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."
Dont read this post unless you are ready to hear the truth, because you will BE ACCOUNTABLE, and I am accountable also and God help me to cleave to the Lord Jesus because I am telling you God IS going to have a people who desire nothing but to live for Him and follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes. The media-moguls who bring you Harry Potter may not, and probably arent TRYING to turn you from God, but since THEY are not SEEKING God, they certainly cannot lead you to greater heights in God. Invariably they are LOST and going to lead you astray.
God created man with a hunger and a desire for spiritual, or if you will, supernatural things. God of course is an infinite, supernatual being, and as mortal begins we can only fathom very little about Him. God has told us in His Word what is pleasing and displeasing, to Him according to His Will.
The heathen unbelivers do not care about pleasing the heart of God but rather seek every invention to revile the Word of Truth and lash out against God's soverign rulership over man, yet the heathen still have this desire and drawing to the supernatural, for indeed, they have immortal souls and WITHOUT God they are under the gudiance of Lucifer.
How, as a Christian who desires to grow in the stature of Jesus Christ and lead a holy life, obtaining ever-greater light and truth do I discern what are the things of God and the things of the world, flesh and the devil? I look to His Word and through prayer I am led of the Holy Spirit to God's Will and He gives me discernment to walk in the paths of rightousness.
I see clearly that the Word says witchcraft is an abomination to God. You have heard by many there is no such thing as witches, etc - I suggest you read the account of King Saul who defying God's command enlisted the aid of a woman with a "familiar spirit" to bring up Samuel the prophet from the grave, she succeeded and it was revealed to Saul that he would DIE the very next day in battle, all these things came to pass. Harry Potter is not of God, but God has allowed it, if for nothing else, to see who will choose light rather than darkness. Christian, if you know the Word, then you know the difference between Light and darkness. Does Harry Potter bear the Fruits of the Spirit, or the fruit of evil?
When, Jesus the Word in Flesh came up from the river Jordan after begin baptised, the Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove lit upon Him. The princlple of the Spirit lighting on the Word is a major truth. What spirit, pray tell accompanies the words of Harry Potter? Those spirits I do not want in my home, I want the Peace of God to abide in my home so I utterly reject the things that God abhors. Entertainment? Yes, unfortunatley the Christian World is being swept-up in the whirlwind of Hollywood's demonic "entertainment" industry...America is literally paying godless Hollywood to help usher the people into Lucfier's waiting arms & the "broad way" to Hell is paved with the souls of the lost.
No one is saying that Christians CANNOT have fun, enjoy themselves, etc - but be Spirit-led and BY PRAYER let God show you how to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, separate yoursevles from deception and darkness. Seek God, ask forgiveness from your selfish-pleasure seeking ways and let the Blood of Jesus cleanse and refresh your souls. Make time to read and study the Bible and let the waters of the Word make you into a holy temple for His Glory.
'nuf said.
Fortunately...this should all be over by Christmas. And LOTR should blow mediocre "Harry" off the front page.
What's the Christian opinion of the Magic 8 Ball? Innocent diversion or Tool of the Devil? (and, it's I before E EXCEPT after C).
I'm not sure. She loved "Bootie Call"......
Not to mention Star Wars last year. Also, nowadays, they apparently have this senior skip day in high school where all the seniors skip.
These kids could be doing a lot worse things than skipping school to see Harry Potter, most of which involve drugs or sex.
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