Harry Potter Essay Example

Harry Potter Essay Example Harry Potter Essay Harry Potter Essay Many parents and school boards have challenged the presence of these books in libraries and school curricula. While Rolling attempts to represent the connection between good and evil in the Harry Potter series, many feel that series contents depict violence because the story deals with ghosts, cults and encourage cheating, corruption, lying and witchcraft; these ideas oppose several of the teachings of The Bible. Many disputes have risen over the series contents, especially in regards to its effect on young children. J. K. Rolling Harry Potter series has been questioned for its supposed inappropriate content and Its frequent use of Which supporting philosophies and has been banned and challenged In many schools and libraries worldwide since its publication in 1998. J. K. Rolling shows the ultimate victory of good overcoming evil through messages that embody love and courage In her novels J. K. Rolling expresses that the evil she portrayed In her novels was intentional. She utilizes evil characters such as Lord Voltmeter who has the ability to make others his slaves by dwelling in their bodies because she couldnt pretend that when dealing with evil, no one gets hurt (Rolling). The novel was banned in Zealand, Michigan shortly after its publication. Gary L. Fenniest, Superintendent of schools in Zealand, made a restriction on reading, sherries in school environment in any kind of way after he first read the books. Many concerned parents started to complain when their kids would go home and tell them scary stories about witches and goblins that involved spells. : Rev. Lori Joe Speeches, a worried parent expresses that as we expose our kids to the occult, we expose our kids to blood, to violence, and desensitizing them to that, (Savage). They let that their kids were not mature enough to handle such abrupt violence and did not want them to come home with new ideas that would eventually lead to their own downfall. As most parents would, they believed in keeping their kids away from evil by limiting their access to it. Some parents suggested that this kind of exposure to occult (Savage) will eventually lead to deadly violence such as the shooting that occurred In columbine High school In Littleton, Colorado. The books were supposedly harming their vulnerable children because they believed that their kids are like pongee, and they will soak things up and sometimes store them for a while before they spit them back out (Savings). On November 22 1999, parents and the superintendent decided to take action against this potential harm by making some firm pronouncements. They decided that the Harry Potter series cannot be displayed in school libraries, and if the student desires to read them, they must receive their I OFF As a result, the American Booksellers Foundation For Free Expression, an organization that completely disapproved of the decision, lashed out against the school decision to attics a minority of students and parents by banning the Harry Potter series because it would deprive a majority of students whose parents do not have an issue with this. As the organization became more adamant in its position, the advisory committee recommended reviewing the decision of Fenniest and the school staff. On May 1 1, 2000, Fenniest accepted its recommendation and retained the only the classroom readings for elementary school students. However, the Harry Potter series began to face an increasing number of opposition as the years passed. In the very next year, in March, Harry Potter was banned once again in the I-J. Carol Rockford, Principal of SST Mars Island Church of England School in Chatham, Kent expresses her opinion about the Harry Potter series as a part of the school curriculum. Rockford, speaking on the issue, states that the nature of the stories does not fit in with the schools church ethos (School Bans Harry Potter 1). Rockford and the other school staff felt that the books did not match up with their religious beliefs and clashed with the teachings of the bible. In her opinion, they promote what the Bible clearly condemns, I. E. , witchcraft and sorcery (Banes, 5). Expanding on the motive behind the decision, Rockford states, the Bible is very clear and consistent in its teachings that wizards, devils and demons exist and are very real, powerful and dangerous and Gods people are told to have nothing to do with them. We are a Church of England aided primary school which means the church ethos is very important to what we do. (Robinson). Rosewoods strong position about the Harry Potter series in the school library shelves sparked uproar among many. National Secular Society stated that it is wrong to remove the series from schools because it had always been an imagination booster and banning these books would be doing students a great disservice. INS General Secretary Keith Portentous makes a comment that Childrens imaginations have been nourished for centuries with stories of wizards, witches and fairies (School Bans Harry Potter 1). From the US, Author J. K. Rolling defended her books and said that the books are in fact moral. She states that the good and evil is hat shapes the story, and that the novels needed to include such ingredients to honestly tell their stories. (School Bans Harry Potterl). This did not stop Carol Rosewoods and the school staffs firm decision. In 2005, Genuine County, Georgia, Laura Mallory argued to ban the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Cabana from J. C Magical Elementary school, where her four kids attended school. Originally from Louisville, she argued that since teachers do not assign books such as the Bible for student reading, Harry Potter should not be assigned either Mallory thought that the kooks are harmful to children. She said, The good characters lie, cheat and steal and are not punished. The stories encourage children to perform spells and promote Which. (Diamond). Mallory trusts the school system to protect her precious young children and she certainly doesnt want them indoctrinated into Wisconsin (Ban Harry Potter or face more school shootings). As a result of Mallory attempt to ban the books, Genuine officials argued that the books are a good learning tool and encourage children to read and to spark creativity and imagination (Ban Harry Potter or face more school shootings). The School Board argued that banning books Victoria Sweeney, an attorney representing the Gannett County Board of Education, expressed that it would be wrong to remove the book from schools based on one persons opinion. On December 14, 2006, the Georgia Board ruled that there is no reason for the books to be banned, thus stating that the parent failed to prove her point that the series promotes the Which religion and therefore that the books availability in public schools does not constitute advocacy of a religion (Harry Potter ND the Prisoner of Cabana). The books were also banned in Wakefield, Massachusetts when Rev Ron Barker, SST. Josephs pastor, removed the books from the school libraries claiming that witchcraft and magic are not appropriate enough to be a part of a Catholic school. While many agreed with Barker, many other students and parents were upset about the decision because it was made without notice. Rick Hudson, a parent who has sent his three children to SST. Josephs School, expressed that he was upset that this was done in the first place but he was more upset that it as done in secret. A mother, who asked that her name not be used, said, l think the spirit of what hes doing is the right thing. I believe he is sincerely interested in the childrens well-being. (Luggage). She trusts Barkers Judgment and believes he would never do harm for the students. Ever since its original publication in 1998, J. K. Rolling Harry Potter has sparked much controversy over the years. As one of the most banned books, it is no surprise that many parents and school boards challenge the presence of the books in libraries and school curricula. According to he American Library Association, every year from 1999 to 2002, Harry Potter topped the list of titles challenged or targeted for censorship Len 2003, it ranked second (Bald, 125). Rolling attempt to represent the association between good and evil failed in many places in the United States and other countries as well. J. K. Rolling Harry Potter series is a work that has been questioned for its supposedly violent content and particularly its repeated use of philosophies behind witchcraft that promote Which, and as a result, has been banned or challenged in many schools and libraries around the world.