you can not shelter children from the world. They live in it too! If a child is sheltered the biggest part of their life, how will they know what to do when they are faced with something that you have tried so hard to shelter them from seeing, hearing or even being.
Most of the books I have mentioned all have something that tries to teach children it’s okay to be afraid, and in some cases, the best thing is to face your fears. Maybe we as parents need to refer back to these books and face some of our own fears. Let’s face it, every parent has the same fear. What if I don’t get it right? What if, even with the help of teachers and friends, what if we still fail? Don’t steal away a child’s imagination and dreams, real or fiction, because of your own fear of failure. Life is a long journey. Let them enjoy as much of the journey as possible. It is wonderful that kids want to read these books and aren’t being ‘made’ to do so. Children reading, what a concept, imagine a child reading, not watching TV or playing video games but actually reading.
I am just appalled that any child would want to expand their mind and that there are some parents that would allow this to happen. Sounds insane when you put it like that, doesn’t it?
I will never understand why some people are so quick to think that their child will want to dabble in witchcraft after reading Harry Potter. Do children want to scrub floors and wash windows because they saw Cinderella do it? Do children want to jump down the chimney because Santa does? Do children beg for beans in hope that they might be magic beans? All of these stories are great, but have Cinderella, The Night Before Christmas or Jack and the Beanstalk ever been pulled off the shelf at the library?
I personally know several witches and wizards who became so after watching The Wizard of Oz. If you believe that, it is obvious why you don’t want you child to read Harry Potter.
Having said all of that I do want people to know that I respect the difference in opinions and hope that in return you can respect mine. It’s just that some times, logic should over rule some opinions.
Sincerely,
Cheri in Arkansas
Posted May 12, 2006 at 9:56 AM EST
Charms Mistress
(Moderator)
Points: 5265
Weesa says:
Yay I knew they weren't going to listen to her. I live about an hour and a half away from there and she's been shown on the local news. She looks way to uptight and needs to read things all the way through before making any kind of judgement. ANd nobody was forcing her kids to read Harry anyway.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 10:01 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 307
Harry's Echo says:
So sad that in this day and age (it's 2006 for goodness sakes!) people can still be so ignorant and close- minded, it really is.
I'm glad the school board was smart enough to realize that the books are FICTION, and not real, and that their students are smart enough to realize it's fantasy.
Posted May 12, 2006 at 10:11 AM EST
Student
Points: 294
lilly618 says:
Thanks god!!!HP is win!!!I can't understand why there is some people so stupid and did not respect the right to read of other people!!!Even though some of the readers are children,it doesn't mean that you can ignore their right to read!!!!Children sometime are more clearer than adults to recognice what is good and what is bad!!!!Please,"adults", re-call back what you like to read in your childhood!!!!You just like the books which can give you imagination and fantastic story!!!!Your children same too!!!And you should respect your chidren's right to read!!!!!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 10:11 AM EST
Witch
Points: 830
Barbarian Black says:
Hurray, freedom of speech prevails, this makes me proud to be an American & I thank God for democracy and the wisdom of this school bBoard!
Posted May 12, 2006 at 10:17 AM EST
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