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'Wisdom of Harry Potter' author to offer fall college course 
MAY 25, 2007 at 2:39 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HPANA
Students at Lawrence University
in Appleton, Wisconsin, will be able to enroll in a course titled "Thinking about Harry Potter" during their fall term next year.
The course's instructor, Edmund M. Kern, is the author of The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us About Moral Choices
"Today's college students are like no others in history," said Kern. "They had the chance to grow up right along with Harry Potter. I'd be foolish to pass up the teaching opportunities that those circumstances offer me."
Following closely upon the publication of the finale of JK Rowling's series, the course will be interdisciplinary in nature and focus upon Harry not only as a literary phenomenon but as the biggest pop-cultural event of the era. It will explore Rowling's stories in terms of their relation to history, legend, and myth, take up debates about their contested aesthetic merit and ethical values, and take stock of their broader social and political implications.
Enrollment in the course will be by consent of the instructor only.
"I had to find a way to keep things manageable and in line with the small class sizes typical of Lawrence courses," said Kern. For this reason, only students who have already mastered all seven books of the Harry Potter series will participate.
Kern has never demanded over four thousand pages of text as a prerequisite for a course before, and he can't imagine other circumstances that would allow him to do so again. "I'm not going to assign Rowling's books. I'm simply going to assume that my students have a copious knowledge of them," he said.
Interested students will have to write brief explanations of why they should be in the course. Kern hopes this requirement will allow students to "select themselves," but he is afraid that he might have to turn some students away. The course will involve serious scholarship, but Kern insisted it will also be fun. "I want to make sure I end up with the most dedicated fans of Harry Potter," he adds.
In keeping with the academic demands of the course, students will complete short research projects of their own design. "We might get a book of essays out of all this," Kern offered, "but ultimately, I just want my students to apply the skills they have developed in a wide variety of college courses to something that they've enjoyed, witnessed, and really been a part of.
A member of Lawrence's Department of History, Kern first heard about Harry Potter from his students. "Back in '98 or '99, they began to ask me about the books, because I teach a course on the history of religion, magic, and witchcraft. Little did I know then, how things would turn out."
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Witch
Points: 566
yuko says:
Great! i wish a similar course started in italy!
Posted May 25, 2007 at 2:43 PM EST
Princess of the Heliopaths
Points: 5204
Ginny Weasly says:
That's amazing!! When I graduate high school...I should take this course!! Amagin getting a college credit for studying and discussing the best book of all time...Harry Potter!!
Posted May 25, 2007 at 2:53 PM EST
Mrs. Draco Malfoy
Points: 26018
Arika Granger Malfoy says:
That would be so cool! I would love to take a Harry Potter course in school!
We did read it in 6th grade though and I aced everything becaue it was my second time reading it...haha
:)
Posted May 25, 2007 at 2:53 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 7
croobiep3 says:
Wow, kinda cool but maybe a little extreme...
Posted May 25, 2007 at 2:58 PM EST
Witch
Points: 993
Draco~Angel says:
That is so funny and cool. That would be so cool if my university did the same thing. It would be my favorite class in the world :-).
Posted May 25, 2007 at 3:02 PM EST
Witch
Points: 937
crazywitch says:
Wow thats ace I would of loved to of done a Harry Potter course while I was at school or college.
Posted May 25, 2007 at 3:04 PM EST
Student
Points: 275
shanie623 says:
Crap. I wish my uni offers this course. :(
PS: We had a club at school before. We called it "ORDER OF THE PHOENIX." The director of programs and services had to shut it down because she thought it would ensue debates and discussions about cults. Like, WHAT THE HELL?
Posted May 25, 2007 at 3:07 PM EST
Witch
Points: 689
Marietta Edgecombe says:
Wow. That's so cool! An actual course on Harry Potter.
I would definately take it if I was a college student and I went to Lawrence University.
