Should high school students have to read Harry Potter?

AprilHare · 03-28-2011, 07:27 AM

Seriously, should they have to read that slop?

wyndslash · 03-28-2011, 07:51 AM

i think it should be optional.

my high school banned HP from the very start and distributed notices to everyone about how satanic it was and that the author prayed to the devil at night.

AprilHare · 03-28-2011, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyndslash

i think it should be optional.

my high school banned HP from the very start and distributed notices to everyone about how satanic it was and that the author prayed to the devil at night.

I'd be very interested in reading such a notice.
Can you post scans?

wyndslash · 03-28-2011, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AprilHare

I'd be very interested in reading such a notice.
Can you post scans?

oh, it was such a long time ago, around the time the first HP book was released. i don't have it anymore.

HarryT · 03-28-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AprilHare

Seriously, should they have to read that slop?

Slop? I think they're very good, personally. What is it that you dislike about them?

mrscoach · 03-28-2011, 09:56 AM

It shouldn't be required for a teacher to teach it, but it should be an option if they WANT to teach one.

I knew one fourth grade teacher who taught one of the books, and the students quite liked it and participated in the discussions and assignments quite enthusiastically. These were nine and ten year olds who were doing their own research into the mythology and such that JK used so thoroughly and effectively in her work.

So, I think if it is what the teacher chooses to teach then the student should read it, but it shouldn't be forced upon the teacher to teach. All teachers have their favorite books and can much better teach a book they like than one they hated and don't understand as well.

dsvick · 03-28-2011, 10:03 AM

I don't know that I'd call them slop, on the other hand they aren't literary masterpieces either. I read them all and also enjoyed them a lot. I think for a series of book written for young teen readers they are very well written and accomplish their intent quite well.

If using one or more of the Harry Potter books can get the students to read and participate in class as mrscoach describes then I say, by all means, use them. I think at that age you're dong well to get a book in their hands instead of some sort of electronic game or toy.

wyndslash · 03-28-2011, 10:14 AM

my university has a literature elective on harry potter, lord of the rings (i think), and local classics. i wonder when they change it, though.

spellbanisher · 03-28-2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyndslash

i think it should be optional.

my high school banned HP from the very start and distributed notices to everyone about how satanic it was and that the author prayed to the devil at night.

Did you go to a catholic school?

desertblues · 03-28-2011, 03:23 PM

I imagine that some schoolteachers will be glad that their students read anything at all, and not worry about morals or values. (edit: unofficially that is.).
I've had the care of a schoollibrary for a few years, and especially for the boys (notorious bad readers) I would buy all kind of horror- and other books, like ' World Guiness Record book' ; just to get them reading. I would have been glad for them to get to the level of Harry Potter.

obs20 · 03-28-2011, 04:26 PM

Simple answer: If it's part of the approved curriculum and the teacher assigned it then the answer is yes. They'll always be a reason to object to any book. The last thing we need are parents enabling their children to avoid their assignments. If we are to hold a class discussion on a novel then the class is expected to read it.
That being said I'm not a fan of the Harry Potter series I'd rather assign The Arabian Nights by Andrew Lang Which I'm sure would get me into more trouble than Harry Potter.

Cyclops · 03-28-2011, 05:18 PM

Well I'm glad I'm not in school cos I would have to say no way! But then i hate being made to read something-we never did that at school.

phenomshel · 03-28-2011, 05:38 PM

I read all of them and enjoyed them thoroughly (as an adult) and don't think I'd call them "slop" although as someone noted above, they aren't literary masterpieces. I know people (my ex husband is one - give you a clue as to why he's my ex?) who think they're evil, satanic, pick your pejorative adjective here.
My note on it is this: they're FICTION. My opinion is that anything that gets kids interested in reading is a good thing. Think of the worlds HP could open up for a kid who hated reading up until they got hold of those books?

desertblues · 03-28-2011, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenomshel

I read all of them and enjoyed them thoroughly (as an adult) and don't think I'd call them "slop" although as someone noted above, they aren't literary masterpieces. I know people (my ex husband is one - give you a clue as to why he's my ex?) who think they're evil, satanic, pick your pejorative adjective here.
My note on it is this: they're FICTION. My opinion is that anything that gets kids interested in reading is a good thing. Think of the worlds HP could open up for a kid who hated reading up until they got hold of those books?

Too right. For that schoollibrary I even bought books of RL Stine

, so I could get those boys to read. And yes; also Harry Potter, which was far too difficult for some of the boys, but it made them look good if they could say ' I'm reading Harry Potter'. And they worked at it, really; they were so proud; so cute to see.

