A professor at the University of Northern British Columbia wants to know what children are learning about government and politics when they read children’s literature. In order to find out, UNBC Political Science professor Tracy Summerville is hosting an event based on the massively successful Harry Potter series on Saturday February 20 at the Prince George Public Library.

“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. “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?”

Dr. 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. After their “exams”, the children can visit Honeydukes Sweetshop, and participate in herbology, potions, and divination class.

“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.”

Dr. Summerville will publish the results in the form of an academic paper and present the results to the Library.

Although we are only looking to survey kids age 9-12, children of all ages are welcome to the event, and none are obligated to complete the survey. The event will take place from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday February 20 at the Bob Harkins Branch.

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