:]
Posted May 25, 2007 at 3:08 PM EST
Student
Points: 289
Yokata says:
It is just wonderful that this professor is offering such a course. I'm sure it will be a most enjoyable experiencing for all involved. Incorporating Harry Potter into the curricula may make philosophy interesting for once. ;)
Posted May 25, 2007 at 3:10 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1232
WildOrchid1298 says:
Oh awesome I wish they had a course like that here, to think it would be a course that I could actually ace. The would be a nice change of pace.
Posted May 25, 2007 at 3:33 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 665
Gryffindor's prefect says:
WOW!! I always wished for a Harry Potter course at my school. I'm sure I'd get top grades in that!!
Posted May 25, 2007 at 3:35 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2125
Nataly says:
It's importan to think as harry potter! hihi! it;s a subject in a university hihi!
Posted May 25, 2007 at 3:41 PM EST
Lupin's Furry Girlfriend
Points: 6745
theslugclub says:
:O
Harry Potter classes!? Are you kidding me!? That is fantastic!
Posted May 25, 2007 at 3:55 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1658
Feelin' Felix Felicis says:
That sounds like an interesting and fun course to take! I would take that class if I went to school there!
Shanie623, "cults", whatever, people are stupid aren't they? One person ruins it for everyone else.
Posted May 25, 2007 at 4:00 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2515
Mystique says:
Now this is a course i would love to take. Hopefully other schools will get the idea as well!
Posted May 25, 2007 at 4:09 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 480
Harry Potter bookworm says:
This is AWESOME! I wish there were online Harry Potter classes...I could take them for actual college credit!
Posted May 25, 2007 at 4:15 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 7
HarryPotterPeep says:
Hey I live in De Pere, Wisconsin and I actually was accepted at Lawrence University. Unfortunately I chose to go to UW Madison instead. Bummer...Oh well, it sounds like a really fun course.
Posted May 25, 2007 at 5:02 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1426
~Hermione says:
This is too cool. I would love to have a course like this. It has to be awesome.
Posted May 25, 2007 at 5:04 PM EST
Witch
Points: 885
Rachyracho says:
This class would have appealed to me so much in college. I almost wish that I was back in school to have the opportunity to discuss Harry on an intellectual level with others who have read the book and have some of the same background knowledge of mythology and history that I do. I always have the most fascinating conversations with my friends who have read Harry and I would have loved to get a grade for something I love.
Posted May 25, 2007 at 5:13 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1363
Mrs.Oddment-Tweak says:
A Harry Potter course?
That is totally wicked! I wish I could be a part of that!
Posted May 25, 2007 at 5:15 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1455
~*WitherWings*~ says:
That's an awesome idea! I always thought after like 10 years when Harry Potter gets quite old, they should start teaching it to the younger generation so that they have the chance to read it - just like we have to study old books in school. That would be quite interesting and everyone would enjoy it.
Well, I'm glad they're making a start to teaching Harry Potter in college - I would LOVE to be on a course like that, It sounds amazing. And I would pass it with flying colours! ;) ..I think we all would! (hehe)
Posted May 25, 2007 at 5:43 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2768
H/HrShipper4Ever says:
Thats soo cool..I want to enroll. Too bad I'm not in college yet. That class seems very interesting. It would be so cool being part of that class.
Posted May 25, 2007 at 5:45 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1158
sno-chik says:
Oh, I wish they had classes like that in Canada. I would be the first signed up. I would love courese like that.
Posted May 25, 2007 at 5:46 PM EST
Witch
Points: 840
star chaser says:
A Harry Potter course? That is so cool, I wish I could do that.
Posted May 25, 2007 at 5:47 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2835
Tenshi says:
That would be an awesome course to learn!! hahaha That's one class that I wouldn't get bored of... But I wonder if having to analyze the HP series would sort of kill it...
Posted May 25, 2007 at 5:54 PM EST
Witch
Points: 896
QueenOfAmouraq says:
Oh my gosh, how kewl! I wish they had that course at my college! I've already seen much of the wisdom of Harry Potter, but it'd be so awesome to have course on it!
Posted May 25, 2007 at 5:56 PM EST
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