Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Chapter 7 through Chapter 9
(Abby told me to go ahead and post again because she was late...)
Many of the reasons I have given in my previous posts for why the Harry Potter series may have been banned are ones that I understand, but not ones that I think were influential enough to have to ban the series. Reading through these most recent chapters, though, I have seen a reason that I would agree might influence children, but I still wouldn't want to ban this series over that trivial matter. One can observe that Harry Potter is faced with many challenges that people see everyday in the real world, such as having to stand up for oneself when he or she is being bullied, but the responses that Harry gives to these challenges are of the sort that can get him into deep trouble. Since Harry is the main character of this book, and the hero in a way, young children would most likely think that what he does is right, and although the outcomes of the problems he has in the magical world might end with good results because of entertainment and satisfaction, it most likely isn't so in the real world. It is not bad if young children want to explore more about their world like Harry does upon reaching Hogwarts, but one has to remember the saying "curiosity killed the cat". Sneaking off from where one is supposed to be at night cannot only cause trouble if caught, but one needs to ponder that rules are made for the benefit of him or her, and bad things can happen if broken. By Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione making it back to their rooms without getting caught when having been walking in the hallways after curfew, children might also think that although they would have some difficulties and scares along the way, they wouldn't get caught easily if they snuck out as well.
Even though this is not too big of an influential issue, I actually agree that it is likely to happen that young ones can be convinced that breaking rules leads to saving the world (multiple times). Something I liked about this reading portion that makes it seem like the whole sneaking out thing is actually bad is that Hermione is constantly warning Harry and Ron that they shouldn't be doing what they are, and she only joins them because she has limited other options. "The Fat Lady had gone on a nighttime visit and Hermione was locked out of Gryffindor tower." (pg. 156). Hermoine is shown in a bright light of respect to the reader when the four return to their house having gotten nearly nothing accomplished and scared to death. This reminds the reader that the warnings Hermione gave out were of common sense, and messing with the rules might not mean one is necessarily going to get caught, but that not too many things are going to be in one's favor either. Hermione can be seen as wise when she tries to convince Harry that having a duel with Malfoy would be a bad idea, but Harry, still the influential character and main hero, goes off for the duel anyway. "'Don't you care about Gryffindor, do you only care about yourselves, I don't want Slytherin to win the house cup, and you'll lose all the points I got from Professor McGonagall for knowing about Switching Spells.'" (pg.155) - (that was Hermione speaking). Even though knowledge is brought in the story by Hermione's sense, she is often portrayed as a rather annoying character, so it is possible for children to think that actually listening to the sensible things she says in the story would be rather boring and uncool.
(Abby told me to go ahead and post again because she was late...)
Many of the reasons I have given in my previous posts for why the Harry Potter series may have been banned are ones that I understand, but not ones that I think were influential enough to have to ban the series. Reading through these most recent chapters, though, I have seen a reason that I would agree might influence children, but I still wouldn't want to ban this series over that trivial matter. One can observe that Harry Potter is faced with many challenges that people see everyday in the real world, such as having to stand up for oneself when he or she is being bullied, but the responses that Harry gives to these challenges are of the sort that can get him into deep trouble. Since Harry is the main character of this book, and the hero in a way, young children would most likely think that what he does is right, and although the outcomes of the problems he has in the magical world might end with good results because of entertainment and satisfaction, it most likely isn't so in the real world. It is not bad if young children want to explore more about their world like Harry does upon reaching Hogwarts, but one has to remember the saying "curiosity killed the cat". Sneaking off from where one is supposed to be at night cannot only cause trouble if caught, but one needs to ponder that rules are made for the benefit of him or her, and bad things can happen if broken. By Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione making it back to their rooms without getting caught when having been walking in the hallways after curfew, children might also think that although they would have some difficulties and scares along the way, they wouldn't get caught easily if they snuck out as well.
Even though this is not too big of an influential issue, I actually agree that it is likely to happen that young ones can be convinced that breaking rules leads to saving the world (multiple times). Something I liked about this reading portion that makes it seem like the whole sneaking out thing is actually bad is that Hermione is constantly warning Harry and Ron that they shouldn't be doing what they are, and she only joins them because she has limited other options. "The Fat Lady had gone on a nighttime visit and Hermione was locked out of Gryffindor tower." (pg. 156). Hermoine is shown in a bright light of respect to the reader when the four return to their house having gotten nearly nothing accomplished and scared to death. This reminds the reader that the warnings Hermione gave out were of common sense, and messing with the rules might not mean one is necessarily going to get caught, but that not too many things are going to be in one's favor either. Hermione can be seen as wise when she tries to convince Harry that having a duel with Malfoy would be a bad idea, but Harry, still the influential character and main hero, goes off for the duel anyway. "'Don't you care about Gryffindor, do you only care about yourselves, I don't want Slytherin to win the house cup, and you'll lose all the points I got from Professor McGonagall for knowing about Switching Spells.'" (pg.155) - (that was Hermione speaking). Even though knowledge is brought in the story by Hermione's sense, she is often portrayed as a rather annoying character, so it is possible for children to think that actually listening to the sensible things she says in the story would be rather boring and uncool.
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