Actor calls educators who encourage reading Harry Potter “idiots”
You know, whenever I come across these kind of items in the news, most of the time the people who are saying these kind of inflammatory statements haven’t even READ any of the Harry Potter books.
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!
I just don’t understand why people insist on criticizing the Harry Potter books, and especially the large part they’ve played in getting kids (and adults!) all over the world to read, and read more. I mean, let’s face it - once you’ve read the Harry Potter series, you (hopefully) don’t just stop there, you keep going, right? So they’re a good jumping off point into the wonderful world of well-written literature out there.
I’m not sure why this Stott fellow decided to sound off like this, but each to his own I suppose. It sounds like he was just casting about for something poopy to say, didn’t really matter what it was about.
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4 opinions for Actor calls educators who encourage reading Harry Potter “idiots”
--aYnA--
Sep 26, 2007 at 17:48
IS HE MENTAL?? HARRY POTTER IS ONE OF THE MOST FUN AND EDUCATIONAL BOOKS YOU WILL EVER FIND! IT’S FULL OF NEW WORDS TO MAKE YOUR VOLCABULARY AND SPEAKING SKILLS! THE TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOL THINK HARRY POTTER IS GREAT! and im being serious here, in my school you will see at least two people with a harry potter books. thank you so much j.k rowling for your wonderful texts that have made me a better person!! this guy is an IDIOT HIMSELF!!
JA
Sep 26, 2007 at 17:53
No, he like so many of us are sick to death of the way these books have been thrust into the media limelight when they are particularly poorly written books.
Just becuase he isn’t jumping on the bandwagon to declare these books are sensational, it doesn’t mean he is wrong.
I have read the books (and by the way he too has read some of them) I kept going thinking that surely JK Rowling’s writing would improve, but it didn’t it went from bad to worse.
Moriarty Matheson
Jan 8, 2008 at 08:56
One wonders if the man has ever read the books himself. The fact that children everywhere are becoming more Hermione-ish and reading inclined is a plain example that the Harry Potter series are having an excellent effect on the era’s youth. Before it came along, children would rather kick a ball at each other’s heads than pick up a “nerdy book”. If anything, the children deserve the praise, as does Ms. Rowling.
Why does this grumpy man not realize that?
Moriarty Matheson
Jan 8, 2008 at 08:57
One wonders if the man has ever read the books himself. The fact that children everywhere are becoming more Hermione-ish and reading inclined is a plain example that the Harry Potter series are having an excellent effect on the era’s youth. Before it came along, children would rather kick a ball at each other’s heads than pick up a “nerdy book”. If anything, the children deserve the praise, as does Ms. Rowling.
Why does this grumpy man not realize that?
Question: if it went from bad to worse, as you claim, what are you doing on a Harry Potter inclined website?
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