Harry Potter in trouble again
2006-12-13 10:39
Atlanta - The state Board of Education will decide on Wednesday whether to keep Harry Potter books on library shelves in one suburban Atlanta school district, and the matter will be discussed in public rather than behind closed doors as previously planned.
The board will consider an appeal by parent Laura Mallory who is upset that the Gwinnett County school board voted to keep the best-selling books in its schools, despite her claims that the books indoctrinate children in pagan religion.
The state board originally had planned to discuss Mallory's appeal on Thursday in an executive session.
However, after The Associated Press filed a formal protest with Attorney General Thurbert Baker over those plans, state school officials decided to move the discussion to a public forum Wednesday afternoon.
Superintendent Kathy Cox and board members decided to move the meeting "to err on the side of openness," state Department of Education spokesman Dana Tofig said.
The state board historically has talked about appeals of local board decisions in executive sessions, a closed meeting held before the board's public monthly meeting.
Those appeals typically deal with personnel issues or student discipline, both of which are exempt from open meetings laws.
Other matters that can be discussed by the board in private include real estate acquisitions and pending or potential litigation.
Tofig admitted the Harry Potter appeal is an unusual matter to come before the board.
AP filed a letter of protest with the attorney general on Monday, claiming the Harry Potter appeal did not fall into any of the protected categories under the state's open meetings laws.
It is only appropriate to discuss the subject in public, said Hollie Manheimer, executive director of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation.
"This is just the kind of issue for which the Open Meetings Act exists _ to enable the public to have oversight of these very important policy decisions involving our children," Manheimer said.
A hearing officer has recommended that the state board uphold the Gwinnett board's decision to keep the books on shelves.
Mallory, of Loganville, has worked more than a year to try to get the popular novels pulled from schools because of their references to witchcraft.
It is not apparent how much discussion there will be of the appeal before the state board votes.
Mallory did not immediately return repeated calls for comment on Monday and Tuesday.
Gwinnett County school board officials have said the books are good tools for encouraging children to read and for sparking creativity and imagination.
Officials have said banning all books with references to witchcraft would mean mainstays like MacBeth and Cinderella would have to go.
- AP