Previous by Date | Next by Date | Date Index
Previous by Thread | Next by Thread
| Thread Index
| LM_NET
Archive
| |
Dear LM_NETTERS: Thanks so much for your helpful responses to the Harry Potter challenge at my school. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to put this hit together. To recap, a parent objected to a classroom teacher using Harry Potter as a read aloud. We had an initial meeting with the parent, the teacher, the principal, and me, as library media specialist. When I requested this hit, I was looking for helpful information for the meeting. At the meeting, the parent expressed her concerns. The principal explained the reconsideration policy, but the parent declined to fill out the paperwork or appear before the school board. She appeared to be satisfied that the teacher discusses the reading with the students, including their own ideas of what is right and wrong. One of the most useful suggestions I received was to contact the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom. They sent me a packet specifically for Harry Potter challenges, which I am saving in case of future need. I suppose everyone has to go through a challenge sometime, and I feel very fortunate that it ended this way, with all parties being very civil to each other, and the book still on the shelf. I am very thankful to work in a school with such a supportive and intelligent principal (and no, she doesn’t read this list!) Anyway, here’s the hit. Thanks again. Sylvia L. Adair, K-8 Library Media Specialist, Lomira, Wisconsin ***** If you have access to the Lutheran Standard, the periodical put out by the ELCA, there is a short article encouraging adults and children reading Harry Potter in the last issue. ***** Our school system solved this problem by decreeing that we cannot read the story in class or make it a class assignment, but what they select from the library is their own business... ***** In order to get a better perspective as to why the Harry Potter books are being challenged, you might want to look at the article entitled "Harry Potter's Hocus-Pocus" in The NEW AMERICAN, Vol. 16, No. 18, August 28, 2000. It can be found at: http://www.thenewamerican.com/website/search.htm I quote from the article, "Millions of kids formerly interested only in video games are now reading, thanks to the unprecedented popularity of the Harry Potter books -- but there are some red flags." ***** > This woman claims that Harry Potter books have been banned in > several states Sylvia, One could argue as reasonably--which is to say not reasonably at all--that Christianity was banned, historically, in several regions; that women were prohibited from voting for ages; that simply because one has a minority opinion/perspective, it must ever be wrong. Such an (flat Earth) argument would point back at the very one arguing, leaving her out in the cold--and that is not her hope, eh? Bottom line, it is certainly appropriate--and critical--to hold one's critics to account for their reasoning, or lack thereof. Invite a reasoned discussion of the true issues (as I see you are engaged in achieving), and insist that you and your program be respected in the meantime. ***** I know that last week on this serve someone was negative about the Shafer book. I got it from Barnes and Noble on line in 2 days. It has some excellent material to refute the satanist stuff. Shows how Rawling uses her characters to fight good and evil much like parts of the bible etc. I think it would be a good source of info to help you clear up some things. A bunch of good "stuff" on Rowlings background and purpose. i.e.: Using "he who will not be mentioned" is symbolic of the people in Cuba who make a stroking gesture on their chins to indicate they are talking about Castro etc. Good luck ***** I am new to the list serve so I'm not sure if I am doing this right but I read your posting regarding the Harry Potter Books. My district is made up of three elementary schools K-6. We use a program called "Accelerated Reader." This program is to get kids to kid more and it is working. A student reads a book which has a point value and then takes a test on the computer about the story. The books are ranked according to grade level and difficulty. The Harry Potter books are on the "Honor List" because of their level of difficulty. But the point is they are included in this program. ***** Isn't it the responsibility of the challenger to prove his or her statements are true and not slanderous? I don't agree that it is your responsibility to disprove an untruth. You may wish to contact ALA for help. Here are a couple sites that may help you: http://www.mugglesforharrypotter.org/ This site had this statement: Harry Potter books have been challenged in at least 13 states, according to the American Library Association. Most of those challenges are still pending or have been resolved without imposing restrictions. However, the Zeeland, Michigan, school district has banned read alouds, removed the books from display in elementary school libraries and requires parental permission to check out the books or use them for book reports. (More information about the Zeeland, Michigan, case.) There are also reports of banning in school districts