Wizarding primary schools again

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 16513

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., clairey at a... wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., catherine at c... wrote:
> > --- In HPforGrownups at y..., jennifer.k at l... wrote:
> > > --- In HPforGrownups at y..., clairey at a... wrote:
> > > > --- In HPforGrownups at y..., jennifer.k at l... wrote:
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > I noticed this comment from Draco (The 
> > > > Forbidden 
> > > > > Forest-chapter), when he is informed about their detention-
> > task. 
> > > > > "...I thought we´d be writing lines or something..."
> > > > > This is a very often used punishment in school (especially 
> > > primary, 
> > > > I 
> > > > > belive), and not at home. As much as I can belive Lucius 
> Malfoy 
> > > > about 
> > > > > handing out every possible sort of punishment, having Draco 
> > > > discover 
> > > > > them that way and referring to his childhood when speaking 
> > > > > about "writing lines" it could be a sign of that he is used 
> to 
> > > > > schools and knows their game (and punishment), thus going 
to 
> > one 
> > > > > before Hogwarts.
> > > > > 
> > > > > I´ll just forget the whole thing right... :) Oh well.
> > > > > /Jennifer
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > I don't believe that there are wizarding primary schools, 
> mainly 
> > > > because Ron tells Harry in PS/SS "everyone starts at the 
> > beggining 
> > > at 
> > > > Hogwarts..."
> >  
> > > Oh, I´m sorry, I could have expressed myself in a more clear 
way. 
> i 
> > > was talking about ordinary schools were you are teached math, 
to 
> > read 
> > > and write, stuff like that, and wether the wizardingkids 
attended 
> > any 
> > > such school before Hogwarts. 
> > > Forgive me for causing missunderstandings :)
> > > /Jennifer
> 
> 
> ok :)
> 
> claire
> > 
> > I mentioned something along these lines recently.  I was 
wondering 
> > how all these children are taught the 3RRRs etc.  Either they do 
go 
> > to some form of primary school, are taught by their parents or 
have 
> > private tutors, unless it is somehow all *magicked* into them, 
> which, 
> > I, personally, very much doubt.  Probably a combination of all 
> three 
> > depending on wealth and status etc.  (I wonder if Draco went to a 
> > prep school?  He already seems firmly ensconsced in his little 
> > threesome by the first journey to Hogwarts not to have known 
Crabbe 
> > and Goyle before).
> > 
> > As you seem to imply Jennifer, I think that when Ron talks about 
> > everyone being at the same level, he meant as far as the magical 
> > subjects were concerned, not the basic studying skills they need.
> > 
> > Catherine
> 
> 
> Do you think that (if they did go to school) they go to muggle 
> schools? At the start of PS/SS Ginny begs her mom to let her go to 
> Hogwarts. If they do go to wizarding primary schools would they be 
> taught simple charms? If not, what would be the point in having a 
> wizarding school and not just going to a muggle school?
> 
> 
> claire

Well for one thing, it wouldn't be very sensible for them to attend a 
Muggle school, as I would've thought that it would be very difficult 
to keep a load of wizarding children quiet about their origins etc, 
and it would be very awkward if they were to develop Muggle 
friendships.

As to why they don't learn simple charms - one theory may be that 
Dumbledore wants to make sure that all children start their magical 
education on a similar footing.  It would not be too fair or 
realistic if all the muggleborn children have to play catchup in 
their first year of Hogwarts.  It is probably also likely that they 
need to get to grips with the basic RRRs before Hogwarts, not leaving 
much time for magic studies, and the standard expected seems quite 
high - the level of complicated essays they are given for homework 
bears testament to that.

Catherine