Dursley behavior towards Harry and kids getting beat up at school

[Schlobin at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 1588

Oh, my....

I don't remember who said that the behavior of the Dursleys towards Harry was 
improbable or that what happened to Harry would be ignored at a middle class 
school.

The Dursleys are classic child abusers. It is the hardest part for me to read 
because their abuse of Harry is so realistic. Locking him in the cupboard, 
not giving him food,  constant belittlement, scapegoating (treating Dudley so 
much better),   pictures of Dudley but none of Harry, making him do all the 
work, making him wear hand me down clothes, etc....

It's all so realistic it's very disgusting to me. I assume that Rowlings 
either was herself abused as a kid, or knows someone very well who was abused.

In addition, I'm afraid children are beat up, called names, and hurt every 
day in middle class, and upper class schools. 

Susan McGee
formerly executive director of the Child Abuse and Neglect Council in 
Jackson, MI
now director of the Domestic Violence Project in Ann Arbor, Michigan 
(http://comnet.org/dvp)