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Hey all and welcome to fall!
It's time for crisp cool mornings and nights, falling leavs, the leaves changing color, pumpkins, hot apple cyder, bonfires, the autumn smells and halloween and in my case Samhain! I love fall!
Just a bit of a fun quiz before i get into the article.
And this should surprise anyone why? I wasn't given the nick The queen of sarcasm for nothing. :P.
Ok, I'm not against christians at all, I in fact have a few friends that are christian and they are just as nice as can be. i just wanted to get that out there before someone came back and left nasty comments at me.
This article was taken from http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/harry-potter-banned-by-christian-school-20120824-24q7i.html
I'll give my comments after the article.
Harry Potter banned by Christian school
DateAugust 24, 2012
Alison Branley
Medowie Christian School has defended a decision to ban witches and warlocks from its annual book week parade and the Harry Potter series from the school library.
The school was one of many in the Hunter Valley that marked Book Week this week by asking children to dress up as their favourite book character for a parade.
Frankly, we do not want any of our younger students or their siblings feeling frightened, intimidated or uncomfortable during any school activities.
Principal Samantha Van de Mortel asked parents not to send children to school on Wednesday as witches and warlocks because it was inconsistent with school values.
She said it was a standing policy because the school felt it was not in line with its Christian ethos.
"We just don't believe that's something we want to promote. We promote a Christian focus," Ms Van de Mortel said.
She said the parade was a primary school event that was also open to students' younger siblings and they were concerned many retail costumes were quite gruesome.
"Frankly, we do not want any of our younger students or their siblings feeling frightened, intimidated or uncomfortable during any school activities," she said.
While witches, warlocks and Harry Potter characters were out at the Medowie school, the characters allowed in the parade included Anakin Skywalker, The Mad Hatter and the Gingerbread Man.
Ms Van de Mortel said the Harry Potter series, which is about witches and wizards, was not available in the school library because it had been the subject of many international debates.
It topped the list as the 10 Most Challenged Books of the 21st Century by the American Library Association.
"Medowie Christian School respects the right of parents to make decisions on whether or not to allow/encourage their child to read material," Ms Van de Mortel said.
"In respecting that right [we] do not stock books from the Harry Potter Series, or indeed other titles, which are the subject of polarising public discussion."
Medowie mother Bobbie Antonic, whose children do not attend the school, raised the issue on social networking site Twitter and said she was concerned it was censorship.
"I was just blown away by it. It's just bizarre," she said.
"Books are not reality."
Medowie Christian School Parents and Friends Association manager Lisa Taylor said from a parent's point of view the prohibition was "no big deal".
"In the lead up to Halloween the shops are full of so many grotesque, frightening costumes and I've got two little boys," she said. "It's supposed to be a celebration of literature."
She said parents were happy the school library did not send students home with books that could force a topic up for discussion.
"I would like to be able to make that choice for my own kids," Ms Taylor said.
Newcastle Herald
End of article.
Would someone please enlighten me as to how a boy dressed in robes and a pointy wizard's hat looks scary? Or how does a girl dawning a robe and a witches pointy hat makes a child want to run away from her in terror? I can understand if they use green makeup or making a wizard or witch look ugly, but normal wizarding robes along with a black pointed hat is *not* frightening at all.
This is what the witches and wizards in the Harry Potter series look like. Just kids dressed in black robes and hats along with their house colors. Green ties for Slytherin, red for Gryffindor, blue for Raven claw and yellow for huffle puff. Then we have Professor Dumbledore who is a bit eccentric and dresses colorful but there again, still *not* scary looking. In fact he reminds me of Santa Claus. Are people going to say that a fat jolly old manthat dresses in red and white with a long white beard and hair is scary looking too?
The only way I can see a witch or wizard looking scary is if they dress as death eaters or Lord Voldemort who frightens me. Not because I find himn scary looking, but he's just plain ugly. Just sayin. I suppose Severus Snape could be considered scary looking as well, we won't go there...back on the the topic at hand... To a child I can see that being scary.
Dressing as Harry Potter himself however, not scary in the least. He's just a plain boy dressed in robes and a pointed hat with his house colors and a pair of glasses that look horrid, poor Harry and he rides a broom. Black messy hair and vivid green eyes, the color of emeralds. Does this sound freaky to you? No, I think not.
