Should high school students have to read Harry Potter?

[AprilHare]

Harry Potter Books Spark Rise In Satanism Among Children: The Onion http://www.theonion.com/articles/har...among-ch,2413/

[AprilHare]

No-ones voted yes to high school students having to do something?
I thought that was what high school was about: having to do what other people told you to do!

[desertblues]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

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"

It is, of course, always a matter of taste.

[wyndslash]

Originally Posted by spellbanisher

Did you go to a catholic school?

no, protestant. our principal was strange. he even banned hair gel.

[wyndslash]

Originally Posted by AprilHare

No-ones voted yes to high school students having to do something?
I thought that was what high school was about: having to do what other people told you to do!

well, books are another topic :P man, now that i think about it, i was almost brainwashed by my protestant high school. it's kind of creepy that i almost unconditionally believed almost everything they told me. :|

[Billjr13]

If the teacher wants to teach those books go for it. No mater what books are read in school some students will hate it and some will love it and most will just get through the assignments; just like in the adult world. It still surprises me how judgemental people can be about what entertains others. If I read a book, watch a movie, or tv show and ejnoy it, hate it, love it loath it, I don't feel that everyone else opinion has to be the same as mine. I am always amazed that J K Rowling, Dan Brown, James Patterson and Stephen King ect., are hated by some, mostly because they are massively popular, and being massively popular, they are selling billions of books, and because of that they are trash. I don't care if you don't like their work, or their writting style (or lack there of) that is fine, really, but because others like them doesn't make them idiots. I Hate, Hate, Hate reality tv especially American Idol, Dancing With the (unknown) Stars, Big Brother, Survivor, ect. But there are tons people out there that do, and for the life of me I can't understand why... but does that make them right/wrong? No just different, different tastes for different people.

[Freeshadow]

@desertblues
in this case no - taste isn't involved. I'read it and can point to the plotholes, logical mistakes, etc. I actually rant about. Pieces with so much technical flaws in them shouldn't be used as teaching material.

Originally Posted by wyndslash

our principal ... even banned hair gel.

so people actually had to wash their hair instead of reapplying fixative every morning

[wyndslash]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

so people actually had to wash their hair instead of reapplying fixative every morning

well, everyone here takes a bath everyday :P

[Noah98]

I'm an English professor and I thoroughly enjoyed the Harry Potter series. I think calling them "slop" is a bit harsh.

[mrscoach]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

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?

Hmm, what world could open up for a student? How about going from a boy who HATED reading, no matter what I did, or gave him, to loving to read AND write, and it all started when he started Harry Potter. Oh, an he's currently on the dean's list in college, studying Computer science with a minor in math. We have to beg him to get away from studying and have a social life from time to time.

We have debated HP for hours on end, and discussed theories and history. HP got my son to look beyond the surface words and story and delve into the background of stories.

What makes great literature? Most books we consider great and classic literature had their detractors when they came out. Only the test of time will prove how enduring HP is.

[Freeshadow]

Originally Posted by mrscoach

We have to beg him to get away from ... and have a social life from time to time.

Sorry for the laughing - you reminded me of a talk I've had with my ma on that topic years ago:


Ma: "Ain't you going out?"
me - completely puzzled and dead sure she mixed something up with my sister having told her she'll be away for the weekend: "Err, no; you actually meant <sis> didn't you?!? Where should I be going to?
Ma:"Dunno. Somewhere?"
me: "No! Why!?!"

[Cyclops]

I voted The blue one next to the fish
Dunno what it means but its there, so yea!

[Iridal]

I really like the HP books, I think I've read all of them 3 times over the years. But being a teen when the first book came out might have helped

I hated it when teachers told us what to read. Luckily we mostly got to choose our own books. I had one teacher telling is about HP. I don't think any of my classmates minded. It beats talking about Flemisch classics!

Oh yeah, this teacher ended up calling her daughter Hermelien (Dutch name for Hermione)

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by Billjr13

If the teacher wants to teach those books go for it. No mater what books are read in school some students will hate it and some will love it and most will just get through the assignments; just like in the adult world. It still surprises me how judgemental people can be about what entertains others. If I read a book, watch a movie, or tv show and ejnoy it, hate it, love it loath it, I don't feel that everyone else opinion has to be the same as mine. I am always amazed that J K Rowling, Dan Brown, James Patterson and Stephen King ect., are hated by some, mostly because they are massively popular, and being massively popular, they are selling billions of books, and because of that they are trash. I don't care if you don't like their work, or their writting style (or lack there of) that is fine, really, but because others like them doesn't make them idiots. I Hate, Hate, Hate reality tv especially American Idol, Dancing With the (unknown) Stars, Big Brother, Survivor, ect. But there are tons people out there that do, and for the life of me I can't understand why... but does that make them right/wrong? No just different, different tastes for different people.

Thank You! Ditto, Ditto and Ditto.


As for the Potter series: I absolutely loved it, my husband liked it, where as my eldest, who is the perfect age to read it, has no interest in it at this time. Its all a matter of preference and opinion.

If the Potter series were somehow added to the school curriculum, then yes, the child should have to road it. That is, unless, they can give some sound reason as to why they are unable.
We had to pull an autobiography about an abused child from the shelves becuase parents and the school board felt the subject matter was too much for middle school age kids (I personally disagree, but that's me). Of course, it was the very book they all wanted to read. My point, however, is that I can see a child being excused from reading something of that nature. I can not see someone having to be excused from reading Harry Potter.

[theducks]

Optional;
HP on a High school required reading list

6th Grade, maybe. These are Juvenal's fer crying out loud.
(Yes I own them and I haven't occupied a grade school desk in half a century )
IMHO the last few were really 'dark', The first one, was a 'romp'