Posted on 06/10/2007 4:52:45 PM PDT by Alien Syndrome
LONDON, June 9 A British teaching assistant is suing an elementary school in London after being disciplined for refusing to listen to a child read a "Harry Potter" book. Sariya Allen told a tribunal she resigned from her post at Durand Primary School after being suspended for "her obstructive conduct over time," the Daily Mail reported Saturday. Allen claims she was "harassed, humiliated and discriminated" against because of her religious beliefs. Her last alleged act of "obstructive conduct" before resigning in 2006 was refusing to listen to a 7-year-old girl read a "Harry Potter" book because she said it was against her Christian faith. Her employers disciplined her after she told the girl "I don't do witchcraft in any form" and said she would be "cursed" by hearing the novel. She is seeking about $100,000 in damages from her former school for religious discrimination.
"I admit I said to the child that I don't do witchcraft in any form," she said. "I was put in the position that listening to the child reading this book would compromise my religious beliefs."
:))
Books are such an icebreaker, aren’t they?
Heh, between them and Star Wars, it’s how I met my Fiance! (And yes, she is hot.... confusing, I know, just trust me on this one!)
BTW, she recomends “Outlander.”
Mainly for it’s association with Scotsmen, and she thinks I act like the stereotype portrayed in the book.
After having seen the first of the movies, I made myself read the book--made myself. The going was a million times easier, since I had a rough idea of what was going on. By the end "Fellowship," I couldn't put the book down. Now, I can't believe I waited so long to read it--by far the most engrossing, most enriching fictional reading experience I have ever had. I've since read The Silmarillion (EXTREMELY difficult!) and The Hobbit, as well as LOTR, several times through. They start out as work, no doubt about it, hard work. The payoff, however, is beyond imagination.
I've gotta go put my pom-poms away now!
If you and Miss Hot liked Outlander, there is a series of books by Diana Gabaldon, the Dragonfly books...they are about a time traveling Scotsman and his English nurse true love. They are fantasy, sci-fi, extreme purple passion, history of Scotland and Colonial America. I enjoyed the three that I read immensely. The writing is so descriptive.
As you are reading, you can picture the Scottish Highlands and even the point where the time warp happens. Even my daughter (NOT a reader) enjoyed them. At the beach!
My list has some trully children’s books in them. (But “Where the Wild things are” is still one of my all-time favorites. It’s kind of like the precurser to Calvin and Hobbes, now that I think about it.)
But “His dark effects” series is good. Explores “alternate worlds” theory, and mixes it with fantasy.
And the Lloyd Alexander series (starting with the Booke of Three) is a good weekend read. They are still on book lists for schools.
Bruce Coville was my favorite writer in middle school. Just fun jaunts through sci-fi/fantasy/horror.
Oh, and add the complete collection of “Hitch-hikers guide to the galaxy” Insanely convolutedly astoundingly funny!
Ok, I could go on if you want, but I think this is a good place to stop typing.
On what do you base this statement? Seriously--I know that this is a point on which many folks deride the books, but so far no critic has yet been able to prove to me in any way, shape or form that there is growth in witchcraft. I'm talking actual withcraft here--the so-called Wiccan religion or anything else that can actually be named witchcraft.
If you are referring to more kids dressing up as witches or wizards, playing with fake wands (as opposed to the real ones), and casting imaginary spells at friends who respond with imaginary outcomes...I call that being a kid. I call that playing, imagination, whatever. My kids love the books because they're great stories--they know they're not real. My boys haven't turned their backs on God. They have expanded their vocabularies far beyond their grade levels from reading the series, that's not a bad thing in my book. They like looking up the etymologies of different words so they can create their own "spells"--again, enriching their vocabularies as well as getting them to read the dictionary. As much as they might like to, my boys know that they will never be able to turn one another into newts, and none of them shows the slightest interest in giving up Christianity to go worship trees and dance naked in the moonlight.
I'm not trying to be critical of what you have said, and I applaud you for your plan to read the series to better understand what your future students are reading. That's why I read the series in the first place--so I could decide if the HP books are suitable for my boys. I believe they are, and I'm glad that we discuss the books as a family.
After you've read them, please--seriously--let us know what you think.
Tough call. I really didn't care for Stone. I don't think Rowling started to hit her stride until Prisoner. By the end of the sixth book, it's almost difficult to believe that they were all penned by the same hand. The series definitely gets better as it progresses.
Rowling has grown into an engrossing, adept writer. I'll be happy to read whatever she comes out with after the last HP installment.
Nahhhh, I left that organization decades ago...
My biggest failure as a parent was never getting my tall and skinny (she didn't get that from ME!) daughter and short stocky son to dress as Calvin and Hobbes for Hallowe'en.
They would also have made a great Boris and Natasha.
*sigh* maybe in another life, or universe...
(And even more miffed that they had too..)
I’m looking forward to a story or two about the elderly Harry Potter, as Headmaster of Hogwarts...
had to. TO. Not Too, two, tutu - TO...
I’ve heard and read in a number of things that places for instruction in witchcraft—real witchcraft—is especially up in Europe. I cannot remember where those articles are. Some have been posted here on FreeRepublic, which is where I probably read them. Witchcraft is real and it is evil. I know from personal experience. Plus I’ve had to deal with real witches. In my opinion, there’s nothing cute about children playing with wands and casting spells. I believe in imaginary play for kids. And I love fantasy and myth. But to have children play at imitating witches is chilling.
Let me clarify. They are not to be taken as seriously as the people who claim they are “stories of the occult” take them.
Different strokes huh
My position is this: I doubt with 100% confidence that nobody posting on this thread has ever personally witnessed witchcraft or has any credible scientific evidence that it exists. Therefore, Harry Potter being fictional should not bother anyone IMHO.
Sorcery doesn’t exist. If you claim otherwise, please provide anecdotal and scientific evidence.
In kindergarten our daughter could read better than most of the teaching assistants. While many were wonderful, smart people others.... weren't.
Would love to hear your analysis of Bert and Ernie... ;)
Cheers!
Classic! Had me coughing up my bagel. :)
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