The State of Bigotry in JKR's Homeland

[Petra Pan]

Ali:
> Prejudice is absolutely rampant,
> but it is also (in general) hidden. 

Yup, that's been my experience here 
in California too.

Y'know, on the one hand, public 
displays of prejudice appall me.  
But OTOH, driving the bigots 
underground only hides such 
tendencies, which is surely more 
insidious.

The question of how a society can 
nudge bigots into shedding 
prejudices without triggering the 
defense mechanism and the digging 
in of heels has no easy answers.

Ali:
<snip>
> Having said that prejudice is rife,
> there are of course areas where 
> different cultures mingle
> harmoniously - I live in such an
> area. This might be an exaggeration,
> but I have been told that there are 
> over 40 first languages spoken in
> my daughters' school - not bad for 
> a school of c. 350 kids.

Lynn:
<snip>
> the private schools in that area
> will no longer accept bilingual
> children because they tend to
> bring down the test levels due
> to the language barrier.  This
> is done without testing to see
> if the child speaks and comprehends
> English in accordance with her
> grade level. It's just an automatic
> disqualification.  So, we've had to
> go out of the area to find a school
> who will accept her.

Hmm...I don't suppose, Lynn, you're 
moving to an area of England within
commuting distance of where Ali's 
daughters go to school?  <g>

The cynic in me also wonders if the 
rule for automatic disqualification 
at those schools in the name of 
higher test levels is a cover for 
xenophobia.  After all, if the 
schools are truly concerned with 
their test levels being brought down, 
shouldn't they conduct *actual* 
investigations into a potential 
pupil's actual skill levels?

Insidious, no?

Petra, 'unacceptably' bilingual
a
n  :)

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