Harry potter

[singlewith2boys]

hi my son's school has started a Harry potter group during lunch time once a week my mum doesn't like the idea of it as it's in couraging an obsession on possible witch craft and mixing with different religions. Today my son came home with a wand he had made out of a very thin piece of wood he was waving it around and could have hurt somone with it. could i have your views on this and do any other schools have a harry potter group?

OK, I'll bite. What's wrong with 'mixing with different religions'?

Really? What's wrong with mixing with different religions?

Also Harry Potter is all about friendship, family and loyalty. Standing up for the good and standing against the bad. All things I'd love for my son to be encouraged at school.

Also it's just good fun!

I'm a beaver scout leader (ages 4-6) and our district did a Harry Potter weekend away. The whole weekend was Harry Potter themed activities not one parent in over a hundred groups of kids objected to it.

It's encouraging an obsession with reading which is what schools are supposed to do.

my mum didn't mean "different religions " that way. she practices meditation like others are Jewish or Christian and the parents haven't been informed about the group would it be against there religion. the group isn't reading it's based on the films. I agree it's harmless fun and I have posted it on here to proof to my mum there is no harm in the group.

How old is he? I’m sure there are no recorded incidents of anyone’s eye being taken out with a wand.

Your mum sounds a bit of a challenge. Is she American (I ask as my sister teaches over there and has come across the ‘its Harry Potter books today and virgin sacrifices to beelzebub tomorrow’ brigade)?

Your mum sounds bonkers tbh!

My DS is upstairs listening to the Harry potter audio books on a loop. He's also read them all about six times. He is wearing his harry potter pyjamas and cuddling a stuffed Hedwig.

He hasn't turned to witchcraft yet. What does that even mean? Witchcraft isn't actually real

Muggles never understand

I’m getting a bit scared now - I walk past primary every day and they have loads of HP stuff and it’s packed with tourists in cloaks and everything! It’s a coven! It’s a sect! It’s a bit of harmless fun that loads of people enjoy!!

Primary? Primark

he is 10yr but very accident prone and has a 7yr old brother who runs around like the bat out of hell. my mum is English and believes in a meditation that works on your charkras she is very hard work. my boys and i do meditation it helps calm them down before bed and my mum feels witch craft isn't something to be messed around with but I don't class harry potter as something to worry about

Sounds brilliant - we love harry

Research has suggested that children/teenagers that have read the Harry potter books are more accepting to other cultures and religions. They are also kinder to others... I suggest you and your mother should possibly read the books and educate yourself.

Have you read Harry Potter? Your mum sounds a bit bats.

Wingardium Leviosa

Your mum is bonkers OP. Sorry.

Meditation is viewed by some as meddling with evil forces (I worked for the CofE so have heard it all - HP was never mentioned though).

I have read the books and watched all of the film's my boys are educated and know about all other religions and are very friendly I'm not asking for people to take the micky or be sarcastic towards me or my mum's religion all I was asking was others thoughts of Harry Potter in schools

Well... I think the books suck (ducks flying HP books hurled at my head), but if it encourages people to read (and get off screens) then it is a Good Thing.

I’d say you could say the same about a lot of reading materials. Your mum is being a bit silly.

I can't see the harm. But I wouldn't like my DC to be involved in real witchcraft.

Secondary schools also teach It... it's just kids having harmless fun and using their imagination. They could be into worse things.

I want to go to a Harry Potter club

Overheard (one grown woman to another) in Primark ‘oh I need to get the grifindor one - because I’m in grifindor’. Yup, you’re all a bit crazy!

I’m more of a Moomins fan myself.

If you don't want him to participate fair enough but sounds more about engaging the imagination and encouraging literacy than promoting dubious magic. Fundamentally it is good vs evil. Would you feel same about other things such as Star Wars?