Do you agree/disagree that the book should be available in the classroom?
I think that the Harry Potter series should be available in the classroom. As many other children’s stories that have been told and read for many years, the book is a work of fiction. Harry Potter is an endearing character who is struggling to find his place in life and fit in at a new place. I think that children can really identify with Harry and the new experiences he is having. The story is a classic “good vs. evil” tale, as are many fairy tales. Should we ban Cinderella because it includes magic? or what about Snow White? In my opinion, no. Valuable literature should be reviewed for inappropriate content, but I believe that Harry Potter is completely appropriate for older children to read. All in all, I think that the Harry Potter series is a great way to get students more interested in reading. There are a lot of reluctant readers in elementary schools today who just need that one book to get them interested in reading – a place to step off from.
Would you use it as part of your instruction? Why or why not? What problems would it present? What benefits would it offer?
I don’t know if I would use the book as a part of my instruction and integrate it into other subjects, but I would definitely use it as a read-aloud book. I think that the plot of the book will quickly engage readers and prompt them to continue reading the series or more challenging books in general.
Write and post a detailed reflection about the book and the issue of censorship. Be sure to include the information your read from the web sites to support your reflection; think about how you might handle a censorship question raised in your classroom.
Personally, I loved reading “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” again. The book is so exciting and really sparked my imagination. When reading the book, I fell into Harry’s magical world again and he seemed so real to me, with Rowling’s great descriptions. I totally agree with Trelease’s arguments about Harry Potter. There are always going to be people who oppose the book, but that should not turn everyone away from it. I think that children’s literature should always be reviewed, but Harry Potter is definitely appropriate for older elementary students that have the capacity to appreciate the deeper themes presented in the book. If I was using this book in my classroom, I would probably send a note home to parents explaining why and how I was using the book in the classroom. I would be open for debate about the use of the book and would not use it if a parent were opposed to their child reading the book.
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Just like you said, "There are always going to be people who oppose the book, but that should not turn everyone away from it." Everyone is going to have a different opinion and come from different backgrounds. We shouldn't judge a book by it's cover or by the opinions of others. I really enjoyed this book and the movie. I would use either one in my classroom.
ReplyDeleteI agree there is always poeple who have trouble with what is considered appropriate or not. Chilldren need to be exposed to material that is appropriate. We don't need to go to extreme limits to restrict certain books though.
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