Muggles / Education basics

[scot_macdonald]

No: HPFGUIDX 31095

I think it is quite possible that we will see more competent and kind 
muggles in the next books.  Echoing what someone suggested a couple 
thousand posts ago, I would love to find out the the Muggle Studies 
prof is an honest to goodness Muggle who landed a sweet job.  We know 
the Hogwarts is not opposed to hiring non-magic types (e.g. Filch).  
I also think that a Muggle born witch or wizard would be a great 
candidate for the Muggle Studies teacher position.  Knowing muggles 
from both view points would make for an excellent perspective.

I think the fact that Hogwarts offers a Muggle Studies program at all 
speaks to the fact that Muggles aren't viewed, necessarily, by the 
entire population as inferior, just different... for expample, many 
school have ethnic studies and gay studies class.... and human nature 
causes us to fear that which is different, and to overcome that fear, 
we need knowledge, which is why we have these classes.  ERGO- 
Hogwarts is striving to eliminate that fear, and dislike of Muggles 
by educating future generations.  

I woudl liek to think that the muggle studies students get to go on 
field trip to see things that to them are completely fascinating... 
but to us would be completely humdrum (like out to the middle of a 
field to stare at telephone wires... can't you just picture them 
being amazed that we can make our voices travel all the way through 
that itty-bitty cable?)

ok... that's enough from me... at least on that topic...

Someone else asked about the reading/writing/arithmatic learning that 
isn't taught at hogwarts, but would obviously be necessary for 
wizards to learn at some point.  Well, we know that Harry, and any 
muggle borns (or half-bloods raised in muggle society) would have had 
this information taught to them in elementary/primary/grammar 
school.  Do we know for a fact that no such thing exists in the 
Wizarding World?  

I wanted to talk abotu something else while I was in here... but I 
can't remember what it was... oh well... 

Scot (from Minneapolis)