Oz school bans Harry Potter books

Sydney -  A school in Medowie, New south Wales, has banned Harry Potter books from its premises, insisting they are inconsistent with their Christian values.

Medowie Christian School was one the of many in Hunter Valley that marked ‘Book Week’ this week by asking children to dress up as their favourite book characters for a parade.

However, Principal Samantha Van de Mortel asked parents not to send children to school on Wednesday as witches and warlocks because it was inconsistent with school’s Christian values.

“We just don’t believe that’s something we want to promote. We promote a Christian focus,” Sydney Morning Herald quoted her as saying.

She said that the parade was a primary school event which was also open to students’ younger siblings and they were concerned about many retail costumes being quite gruesome.

“Frankly, we do not want any of our younger students or their siblings feeling frightened, intimidated or uncomfortable during any school activities,” Van de Mortel said.

While witches, warlocks and Harry Potter characters were left out of the parade at the Medowie school, the characters that were allowed in the parade included Anakin Skywalker, The Mad

Hatter and the Gingerbread Man.

Van de Mortel said that the Harry Potter series, which is about witches and wizards, were also not available in the school library as they had been the subject of many international debates.

The series has topped the list as the 10 Most Challenged Books of the 21st Century by the American Library Association.

“Medowie Christian School respects the right of parents to make decisions on whether or not to allow/encourage their child to read material.

“In respecting that right [we] do not stock books from the Harry Potter Series, or indeed other titles, which are the subject of polarising public discussion,” Van de Mortel said.

Medowie mother Bobbie Antonic, whose children do not attend the school, raised the issue on Twitter, saying she was concerned that it was censorship.

“I was just blown away by it. It’s just bizarre. Books are not reality,” she said.

Medowie Christian School Parents and Friends Association manager Lisa Taylor has said that from a parent’s point of view the prohibition was “no big deal.”

“In the lead up to Halloween the shops are full of so many grotesque, frightening costumes and I’ve got two little boys. It’s supposed to be a celebration of literature,” she said.

She also said that parents were happy that the school library did not send students home with books that could force a topic up for discussion.

“I would like to be able to make that choice for my own kids,” Taylor added.