Posted on 11/16/2001 5:58:33 PM PST by boxlunch
By about noon on Friday, seventh-graders at Richardson West Junior High School should have an up-close-and-personal review of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Ben Buchanan is going to the 9 a.m. show. He promises to make up any missed work, and Mom hopes the teachers will understand.
"We've watched Ben love Harry Potter for several years," Carol Adams says. "I think it's appropriate to honor that." The 12-year-old student recently wrote a book called My Year With Harry Potter, and he and his mom collaborated on a second volume about how to turn your favorite book into a game.
Whether or not that's a good enough excuse, they figure to have plenty of company in explaining their absence back at school or at the office. With the cinematic version of Pottermania officially beginning Friday, young and old fans alike want to beat the crowds that should start as soon as school is out and last all weekend.
"We just had to be at the first showing on the first day," says a Plano mom who's taking her third-grader out of school to catch an 11:15 a.m. show. She doesn't want her name, or her son's, in the paper.
"Last summer when we found out when the movie was coming out, we circled it on the calendar," she says. "He knew he'd get out of school to see it."
At least four area theaters, including General Cinemas at Irving Mall and Loews Cityplace, scheduled showings around midnight Friday for the 152-minute film, probably ensuring some groggy or tardy students later in the day. Plano school spokeswoman Nancy Long says the district expects students to be in class Friday – and to catch Harry Potter on their own time.
"Students reap the most positive educational benefits by attending school each day," Ms. Long says. "Missing school to attend any movie would be considered an unexcused absence."
The 48 third-graders at Ben Milam Elementary School in Dallas won't have to worry about their teachers finding out they're at the 9 a.m. show. The teachers are taking them. "We're using this as a supplement to their learning," says Mary Kaperzinski, one of the three teachers. "These are the things at school you'll remember for the rest of your life."
Ms. Kaperzinski began reading Harry Potter to her class in September. Soon, she says, the children had their own books, either to follow along with her or read on their own.
The teachers channeled their enthusiasm about the books into writing and creativity projects, then got permission for the whole group to attend the movie. Most, she says, are coming in costume.
"They are so excited," Ms. Kaperzinski says. "I'm going to have to bring them down [after the movie], because we definitely have some work to do in the afternoon."
It's not just kids who are rearranging their priorities for Harry Potter. Caroline Prothro, who works for an insurance company in Dallas, doesn't want to face the hordes of young fans who probably will pack theaters from Friday afternoon through the weekend.
"I'm sure it'll be mobbed with kids," she says. "So I decided I'm going to take a half-day off and go to see a matinee. It's the first time I've ever done something like that." ...
... many educators are thrilled at Harry's magical powers to get kids to read, she says some of her son's teachers don't like the supernatural aspects that have offended some religious groups.
"I'll just send a note saying he has to be somewhere," she says. "If he leaves after 9, it doesn't count as a day's absence. But he kind of told the kids on the playground. We hope they won't tell on him."
I knew my post would attract ridicule, its called Truth and Opposition - wherever there is Truth, the truth of God, there is also opposition...look at the life of Christ in the gospels its clear to see.
I have merely shared the Word and have been labeled a Taliban, judgemental person, etc - the only thing I have done is place the truth in front of your eyes, now you can do what you will with it...Whosoever WILL let him come and drink the river of Water of Life. People get upset when you start telling them Jesus is MORE than fire insurance to keep them out of hell. Have I said anyone is damned by going to this or any other movie?? No. All I am doing is pleading God's cause that there IS a growing-up in God a leaving behind of the earthly pleasures, and a Blessing, a higher-plateu in the Spirit that any Christian can obtain if they are willing to pay the price - and the treasures you lay up in Heaven make the treasures of this world nothing in comparison. But the choice is yours.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
No, actually I'm curious about the answer, but if you prefer not to address it I can certainly understand. I'm really not attempting to ridicule but rather to discover how consistent you are in your point of view.
I know, but you did tell Gasshog to "get a grip", which I admit is pretty mild.
it is just a movie, just a series of books.
Mere words, and the thoughts that they express can indeed be very powerful forces at work in our lives. Failure to understand this can leave us open to be influenced in ways that we are unaware of; I'm just asking for a little discernment.
I am fortunate to have grown up in a family that encouraged us to read.
So was I, and my children are also voracious readers. That does not mean that I don't exercise some control over what they and I choose to read.
what scares me is folks who find Harry Potter so scary.
I do not find the Potter books and film scary at all, I am only voicing concern over the apparent acceptance by my fellow believers in Christ of the occultic themes and practices they contain. For example, my 11 yr. old son has read more than one of the books (his teacher read them in class, and we were unaware of this until he brought home one of the books that he checked out from the library). I did not panic or throw a fit, I decided to read the book and see for myself if there was a problem. After deciding that this was not the kind of material we wanted our children to be engrossed in, we put a stop to it.
Take Care
I appreciate your reasoned response and respectful tone. I wish you well.
True, that was DB who made that remark.
Religious zealots like you try to make others feel inferior, and you get no where
If anything I feel very small indeed to have the priviledge to handle God's precious, infinite Word. If God has bid me to share these truths because they will touch someone, you should not despise it. Did you read the Bible verse that says:
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
I merely quoted your insult of Gasshog, I did not imply that it was directed at me.
Does it apply to me anyway? I don't think that asking Christians to use a little discernment is anything at all like the Taliban, who enforce their beliefs by death and dismemberment. If you really can' t see the difference, then I don't think there's any point in trying to convince you.
Well, they do that too.
And it gives them no cover for their actions. That is frightening stuff to them.
If this is true, then tell me what is the source of the power that brings about the desired results. This is not a natural process.
He did far more than ask for a "little discernment" as you put it. I suggest you reread what Gasshog said before saying such things. He passed judgment on all who dare to go see a story about imaginary events made into a movie. He laid it out in no uncertain terms, see it and you are sinning against God. That it is a test of who is and isn't a Christian. God has news for him, only God stands in judgment of who is and isn't a Christian not men.
Is pride a sin?
It must be a terrible burden being so all knowing and righteous that you can stand in judgment of other Christians…
I know that Christians who have an interest in their children won't let them become embroiled in witchcraft. Besides, are we talking about Christians here? That is interesting indeed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.