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Schools Sell Witchcraft Book 1/16/2002 Schools Sell Witchcraft Book From the magic of books, to books of magic, public schools across the nation are selling witchcraft to children without prior parental consent, chiefly through the Scholastic Book Clubs and Book Fairs. The Wizard’s Handbook was promoted on the order form of the December 2001 Scholastic Arrow Book Club — for grades 4 through 6 — with the blurb “Find the Wizard in YOU!” and “Make your own magic wands, cast spells, predict the future, and lots more!” No author was listed for The Wizard’s Handbook, which was referenced only as “Item #69, 96 pages.” This handbook is nothing new for Scholastic, the U.S. publishers of the Harry Potter series. The publisher is selling other occult-themed children’s literature such as Animorphs, T’Witches and Goosebumps, among other series. Other spin-offs from the Potter craze include Spellfall by Katherine Roberts. “This is not a trend driven by a bunch of witches at Scholastic,” Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) President Brad Dacus told C&F Report. “This is a profit-driven corporation. They have no idea of the seriousness of getting kids involved with the occult.” But selections like The Wizard’s Handbook teach the practice of witchcraft to children nonetheless. Thanks to a parent’s challenge, and a letter from the PJI , the school district in Enterprise, Utah, has stopped selling the handbook. PJI supported the parent’s complaint with a legal demand letter addressed to Kolene F. Granger Ph.D., the Superintendent of the Washington County School District. “By encouraging the students to purchase the handbook, the school is effectively encouraging the adoption of certain religious practices normally identified with witchcraft-based religions,” said Roger Ho, attorney for PJI, in the letter. “Since the religious text is not being offered for literary or historic value, and no other religious book is being offered, the school is running a risk of violating the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause,” Ho added. While there is a verbal agreement by Superintendent Granger to stop offering the book for sale, Dacus said follow-up is needed. “She refused to put her decision in writing,” Dacus said. “Therefore, we are writing a letter of complaint to the School Board to ask for that decision in writing.” Dacus said the move is sometimes necessary because school personnel will tell an upset parent one thing, then reverse that decision once the issue has blown over. But this victory is in only one, rural, southwest Utah community, and Scholastic materials are sold worldwide. What can other concerned parents do to fight such unequal treatment of religion? “If concerned parents discover their school is participating in Scholastic Book sales to children, I would encourage them to file a complaint with their school board,” said Dacus. “They can also contact us and we will send a letter to school administrators on their behalf, explaining the legal issues involved in a school selectively promoting the religion of witchcraft,” he added. Pacific Justice Institute |
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