Freeshadow · 03-28-2011, 06:59 PM

please everything but not that scetchy unfinished plot-holed crap
LotR, or - in case of younger ones - the Chronicles of Pyrdain right, do it

*sigh* I still don't get how someone even dares to compare that with tolkien, as it was usus during it's damn hype.

but to be honest I d prefer every fanboy screaaming about "the new tolkien" than those fanatic salivating freaks who go along with "Ahh - all evel and satanic ban and burn them all"

View Poll Results: Should high school students have to read Harry Potter?
Yes	6	8.57%
It should be optional	28	40.00%
No	22	31.43%
It should be banned from schools	3	4.29%
The blue one next to the fish	11	15.71%
Voters: 70. You may not vote on this poll

03-28-2011, 07:27 AM	#1
AprilHare Wizard Posts: 2,981 Karma: 11862367 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T2	Should high school students have to read Harry Potter? Seriously, should they have to read that slop?

03-28-2011, 03:23 PM	#10
desertblues Home for the moment Posts: 5,127 Karma: 27718936 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: travelling Device: various	I imagine that some schoolteachers will be glad that their students read anything at all, and not worry about morals or values. (edit: unofficially that is.). I've had the care of a schoollibrary for a few years, and especially for the boys (notorious bad readers) I would buy all kind of horror- and other books, like ' World Guiness Record book' ; just to get them reading. I would have been glad for them to get to the level of Harry Potter. Last edited by desertblues; 03-28-2011 at 03:57 PM. Reason: clarifying

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03-28-2011, 07:51 AM	#2
wyndslash Wizard Posts: 2,951 Karma: 3000001 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3 wifi, Kindle Fire	i think it should be optional. my high school banned HP from the very start and distributed notices to everyone about how satanic it was and that the author prayed to the devil at night.

03-28-2011, 09:56 AM	#6
mrscoach Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 4837659 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Angelo Texas Device: Samsung Galaxy tab	It shouldn't be required for a teacher to teach it, but it should be an option if they WANT to teach one. I knew one fourth grade teacher who taught one of the books, and the students quite liked it and participated in the discussions and assignments quite enthusiastically. These were nine and ten year olds who were doing their own research into the mythology and such that JK used so thoroughly and effectively in her work. So, I think if it is what the teacher chooses to teach then the student should read it, but it shouldn't be forced upon the teacher to teach. All teachers have their favorite books and can much better teach a book they like than one they hated and don't understand as well.

03-28-2011, 10:03 AM	#7
dsvick Wizard Posts: 2,737 Karma: 635747 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northeast Ohio, USA Device: PRS-900	I don't know that I'd call them slop, on the other hand they aren't literary masterpieces either. I read them all and also enjoyed them a lot. I think for a series of book written for young teen readers they are very well written and accomplish their intent quite well. If using one or more of the Harry Potter books can get the students to read and participate in class as mrscoach describes then I say, by all means, use them. I think at that age you're dong well to get a book in their hands instead of some sort of electronic game or toy.

03-28-2011, 10:14 AM	#8
wyndslash Wizard Posts: 2,951 Karma: 3000001 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3 wifi, Kindle Fire	my university has a literature elective on harry potter, lord of the rings (i think), and local classics. i wonder when they change it, though.

03-28-2011, 04:26 PM	#11
obs20 Wizard Posts: 2,793 Karma: 29028512 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida Device: Sony PRS 600, Nook ST, Toshiba Excite 10.1 AT 300	Simple answer: If it's part of the approved curriculum and the teacher assigned it then the answer is yes. They'll always be a reason to object to any book. The last thing we need are parents enabling their children to avoid their assignments. If we are to hold a class discussion on a novel then the class is expected to read it. That being said I'm not a fan of the Harry Potter series I'd rather assign The Arabian Nights by Andrew Lang Which I'm sure would get me into more trouble than Harry Potter.

03-28-2011, 05:18 PM	#12
Cyclops Only need one eye to read Posts: 796 Karma: 6277024 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Darlington, England Device: Kobo Touch N905C, Sony PRS-300, Nintendo DSi XL,	Well I'm glad I'm not in school cos I would have to say no way! But then i hate being made to read something-we never did that at school.

03-28-2011, 05:38 PM	#13
phenomshel ZCD BombShel Posts: 4,793 Karma: 8293322 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA) Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis	I read all of them and enjoyed them thoroughly (as an adult) and don't think I'd call them "slop" although as someone noted above, they aren't literary masterpieces. I know people (my ex husband is one - give you a clue as to why he's my ex?) who think they're evil, satanic, pick your pejorative adjective here. My note on it is this: they're FICTION. My opinion is that anything that gets kids interested in reading is a good thing. Think of the worlds HP could open up for a kid who hated reading up until they got hold of those books?

03-28-2011, 06:59 PM	#15
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,818 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	please everything but not that scetchy unfinished plot-holed crap LotR, or - in case of younger ones - the Chronicles of Pyrdain right, do it sigh I still don't get how someone even dares to compare that with tolkien, as it was usus during it's damn hype. but to be honest I d prefer every fanboy screaaming about "the new tolkien" than those fanatic salivating freaks who go along with "Ahh - all evel and satanic ban and burn them all"