The problem with a lot of parents these days, and don't get upset because i'm not saying all parents is that they don't take the time to explain the difference between fantasy and reality. It is the responsibility of the parent to teach their children this, not schools and certainly not society. Yes they are going to read books, yes they are going to watch movies and yes they are going to learn things from their friends but it is then a parents job to teach the child right from wrong. Yes the parent has the right to tell their child yes you can read this book or no you can't read this book. If something goes against their beliefs then by all means don't let the child read the book. This brings me to my next point...
What happens to those who don't have the same beliefs? So we now have the issue of putting one persons beliefs over anothers. That's not right either. So it has come down to passifying one group but then pissing off another group. I believe that all beliefs should be taken into account, not just one group. It's not the schools right to take away someone elses beliefs just because they don't think it's right. I think that it's sad it has come to that.
IN closing, Yes there are parts of The Harry Potter series that are totally frightening, i don't disagree with that at all. I do agree with the school not wanint to frighten little children but what I disagree with is them taking the right away from the parents/children to express themself how they wish. As i said, the wizards/witches in the HP series are not scary looking at all with the acception of Voldie and the death munchers. Did anyone notice that they didn't say anything about the kids coming dressed up as vampires? Just sayin.
When I see things like that article it makes me angry. I don't believe they should ban Harry Potter, personally i think the reason they did is because they are afraid of the unknown. It doesn't go along with the christian values. Everyone knows that what goes on in the books isn't real. Being a wiccan I face the same things. No, we don't fly on brooms, no we don't have the ability to transfigure anyone into other things, we don't worship satan or any other thing that people are misguided about. WE do believe in magic but it's natural earth magic. I'll explain that some other time. This isn't really a discussion about wicca and it shouldn't have been brought up probably but I get worked up at times. My point was though that I believe that's why they banned the book. They associate it with witchcraft and they are misinformed about a lot of things.
Final question. Since when is it ok to take a child's right to imagination away? Think on that.
With that I leave you now. Being sick is not any kind of fun. Until next time...
<3hugs and love to all<3.
Lily
It's time for crisp cool mornings and nights, falling leavs, the leaves changing color, pumpkins, hot apple cyder, bonfires, the autumn smells and halloween and in my case Samhain! I love fall!
Just a bit of a fun quiz before i get into the article.
You're Totally Sarcastic |
 You sarcastic? Never! You're as sweet as a baby bunny. Seriously, though, you have a sharp tongue - and you aren't afraid to use it. And if people are too wimpy to deal with your attitude, then too bad. So sad. |
And this should surprise anyone why? I wasn't given the nick The queen of sarcasm for nothing. :P.
Ok, I'm not against christians at all, I in fact have a few friends that are christian and they are just as nice as can be. i just wanted to get that out there before someone came back and left nasty comments at me.
This article was taken from http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/harry-potter-banned-by-christian-school-20120824-24q7i.html
I'll give my comments after the article.
Harry Potter banned by Christian school
DateAugust 24, 2012
Alison Branley
Medowie Christian School has defended a decision to ban witches and warlocks from its annual book week parade and the Harry Potter series from the school library.
The school was one of many in the Hunter Valley that marked Book Week this week by asking children to dress up as their favourite book character for a parade.
Frankly, we do not want any of our younger students or their siblings feeling frightened, intimidated or uncomfortable during any school activities.
Principal Samantha Van de Mortel asked parents not to send children to school on Wednesday as witches and warlocks because it was inconsistent with school values.
She said it was a standing policy because the school felt it was not in line with its Christian ethos.
"We just don't believe that's something we want to promote. We promote a Christian focus," Ms Van de Mortel said.
She said the parade was a primary school event that was also open to students' younger siblings and they were concerned many retail costumes were quite gruesome.
"Frankly, we do not want any of our younger students or their siblings feeling frightened, intimidated or uncomfortable during any school activities," she said.
While witches, warlocks and Harry Potter characters were out at the Medowie school, the characters allowed in the parade included Anakin Skywalker, The Mad Hatter and the Gingerbread Man.
Ms Van de Mortel said the Harry Potter series, which is about witches and wizards, was not available in the school library because it had been the subject of many international debates.
It topped the list as the 10 Most Challenged Books of the 21st Century by the American Library Association.
