A school in Chemnitz, Germany, has
taken the Harry Potter books off the syllabus after parents objected to their use on "religious grounds". The parents claimed that the representation of religion in the series offended their Christianity. The depiction of magic and mysticism was also said to "disturb" parents.
The book has now been replaced with
Rennschwein Rudi Rüssell (Rudi Ruessell the Racing Pig). However, children whose parents don't object to the Potter novels are being allowed to work with them in small groups.
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The education-policy spokeswoman in the legislature's Left party parliamentary group criticized the school's action as "an act of self-censure."
"(By acquiescing to the request,) the school director is essentially inviting religious fundamentalists to interfere with the educational and academic goals of state-funded schools, according to their discretion," Julia Bonk said.
"The lesson plans of state-funded schools should not be subject to approval by people who hold all possible religious convictions," she said.
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A representative of the Lutheran Church of Saxony, Harald Lamprecht, told dpa news agency that in his opinion, the Potter series were "magnificent books" and "highly respectable" stories that depict the fight of good versus evil.