She had decided to err on the side of caution after a parent at another Jefferson County public school raised questions in reference to sorcery in The New York Times best seller. It's the latest episode in a controversy over three children's books that have cast a spell over millions of readers worldwide. School libraries can barely keep The Sorcerer's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets and The Prisoner of Azkaban in stock. Children read them on the playground at recess. A movie is in the works.
Christian groups say they've heard of no organized efforts to ban the books from public schools.
But the Rocky Mountain Family Council ministry in Jefferson County fields about two calls a day from parents concerned about the books, said Mark Anderson, director of research and publications. Douglas County School curriculum director Dottie Fielder says parents have been asking questions about the books. And in Jefferson County, a Stony Creek Elementary librarian posted an Internet message to her colleagues after a parent raised questions about the books. Jefferson County library services coordinator Roberta Ponis mentioned the concerns at a Tuesday training session. West Ridge's librarian then shared this information with her school's teachers, according to district spokesman Rick Kaufman.