The Trouble With Harry - some parents, educators, and religious leaders are concerned about the emphasis on witchcraft in the popular Harry Potter books - Brief Article

Most teachers and parents are jumping for joy over the reading frenzy J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books have stirred up among schoolchildren. But something has emerged to put a damper on the celebration: witchcraft. Or so some parents and religious leaders believe. For, the very wizardry that makes Potter a must-read for millions (including even the most reluctant readers) is causing concern among some caregivers and ministers around the country. Parents, concerned that their children are learning about witchcraft, are complaining to preaching against the book. In fact, according to The New York Times, challenges to the book have been filed in at least eight states-among them Minnesota, Misssouri, North Carolina, and Georgia. In South Carolina and California, school-district committees are reviewing the Harry Potter books (Arthur A. Levine Books/ Scholastic Press) and promise that parents will have a chance to air their complaints in a public forum. But so far the novels have not been banned in any school dis trict.

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