London
(ANI):
Kids
in
the
UK
can
now
look
forward
to
study
something
besides
Shakespeare
and
Dickens
in
school,
for
they
will
soon
have
the
adventures
of
harry
potter
and
his
friends
to
sift
through.
However,
the
decision
to
add
harry
potter
and
the
Philosopher's
Stone
from
JK
Rowling's
best-selling
series
to
the
A-level
English
syllabus
has
caused
a
bit
of
a
row
in
the
country,
with
experts
saying
the
move
will
'dumb'
down
exams.
From
next
year
onwards,
school
kids
will
have
to
pen
a
1,500-word
essay
comparing
Rowling
and
another
writer,
as
well
as
an
800-word
story
inspired
by
the
book.
Professor
Alan
Smithers,
of
the
Centre
for
Education
Research,
was
not
impressed
with
the
move.
"I
don't
think
harry
potter
is
appropriate.
It
may
be
enjoyable
but
I
don't
think
we
are
just
trying
to
keep
people
occupied," The
Sun
quoted
him,
as
saying.
Added
Nick
Seaton,
of
the
Campaign
for
Real
Education:
"Children
should
be
encouraged
to
read
the
great
works
of
literature.
harry
potter
may
be
what
they
want
to
read
but
that
doesn't
mean
it
should
be
part
of
an
A-level."
However,
the
AQA,
which
sets
half
the
UK's
exams,
defended
its
move
saying:
"harry
potter
is
a
genuine
example
of
literature
of
our
time.
It
deserves
its
place
in
this
unit."