by Tracy McVeigh, education
editor
UK NEWS - NOVEMBER 4, 2001 - He may have single-handedly fought
the forces of evil, but now Harry Potter faces a real-life adversary
- the schoolboy wizard is in trouble with teacher.
One of Britain's biggest teaching unions has issued a stern warning
to parents and teachers that J.K. Rowling's phenomenally successful
creation could lead schoolchildren into the sinister world of
the occult.
With the premiere of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
due this month, Peter Smith, general secretary of the Association
of Teachers and Lecturers, has echoed concerns in America and
called on parents and teachers to be wary.
'Children must be protected from the more extreme influences
of the occult and be taught in a responsible and positive way
the risks of journeying into the unknown,' he said.
'The premiere of Harry Potter the movie will lead to a whole
new generation of youngsters discovering witchcraft and wizardry.
We welcome the values this will ingrain, focusing on good triumphing
over evil. Though it is important not to over-react to this entertaining
phenomenon, the risks are clear.'
At least one school, St Mary's in Chatham, a Church of England
primary, has banned the Potter books from its library, and last
week the UK's largest privately owned toy chain, the Entertainer,
banned Potter merchandise from its shelves.
Acknowledging he stood to lose around £500,000 in lost
sales, co-owner Gary Grant said he was concerned children could
be led into something 'out of hand'.
Smith said the ATL had a long-standing concern over children
'meddling in the occult'.
'Increasing numbers of children are spending hours alone browsing
the internet in search of Satanic websites and we are concerned
that nobody is monitoring this growing fascination,' he added.
However, the Department for Education said that they were
not troubled by Pottermania. A spokeswoman said teachers could
be relied upon to use their common sense if the subject was raised.
'Discussions may indeed arise and we would rely on the professionalism
of teachers to acknowledge any issues raised by children and
deal with them in a way that is appropriate,' she said.
Despite the opposition, the film - which opens in the UK on
16 November - is expected to take cinemas by storm.
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