"Medowie Christian School respects the right of parents to make decisions on whether or not to allow/encourage their child to read material," Ms Van de Mortel said.
"In respecting that right [we] do not stock books from the Harry Potter Series, or indeed other titles, which are the subject of polarising public discussion."
Medowie mother Bobbie Antonic, whose children do not attend the school, raised the issue on social networking site Twitter and said she was concerned it was censorship.
"I was just blown away by it. It's just bizarre," she said.
"Books are not reality."
Medowie Christian School Parents and Friends Association manager Lisa Taylor said from a parent's point of view the prohibition was "no big deal".
"In the lead up to Halloween the shops are full of so many grotesque, frightening costumes and I've got two little boys," she said. "It's supposed to be a celebration of literature."
She said parents were happy the school library did not send students home with books that could force a topic up for discussion.
"I would like to be able to make that choice for my own kids," Ms Taylor said.
Newcastle Herald
End of article.
Would someone please enlighten me as to how a boy dressed in robes and a pointy wizard's hat looks scary? Or how does a girl dawning a robe and a witches pointy hat makes a child want to run away from her in terror? I can understand if they use green makeup or making a wizard or witch look ugly, but normal wizarding robes along with a black pointed hat is *not* frightening at all.
This is what the witches and wizards in the Harry Potter series look like. Just kids dressed in black robes and hats along with their house colors. Green ties for Slytherin, red for Gryffindor, blue for Raven claw and yellow for huffle puff. Then we have Professor Dumbledore who is a bit eccentric and dresses colorful but there again, still *not* scary looking. In fact he reminds me of Santa Claus. Are people going to say that a fat jolly old manthat dresses in red and white with a long white beard and hair is scary looking too?
The only way I can see a witch or wizard looking scary is if they dress as death eaters or Lord Voldemort who frightens me. Not because I find himn scary looking, but he's just plain ugly. Just sayin. I suppose Severus Snape could be considered scary looking as well, we won't go there...back on the the topic at hand... To a child I can see that being scary.
Dressing as Harry Potter himself however, not scary in the least. He's just a plain boy dressed in robes and a pointed hat with his house colors and a pair of glasses that look horrid, poor Harry and he rides a broom. Black messy hair and vivid green eyes, the color of emeralds. Does this sound freaky to you? No, I think not.
The problem with a lot of parents these days, and don't get upset because i'm not saying all parents is that they don't take the time to explain the difference between fantasy and reality. It is the responsibility of the parent to teach their children this, not schools and certainly not society. Yes they are going to read books, yes they are going to watch movies and yes they are going to learn things from their friends but it is then a parents job to teach the child right from wrong. Yes the parent has the right to tell their child yes you can read this book or no you can't read this book. If something goes against their beliefs then by all means don't let the child read the book. This brings me to my next point...
What happens to those who don't have the same beliefs? So we now have the issue of putting one persons beliefs over anothers. That's not right either. So it has come down to passifying one group but then pissing off another group. I believe that all beliefs should be taken into account, not just one group. It's not the schools right to take away someone elses beliefs just because they don't think it's right. I think that it's sad it has come to that.
IN closing, Yes there are parts of The Harry Potter series that are totally frightening, i don't disagree with that at all. I do agree with the school not wanint to frighten little children but what I disagree with is them taking the right away from the parents/children to express themself how they wish. As i said, the wizards/witches in the HP series are not scary looking at all with the acception of Voldie and the death munchers. Did anyone notice that they didn't say anything about the kids coming dressed up as vampires? Just sayin.
When I see things like that article it makes me angry. I don't believe they should ban Harry Potter, personally i think the reason they did is because they are afraid of the unknown. It doesn't go along with the christian values. Everyone knows that what goes on in the books isn't real. Being a wiccan I face the same things. No, we don't fly on brooms, no we don't have the ability to transfigure anyone into other things, we don't worship satan or any other thing that people are misguided about. WE do believe in magic but it's natural earth magic. I'll explain that some other time. This isn't really a discussion about wicca and it shouldn't have been brought up probably but I get worked up at times. My point was though that I believe that's why they banned the book. They associate it with witchcraft and they are misinformed about a lot of things.
Final question. Since when is it ok to take a child's right to imagination away? Think on that.
With that I leave you now. Being sick is not any kind of fun. Until next time...
<3hugs and love to all<3.
Lily
