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- JANUARY 23, 2001, A DECISION by a Sunshine Coast school to
ban students from reading the popular Harry Potter books has
been condemned by the Queensland Council of Parents' and Citizens'
Association.
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- Nambour's Christian Outreach College has taken the unusual
step of outlawing the book from its primary school library.
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- The fantasy books, written by J.K. Rowling, revolve around
the life of young wizard Harry Potter and have been credited
with inspiring children to read.
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- Last year's release of the fourth book in the series created
huge interest around the world.
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- College senior pastor, Dr Chas Gullo, who has publicly criticised
other children's fads such as Pokemon, said the decision to ban
the book was part of the school's policy to screen "anti-Christian"
material.
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- Dr Gullo said he had read one chapter from the latest book,
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and did not need to read
any more to know the books were not suitable for primary school-age
children.
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- "In the first chapter I was exposed to four murders
. . . it was pretty gory," Dr Gullo said.
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- "Anyone who knows anything about education knows that
what children (see, read, and hear) affects their lives.
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- "I think (the books) are dangerous for young primary
school children . . . (they should have) an M or R rating."
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- Dr Gullo said as the school's senior pastor, he did not interfere
with educational decisions but made "moral" rulings.
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- He said the school always had a policy of not allowing any
books that were anti-Christian, immoral or violent, but could
not recall specific titles that had previously been banned.
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- He said any merchandise connected to television shows about
witchcraft such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer was also not allowed
at the school.
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- Queensland Council of Parents' and Citizens Association president
Garry Cislowski said the Harry Potter books were simply "fantasy".
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- "They are no different from (fairytales) Hansel and
Gretel or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ­ there is no distinction,"
Mr Cislowski said.
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- "It would seem the school is making moral judgments
on behalf of students ­ beyond their normal scope."
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- A spokesman for the Lutheran Church's schools department
said it was up to individual schools to choose library resources
but he did not believe any Lutheran schools had banned Harry
Potter.
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- An Education Queensland spokesman said there was nothing
in the Harry Potter books that warranted them being banned from
schools.
- [ Source: http://thecouriermail.com.au/common/story_page/0,4511,1636029255E3102,00.html
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