Depending on who you talk to, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books are either wonderful fantasy novels with powerful messages for kids, or they are evil books designed to promoted an interest in the occult since Harry is a wizard. Some say the books have encouraged reluctant readers to read and others that they have encouraged readers to value witchcraft. In a number of states, there have been attempts, some successful, some unsuccessful, to have the books banned in classrooms, and banned or under severe restrictions in school libraries.
The latest challenge began in Gwinnett County, Georgia, where a parent challenged the Harry Potter books on the grounds that they promoted wichcraft. When school officials ruled against her, she went to the state Board of Education. When the BOE confirmed the right of local school officials to make such decision, she took her battle against the books to court. Although the judge ruled against her in the spring of 2007, she has indicated she might continue her fight against the series.
As a result of all of the attempts to ban the Harry Potter books, those in favor of the series have also been speaking out.
kidSPEAK
What do the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the Association of American Publishers, the Association of Booksellers for Children, the Children's Book Council, the Freedom to Read Foundation, the National Coalition Against Censorship, the National Council of Teachers of English, the PEN American Center, and the People for the American Way Foundation have in common? They are all sponsors of kidSPEAK!, which was initially called Muggles for Harry Potter. (In the Harry Potter series, a Muggle is a non-magical person.)According to the organization, "Kids have First Amendment rights-and kidSPEAK! helps kids fight for them!"
Challenges and Support for the Harry Potter Series
The Harry Potter books were number seven on the American Library Association's list of the 100 most frequently challenged books of 1990-2000. In a 2007 Banned Books Week media release, the ALA reported, "The Harry Potter series ranks as the number one most challenged book series of the 21st Century (2000-2006)." There have been challenges to the Harry Potter books in over a dozen states. While many an article has been written in defense of the books, there have also been many written against the books.My Thoughts
I share the view that it is wrong to censor these books. Instead, I believe that parents and teachers should take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Harry Potter series to increase their children's interest in reading and writing and use the books to promote family discussions about issues that might otherwise not be discussed.With the publication of the final book, the controversy has continued. All of the books have been bestsellers, including the seventh and last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In an interview in The Times of London, prior to the publication of the fourth Harry Potter, author J.K. Rowling stated, "I have said from the beginning that if you really are going to honestly examine evil actions then you have a moral obligation not to fudge the issue."
However you feel about the books, be sure that you read the books and related articles so you can make an informed decision about the Harry Potter books. If you want to show your support for the books, do it by supporting kidSPEAK!, educating yourself about your community's and school district's policies, and speaking out as needed.
