[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Wizarding Education/British School

[Shaun Hately]

On 19 Jul 2004 at 19:20, Sarah wrote:

> Being in awe of prefects who seemd so old and mature (17 compared to 
> me, 11), and the head girl who was so important she was bound to be 
> prime minister or something...
> So stop analysing - this is all normal

Except, it's not for quite a lot of the list members. That's part 
of the point.

This seems normal to you, and doesn't require any explanation 
*because* you went to a school in Britain that sounds like it 
copied it's traditions from the same sources, JKR used for 
Hogwarts. That's probably a reasonably common experience for those 
educated in Britain and much of the Commonwealth.

But for that substantial numbers of fans educated elsewhere - most 
notably in terms of numbers in the United States, their experiences 
have been quite different in many cases. Some of these people are 
familiar with the modalities and norms of British education, but 
many are not - and there's no real reason why they should be.

I have encountered people online who believe 'prefects' and 
'houses' are something that JK Rowling *invented*. They don't 
realise that she's drawing on real educational practice. Often that 
doesn't matter that much - but Hogwarts is such a significant part 
of the Harry Potter world that failing to understand what is 
'normal' about it, makes it much harder to understand what is 
different about it.

Some fans can't understand why senior pupils are placed in charge 
of other children. Some fans can't understand why Snape is 
tolerated as a teacher. Some fans can't understand how things like 
horsewhippings of students could even be contemplated. I've seen 
people post who found it outrageous that a teacher dared to 
confiscate Harry's broom - because in the education system they 
grew up with, and they are familiar with, the idea *is* outrageous.

To them, their experiences of education are the 'normal' ones. And 
even though they may well realise that education differs around the 
world, it's still pretty hard to find out exactly *how* it differs 
and where it comes from.

Some people have found the essay I wrote useful for that purpose. 
Because it gives them an insight into a culture they have a limited 
knowledge of.

If people already have that level of knowledge or more, it's not 
going to be much use to them.

As for the idea of not analysing things in the books - I suppose, 
my question is what is the point of having these forums if we don't 
analse the books. There's only so many times you can meaningfully 
ssy "Ohmigod, Harry is SO cute!"

Frankly, IMHO, it's a tribute to JKR that people *want* to analyse 
her books so much.


Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia