Source: The Dallas Morning News
On April 17, 2004 The Dallas Morning News published an editorial saying, "The Plano school district is a long way from Hogwarts Castle. But a lawsuit seeking to block a Harry Potter party next month at one of the district's elementary schools brought the school for wizards a lot closer to Collin County this week. A federal judge in Sherman appropriately rejected a parent's request that the party be blocked because it would promote 'Wicca, an explicitly pagan, earth-centered' religion. U.S. Magistrate Don Bush declined to grant a temporary restraining order to keep the party from being held on school property. The party in no way is aimed at promoting any philosophy – religious or otherwise. The real reason behind the gathering is to promote reading, something young students need to master... Given the legal questions the Plano district has faced regarding parties with religious themes or faith-based materials distributed in class, Mr. O'Connor's challenge is understandable. Last year, a Plano elementary school student was asked not to distribute candy canes to classmates during school because they contained a Christian message. More recently, the school district planned to prohibit Valentine's Day cards, but relented following heavy protest from parents. The line between appropriate and inappropriate use of public school classrooms for meetings and distribution of literature is a fine one."