LOGANVILLE, Ga., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- A Loganville, Ga., mother has argued before a state officer that books in the Harry Potter series should be banned from Gwinnett County public schools.
Laura Mallory stated her case to the state Board of Education hearing officer after appealing a decision of the school district to keep the popular books on library shelves, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday. Mallory claimed the fantasy books about a school for wizards feature protagonists who lie, cheat and steal without consequences.
She also claims the books promote Wicca, a church of witchcraft.
"When my children are at school, I'm trusting them to the teachers and that school," Mallory said. "They are my most precious things in the entire world to me. I surely don't want them indoctrinated into a religion whose practices are evil."
Gwinnett school board attorney Victoria Sweeny said at the hearing that there is no evidence the Harry Potter series promotes any religion. She said the books foster a love of learning in children.
Hearing officer L.O. Buckland will make a recommendation to the Board of Education, which will decide whether the district made the appropriate decision.
