[HPforGrownups] Re: A Hogwarts education &-The Muggle World

[morine10 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 6216

In a message dated 11/29/00 5:59:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
klaatu at primenet.com writes:


> Magical education almost seems like a sneaky way to keep wizards and witches
> segregated from Muggle society.  They fix it so that no magical child has
> enough skills to get a well-paying job in the "outside" world.  A child with
> nothing but a magical education would be computer-illiterate, incapable of
> making change for muggle money, have no valid driver's license, be unable to
> provide previous work references or school records, etc etc etc...
> Essentially unemployable in the Muggle communities.
> 
> I can almost understand Arthur Weasley's complete ineptitude when it comes
> to dealing with the Muggle world.  Someone like Harry or Hermione, who spend
> a great deal of time in muggle society, would seem to have a definite
> advantage finding work in either world after they leave school.
> 

I think you have brought a very important point to our attention.  The 
magical world is almost completely cut off from the Muggles.  Arthur Weasley, 
who works for the Muggle Affairs Dept., knows little to nothing about the 
everyday aspects of Muggle-life (which in reality would be pathetic, but it 
seems JKR just meant it to be comical).  And for the most part, the adult 
wizards we have met seem to know even less than he does.  

But at Hogwarts we know several students that are half-bloods, or 
Muggle-borns.  Dean Thomas has his soccer posters up next to Ron's Chudley 
Cannons.  Hermione, the top student in the class, is Muggle-born.  And then 
we have Harry Potter, the most famous person in the Wizarding World, and he 
probably knows even less about the wizarding world than Arthur knows of 
Muggles.  It seems to me that Dumbledore is setting about to educate his 
students on more than just magical theory, application, and history.  He's 
planting the seeds for understanding and tolerance - not just within the 
wizarding world but beyond that into the realm of Muggles.  But it takes 
time, and maybe a battle against evil that will threaten both worlds....

The Muggle attack at the Quidditch Cup was just a taste of what is to come.  
Voldemort is back, probably more powerful than before.  It won't be the last 
attack on Muggles.  Perhaps we will see some Muggles join in on the fight?

The magical community has self-segregated themselves from the Muggle world 
for reasons I'm sure were felt to be in the best interest of everyone.  But I 
feel change coming and Hogwarts is the key to that change.

-Mo

"Can I have a look at Uranus too, Lavender?" - Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and 
the Goblet of Fire


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