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 twisted old prat. I think Harry Potter is 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 times better Dark Materials. What could be better Harry Potter? absolutely nothing.
In response to Again: I haven’t missed the point. I agree with your statement that HP books encourage kids to read. I agree they are not there to teach grammar. Mr Stott’s comment does not disagree with you either. The point he was making was not about HP at all, but about the state of our education system. You’ve all leaped upon the HP reference to defend the books, but they were never under attack.
Ken Stott’s point was that our education system has let our kids down. So, you are saying you disagree? You think kids are well served these days? Really?
He used HP in comparison to HDM because they are very different styles and, in the purely technical sense, HDM is a more challenging, and therefore perhaps a more educational, read. This does not demean HP in my view at all. There is room for all sorts in a varied reading ‘diet’. JKR has never tried to imply that her work is linguistically complex. She writes in an engaging and accessible way. There is no need to be so defensive of it.
Hundreds of you on here have launched vicious verbal attacks on this guy (there’s one threat to kill on here too). The thread has degenerated into a fatwa of hatred against someone trying to defend the right of kids to a decent education.
as a highschool teacher i would not pas JKR work as highquality at all compared to more expierenced authors out there that doesn ot rely on plotholes and character assasination to make a book to work out at all.
andi teach on the lower grades for the moment.
the last too books where a litterary mistake, plotholes and character assaination as i have ever read it to even make itwork out atr all in the long run.
i personly don´t recomend my pupils to read the last 2 books, the first 5 are good enough.
the rest i recomend anything more “professional” written by more expiernced authors, they do a better work in the reading expiernce.
as long as they read “Quality writing” compared to jkr last 2 books that is so poorly written as i can be basicly in general, i am happy.
Posted by i married jake ryan on September 30, 2007, 11:49 AM
report to moderator
I don’t take issue with Mr. Stott’s ability to express his opinion, but it doesn’t mean I have to agree with him. And it doesn’t mean that he is right. He doesn’t strike me as anyone who has ever taught children, so what does he really know? If you ask me, parents nowadays are not as involved in their child’s education as they should be; at least the vast majority are not. I can teach a kid about grammar, syntax, semantics, spelling, and expressing themselves clearly in their writing until the cows come home, but unless education is valued at home and the parents show an interest, my hands are tied. I think the biggest problem with education is that parents seem to think that we need to teach their kids manners too, because honestly the attitude I get from students is unbelievable and hinders my ability to teach and for them to learn. One parent said that she’s just accepted that her child hates school. I have to be on him all the time to get anything done. I did really well in school because I knew what my parents’ expectations were and they were high.
What a load of tosh. I’m an English teacher, and have units on both series for my students. This dolt is hardly an authority on education. How about this? I don’t tell you how to act, you don’t tell me how to teach. I hardly see you with a degree in education, you ignorant thespian.
Kids are going to read what they want, period. While it’s alright to encourage them to read books that are considered classy, it is an exercise in futility to sit around waiting for them to actually do it. I happen to think that every American should read Alex Haley’s “Roots” but that doesn’t mean that it will happen. Okay, HP isn’t “War and Peace”. So what?
Many of those idiot educationalists post on here, evidently. Such inability to make a reasoned argument and control their venom makes it sadly understandable that the kids can’t either. You all just proved the guy’s point by refuting it so badly.
He mounted the broom and kicked hard against the ground and up, up he soared; air rushed through his hair, and his robes whipped out behind him -- and in a rush of fierce joy he realized he'd found something he could do without being taught -- this was ea
What a twisted old prat. I think Harry Potter is 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 times better Dark Materials. What could be better Harry Potter? absolutely nothing.