Potter Politics: Calling All Hogwarts

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. -  It's a 'novel' idea...

UNBC Political Science Professor, Dr. Tracy Summerville, wants to know what children are learning about government and politics when they read children’s literature.

“The idea came to me as I was reading a Harry Potter story with my daughter,” says Dr. Summerville. “The fact that governmental institutions play such a prominent role in the novels through the ‘Ministry of Magic’, and that they closely resemble the Canadian parliamentary system, made me consider the lessons she might be taking away from the books.”

“Studies have shown that the majority of children regard government as being a benevolent entity. So will the wide-spread reading of stories that portray political systems as far from perfect - as the books do - have a negative impact on the way children regard government as they mature and enter the age of majority?”

“The Harry Potter books have sold more than 400 million copies and been translated into 67 languages and counting, so it is not much of a stretch to say that most of a generation of young people has been, and is being, influenced by the world evoked in the books of J.K. Rowling,” says Dr. Summerville.

In order to find out, Summerville has partnered with the Public Library to host a Harry Potter-themed survey in the form of the Ordinary Wizarding Levels (O.W.L’s) from the stories at the library today. After their “exams”, the children can visit Honeyduke’s Sweetshop, and participate in herbology, potions, and divination class.

The event runs from 1pm until 3pm this afternoon and Dr. Summerville is only looking to survey children ages 9-12, but all are welcome to attend and, she says, none are obligated to take the survey.

Summerville plans to publish the results in the form of an academic paper and present it to the Library.

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