Good Discussion Ideas for Harry Potter Class?

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, Curt Angeli <losangelis at y...>
wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
>  
> 
> I don't post much..in fact, I probably haven't since last year when
I posted this same question.  I'm teaching my second summer of a Harry
Potter class, where my 4th through 7th graders live out Hogwarts.  It
was wonderful last year, and I expect it to be even bigger this year.
> 
> My question is:  I am looking for some good discussion topics.  
>
>...edited...
>
> I was wondering if anyone had any other good "beyond the book" 
> topics that you think young people might find intruiging.  
> ...edited...
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> Curt


bboy_mn:

Well, moral dilemmas are always good. Someone suggested analysing
Harry's honesty or lying. True he does lie, but he does so for good
reasons. He also breaks the rules, but sometimes in life, breaking the
rules is the right thing to do. Of course, sometimes when he does it,
he is just plain wrong, like seeking into Hogsmeade. It also helps the
students realize that good people, even great people, aren't perfect.

This could also be carried over into the current conflict in Iraq. War
is alway a moral dilemma, and war is about to start in the wizard
world. Should a soldier/wizard blindly obey the rules, or are there
times when doing the wrong thing is the right thing. This is important
in the real world of war because, in World War II and even in Viet Nam
soldiers were held morally accountable for following orders; re:
Jewish death camps, the Mai Lay massacre, and more recently in Serbia. 

On the issue of rules, it is considered a higher degree of moral
development to make your own judgment about what is right, and follow
your conscience rather than the rules. This particular topic sparked a
long hot debate in the HP for Grown Ups groups.

Another hot topic, and again, it ties in with moral dilemmas, is
trying to decide if Draco is redeemable. It asks the students to look
at someone or something bad and see if they can find some good in
them. Personally, I think when Draco finds out what it really means to
be a Death Eater, the idea won't seem very appealing to him. It also
asks them to examine why bad people are bad. 

These are all pretty serious topic, but I'm sure there are some fun
topics too.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn