In a recent interview, a character actor from Scotland who portrays the popular Inspector Rebus has launched an odd attack of sorts on those in the education field who favor children reading the Harry Potter novels. The Scotsman reports that actor Ken Stott (who also appeared in “The Girl in the Cafe” directed by David Yates) said the following during an interview with Radio Times:
“If we’re going to make a fuss about children reading books, do it with Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials books, not JK Rowling.
“I can’t believe idiot educationalists are praising children for turning up at school and reading Harry Potter.”
In a small bit of irony, the Rebus series are based on works by author Ian Rankin, a longtime friend and neighbor of J.K. Rowling in Edinburgh, Scotland. Mr. Stott continued on in his interview about his future, noting “I’ll remain a grumpy old man.” We wish him continued success with his grumpiness!
What a fool! His Dark Materials is an excellent trilogy, but Harry Potter is also an excellent septology (think I got that right?!!) – I don’t see any reason for this ridiculous attack on perfectly good books!!
I would think, given this man’s apparent intelligence, that he would catch on. It’s not WHAT they’re reading. It’s the fact that they ARE reading! Children have to start, somewhere and ‘His Dark Materials’ would not be my first choice for a 7-year-old! That would be more inappropriate for their age group, I think.
Posted by Gail Callicott on September 25, 2007, 01:39 PM
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I’ve seen it only too much—an elitist pleasure derived from branding the HP series as not-good-literature.
What a total MORON – I’m a teacher and I know how literacy skills are sadly dropping – anything, and I mean ANYTHING that children will read should be praised and encouraged, especially something that is of the quality of J.K.’s books.
It’s stupid when you don’t consider reasons behind it. I agree with Gail Callicott; kids should read things that are easy and fun to read. oh well, that’s only one moronic opinion after another. HP pwns all!
God I hope that was taken out of context; because if he meant what he said, he is a complete jerk. You can not dictate to kids what they will like and wont and to try and do so is just going to turn them off to reading. If I had something like Harry Potter to read when I was a kid I might have started to like reading a decade earlier. It is not like there were not tons of entertaining books to read when I was young, there was, but this series got an entire generation, maybe two, reading at the same time and that makes it fun for kids, instead of a chore which would be flat out stupid.
yeah what a stupid thing to say it is a good series they both are but like everyone else said whatever gets kids and people in general to read is fine by me reading is supposed to be fine and take to you magical imaginative places in your mind.so that guy is a real arse.i love Emma Watson if you can’t tell and i can’t wait to see her in Ballet Shoes.I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee Emmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Watsonnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
Posted by emma watson fan on September 25, 2007, 01:54 PM
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Good grief!! Any educator who DOESN’T praise kids for reading JKR or anything else is an idiot. The earlier you start reading (or having someone read to you) and the more you read, the better. If you can’t read or don’t read, you’re missing a huge chunk of life.
Except that the themes of Rowling’s work & Pullman’s work are totally opposite. Pullman’s dark materials is designed to lead people towards atheisim, in opposition to CS Lewis’ Narnia works. Rowling’s works, while not purporting to be an explicit Christian message, stand more in the same camp as Lewis & Lengle.
That being said, everyone’s free to read whatever they want. And everyone, including Mr. Stott, is free to criticize whatever they want. Even if he is being a bit of an idiot…
He’s entitled to his opinion! Well, so am I and I think he should stick to acting instead of spouting off about something he obviously knows nothing about!
he should have not said that! Every is entitled to read what he wants. I love harry Potter and I love His Dark Material. We can have both!