Pulling on the collective mental powers and moral support of the mighty CE forum —

My fourth eldest daughter, a sweet ten-year-old, is quite excited about being in Honors Choir at the local middle school.  Today, they were given a piece to begin learning for some upcoming event, apparently for around Halloween.  The song is called, "Double Trouble" from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

My daughter correctly told the teacher she is not allowed to read Harry Potter and her parents don't want her "getting into Harry Potter stuff."

The choir director told her words to the effect that he used to be a minister for fifteen years and there's nothing wrong with Harry Potter. Just have your parents read the lyrics and if they think there's anything wrong, call him.

Here are the lyrics:

Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble
Double, double, toil and trouble
Something wicked this way comes.

Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and howlet's wing.

Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble
Double, double, toil and trouble
Something wicked this way comes.

In the cauldron boil and bake,
Fillet of a fenny snake,
Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witches' mummy, maw and gulf.

Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble

Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble 

Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble

Something wicked this way comes.

My daughter is old enough and bright enough to know what is real and what is not.  We have also told her some of this is from William Shakespeare's MacBeth.

And I know many good Catholics who see no harm in Harry Potter.  Our family has avoided him for various reasons I have posted on before.

And it will still require her to endlessly chant and/or sing these repulsive words (I haven't heard the melody that goes with them)

But it just steams me that:

1) they have to pick a song with such crappy lyrics (sorry, bard)

2) the implied message is, "your parents are goobers, have them call me and I will enlighten them up for you."

What say you?  Pray and fight, or just pray? 

Either way, it's a teachable moment for my daughter.  We're aware that she is getting to that age where she would rather not be the tallest poppy in the field.  But I'm up for a scrap.

Actually, this is ALL from Shakespeare, except the line "Something wicked this way comes."

So just know, if you pick to battle this one, you're really battling Shakespeare and not Harry Potter.  Not sure that's going to make much of an effect.

The music is "medieval-sounding choral piece" written by John Williams.(wikipedia)

My take would be to do the following (in no particular order):

*  Speak to the teacher regarding his "seemingly blatant" disrespect for the parent's explicit wishes for the child, no matter how "misguided" he may have felt them to be.  But I wouldn't necessarily insist she be removed or anything like that.

*  You're right...many teaching moments for your daughter.  Starting with a discussion on why people are drawn to darkness sometimes.

*  You might brush up on Macbeth to remember the context of the witches sceen (I know it's in the very beginning) and discuss it with her if it makes sense to.

*  Counter the darkness with light.  Have the entire family learn a new hymn to or about a saint (or to the litany of saints) since Nov. 1st follows directly.  This is often a recommended "counter" to anything that may be "required" of a person (like someone that has to read Mein Kampf for a particular course should also read a Catholic related perspective to "remedy" any error that may creep in and confuse).

*  I applaude your protection of your daughter.  But for her sake, make the lesson positive instead of negative (negative being any ramifications and fallout she may have to endure if you do fight it to the end).

 "Something wicked this way comes." is a quote also from shakespeare near or around the same scene as mekbeth enters one of the witches remarks "by the pricking of my thumb somehting wicked this way comes".

Do you think your 10 year old is old enough to watch macbeth?

If you do I wouldn't worry about it.  I think you teachers undermining of parental authority should be addressed.  The approate thing to say would have been. ' let me talk to them and see if they still have an objection' and nothing more. 

That particular issue should be addressed with the teacher at minimum.

So many good reasons to homeschool , but given this is an honors choir

she could easily be enrolled in something similar even if homeschooled.

Protect the Rock

You have a wonderful daughter.  You are blessed.  She has a wonderful family. She is blessed.

I would not make a big issue of the problem.  Your daughter will have to defend her values often in life.  If you can discuss the issue at home and keep good relationships with her and the people she comes in contact with everthing will work out well.

God bless,


NoelFitz.
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In necessariis, unitas; in dubiis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas.
“Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me"