in Colorado and Kansas. http://yabooks.about.com/teens/yabooks/bl_potter.htm http://maxpages.com/hogwarts8897 - this is interesting because the webmaster (who says he/she is Christian) gets too much negative mail. http://www.mikids.com/harrypotter/ This site has a link to "Christian Thoughts," which has an interesting article by a minister: http://www.thehollandsentinel.net/stories/110699/rel_casevk.html ***** Keep us posted. My Principal is the one pulling my books from the library. ***** Have you contacted Office of Intellectual Freedom at ALA in Chicago: oif@ala.org www.ala.org They're helpful and prompt. ***** We had a parent object to the book being read aloud last year. The teacher was reading the book as "reading enrichment". After conferring with me and our principal we determined that the student could use the same time for his reading enrichment by joining our special reading teacher in her classroom and enjoy a book of "his" (parents?) choice on his own for the time the teacher was reading aloud in the classroom. I was pleased with this arrangement. The student was supplied with an alternative activity and the other 21 students were not deprived of a story that had them spell bound. The teacher told me later she had never read a book that her students enjoyed more. They used sequencing skills to review the events before reading that day's selection. She said she had never had a class do so well with their sequencing skills! I was always amused to see that student wearing his multiple versions of WWF Smack Down t-shirts. I guess some forms of fantasy are o.k. Good luck. ***** Check out mugglesforharrypotter.com, especially the link "In Defense of Harry." They keep up with HP challenges and should be helpful ***** If you have not found this website, its a good one. <www.mikids.com/harrypotter Click on "Christian Thoughts" and "Ban Harry". There are good links here to several articles that might help. ***** Have you checked with the american Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom? They track challenges and they would have information on where Harry Potter books have been censored. There was one school where it was censored and the teachers asked to have the decision reconsidered and the school now has the book again. ALAs web site is http://www.ala.org ***** If you don't have a selection policy and a policy in place for challenges, now is the time to make them. When a book is challenged, only the book should be discussed, not the author. If you would like, I would be happy to send you copies of our district's policies. It does help. Our district has 100 sites and we average about 2-3 challenges a year. We have never pulled a book. ***** Good luck to you - we have a really supportive principal too but the district still has forbidden classroom use of Harry Potter, displays in classroom, and wearing apparel related to HP by teachers. Fortunately no one seems to care what the library does so we still talk, walk, wear and display as we wish and the books remain on the shelves. This is a very useful site and I have several print-outs on subject at work that I can fax you if you wish. <A HREF="http://mugglesforharrypotter.org/">Click here: Muggles for Harry Potter</A> @ http://mugglesforharrypotter.org/ Good Luck! ***** Turn the negative around and ask the challenger to provide proof that J. K. Rowling is a satanist and that Harry Potter has been banned in other states. Put the burden of proof on the challenger. Remind the committee that hearsay and rumors should never be counted in determining the outcome of any challenge. Show the committee that "The Onion" piece (it's on their web site) has run a satirical piece on Harry Potter and that many people are circulating this hoax around the country as fact, including many responsible pastors. This should reduce the fear in the room. Second, demonstrate that Harry Potter is like any other fantasy book. It has the great themes of fiction - good vs. evil (good always wins), kids coming of age, friendship, etc. If it is banned then should the committee ban all fairy tales and other fantasy books like The Wizard of Oz, Robin Hood, King Arthur, Narnia series, etc. because they have the same themes? Third, pull out the Christian Library Journal review of the first three Harry Potter books (it's online). Show the committee that even Christian schools have Harry Potter on their shelves. ***** You may have already seen these, but there are several review sources at my site: www.bellaonline.com/career/professions/library_resources It includes an article about The Onion email. ***** Don't your selection policies require her to furnish proof of claims? If not, they should. While having your own facts and information is great to back up the reasons to have Harry, I would hope that no evaluation committee would accept her statements without her provided written proof. **** Again, thanks to all the respondents, whose names have been removed to protect the helpful. Sylvia L. Adair, K-8 Library Media Specialist Lomira, Wisconsin adair@execpc.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv. For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors: http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=