AJC > Sandy Springs > Blog > Archives > 2007 > June > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHarry Potter and the real education issues
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If you’ve been clicking over to ajc.com’s Gwinnett County news you’ll see that Harry Potter is safe and sound on the shelves of the county school libraries. This in spite of several attempts by Gwinnett mom Laura Mallory to get them pulled because they supposedly promote “witchcraft and the occult.”
I will defend Ms. Mallory’s right to her opinion and full use of the system to try and achieve her goals. That said, I wish she’d shut up.
I personally don’t know Harry Potter. I tried reading the first book but gave up after six chapters because it didn’t ignite. I’ve seen a couple of the movies and likewise didn’t get into it.
My wife and kids have read all six, however, and I haven’t noticed any gurgling cauldrons, black cats or tributes to Satan around the house and those are the kinds of thing’s I’d notice.
Nonsense issues like this rear their heads from time to time and it bugs me because it takes time and mental oxygen away from real problems, whether in Gwinnett, Sandy Springs or anywhere else in Georgia served by the public school system.
We have kids moving through our school systems without acquiring the basic skills for life. Doesn’t that need more attention than some fictional kid from a place called Hogwarts?
We have kids going to class in trailers. Isn’t that more of a concern than the absurd notion that Harry Potter will lead to a generation of witches and warlocks.
We don’t having enough teachers to fill all the open slots. Shouldn’t we be more concerned about that than a work of fiction?
Should we also take “Gone with the Wind” out of libraries because some characters supported owning slaves? Do we take out Eldrige Cleaver’s “Soul on Ice” because it advocated the overthrow of the federal government? Ever count the number of n-bombs in the works of Mark Twain? And don’t get me started on the sexual perversity and homicidal violence in Shakespeare.
And while we’re at it, those Dr. Seuss books need a one-way ticket to Dumpsterville, too. First of all, Dr. Seuss was a pseudonym — what was that guy trying to hide, anyway? And the grammar in those books was atrocious — it promoted improper subject-verb agreement.
This kind of protest is like a carnival sideshow — diverting, maybe interesting but ultimately a waste of time.
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Comments
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By skeeter
June 4, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this
If that crazy woman were using her own money to fill her empty life with her crusade against Harry Potter, that would be one thing. However, I assume she’s been using taxpayer dollars to keep herself busy. She’s an incredibly narrow-minded person who should get out of the house and see the reality of the world around her.
By Kate
June 4, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
Laura Mallory HAS NOT READ ANY OF THE HARRY POTTER BOOKS. Her argument is therefore utterly bogus, based on fear and ignorance - hearsay is NEVER a sound basis for passing judgment. She’s intellectually LAZY, and any judge worth his/her salt should kick her out of the courtroom for that reason alone. Frankly, the good citizens of Georgia should investigate a class-action lawsuit against this woman to recover all the taxpayer money she’s wasted on this bogus crusade. She’s far more interested in all the attention she’s getting than in making any meaningful changes in children’s lives.
By WiccanTexan
June 4, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this
The only thing she’s done is make Harry more popular. “Intellectually lazy” is right on. But sheep never do question what they’re told. She’s been brainwashed herself, and would never get the irony of that.
By Gary
June 4, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
She’s an IDIOT plain and simple! Thank you for wasting my tax dollars for your own personal bull$#@% MORON!
By BurbHater
June 4, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this
Yeah, if she was trying to get “Heather Has Two Mommies” pulled off the shelves she’d have a cheering section and the backing of all sorts of wingnuts.
Censorship is only unacceptable, narrow-minded, and a waste of time to people as long as they like the books. If they don’t like it, it’s okay to keep it off the shelves because it’s “upholding community values” or “not forcing ideas down your throat”.
What a bunch of two-faced hypocrites.
By Mo Johnson
June 4, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this
Laura Mallory…hmm…Al Sharpton…hmm…Coca-Cola…hmm
Three marketing machines - except I don’t like the first two & can’t drink the third.
By Fulton County Mom
June 4, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this
I have stated many times that Ms. M has every right to prohibit her children from associating with Harry Potter. She does not however have the right to decree it for all—it is just me or is she as nutty as Umbridge?
IF Ms. M had a degree in Child Psych, the Occult, or even English Lit I would value her opinion more. However, she appears to be (or at least is content in appearing) a narrow minded indivdual.
I am a Christian, a parent, and a Potter fan. The Youth Ministers in at least 2 of me denominations churches not only have read Potter, but have used it to illustrate a point in the pulpit.
I agree that there is too much time being wasted on this woman….
By Someone with a functioning brain
June 4, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this
Hmmm, she wants to ban a book because it supposedly supports a religion? How about we actually ban a book that is full of murder, incest, beastiality and idol worship. It does nothing but cause strife and encourages people to hate other religions. Of course you know I am talking about that filth called “the bible” - ban it now!
By Someone with a functioning brain
June 4, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
Not too fun when someone picks on your beliefs, is it? And the HP books do not promote any religion. It is simply a basic good v. evil story line.
This lady really needs to get a brain and use it once in awhile. Hers is apparently being used as a doorstop somewhere.