As an oldie with Honor's in the general social sciences, including International Relations and the Philosophy of History, would like to know when kids should start learning about what is now real in this world.

With this modernised return to the corporate culture of the colonial times, so evidenced now in both politics and economics with big businesses becoming almost as large as the East India Company, our youngsters around the age of ten, maybe should have such things explained to them - and also be told of course - as said - that Harry Potterism is mainly designed to encourage kids to read.

But philosophically it is believed we still must prepare them for what a well-known author back in the 1970s termed - Future Shock.

And really one could ask - has our world got any better for the young 'uns to inherit?



While

Not to be encouraged to take any political side, but to be ready for the shocks

I was talking with a year 11 student who had performed the obligatory speed reading of the latest. She could not understand why so many adults were fascinated with what she described as a children's book.

I have seen the HP books described as ripping yarns, and indeed they may be, I would like to contrast them with two books that I have read by an Australian author, Peter Fitzsimmons, each book having a one word title: "Kokoda" and "Tobruk". I don't think that Fitzsimmons would ever describe himself as a writer of classic literature, and anyone with any knowledge of history already knows the 'endings'. These are not history textbooks, and do not claim to be, but to young Australians they represent a chance to thoughtfully read stories of courage, tragedy, humour, life and death, and triumph. I know which books I would prefer to see young Australians reading.

In terms of accessibility to other literature, perhaps people should try tuning into Radio National's book reading, then if they are tempted they may read the words for themselves. I rediscovered Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" in this way.

You don't have to be blind, or a child, to enjoy good literature being read to you.

Literature doesn’t end with HP. These, after all, are children’s books. Perhaps those who want to attack Helen Pringle haven’t grown out of their own fixation with children’s literature, and the fact that teenagers are no longer children: Teens who grew up with HP are not the same age as when the series started, but the books are still at the same level. The first HP book came out in 1997, the last in 2007. Do we really want teens reading the same standard of book as they were when they were 8? Harry grew up and so have the readers. Why not the books?

If the stories had matured, so that the 2007 book was suitable for the same cohort as read the first book in 1997, it would not be suitable for 10 year olds today. Can anyone else see something wrong here?

Hamlet,

Re Dr Seuss, I experienced the dreaded 'Oh, No' feeling after the comment was posted, but thanks anyway.

What is the matter with you people? What on earth can you possibly think makes it permissible to be unkind to other people for the cardinal sin of holding a different opinion? Free speech? Your "right" to express yourself? The word "forum"?

This person is exercising the right to state her opinion for the purposes of lively debate, and doing so in a way that does not rob anyone of their dignity; transgress the rights of others to their good name; nor rob anyone of their self-esteem. In other words she is responsibly using the right to free speech and deserves to have her words read and responded to in the same vein.

It has also become acceptable on OLO to denigrate and to abuse, vilify, threaten and impugn posters and authors (i.e. total strangers) and to describe the expression of their feelings as winging, whining, bleating, screaming, ranting, or raving.

I am neither whinging, whining, bleating, screaming, ranting or raving but STATING that I am shocked at the depths of the unkindness and sheer nastiness directed at others by some people through OLO. Like the author, I am astounded that an opinion about a kids novel should generate such sheer bloody-mindedness.

The comments on these pages have more than once reduced me to tears. Is this the aim of some posters? If anyone holds a different opinion you must rob them of all dignity - jeer and mock in order to prove yourselves right? Do you switch off your computers with a satisfied "There! That'll show 'em!" and sleep the sleep of the just?

Jeez, people, get a grip. The woman doesn't like a book. You do. Must she be pilloried in order for you to hold your opinion?

have read no h(arry) p(otter) books. saw one of the films (the first) and apart from quidittch (spell? please correct me - i won't be transported into fury) i had to admire unashamedly every child (and adult) who could keep awake and alert - talk about shouting 'fire' in a public theatre - if it were up to me there'd be no one capable of doing so as we sunk and sunk deliciously into our comfortable seats, transported into another world as we drifted off into our own imaginations ...

great piece h(elen) p(ringle). both a good read in and of itself, a greatly provocative and thoughtful piece, and the ratty-mole story such a parable of times past. in accordance with the ethos imposed upon 'our' australia under the current federal regime, would there ever be a ratty today who would even listen to a mole, much less retrace the path to the molehouse?

Trust Jocelynne to agree with Helen...it sounds suspiciously like, "I didn't like it so we should get rid of it". I don't like the sort of music that modern teenagers seem to like but I won't advocate getting rid of it or saying they should not experience it.
I went to see the first HP film too Jocelynne. The theatre was packed, the kids were enthralled and the adults seemed to think it was pretty good too...and it was not just the hype that did it...the kids came out with the words tumbling over one another as they tried to tell others what they wanted to say...I doubt that a modern rendition of Great Expectations would have the same effect.