11-year-old Math Class

[rycar007]

No: HPFGUIDX 35685

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "rollerramla" <rollerramla at h...> wrote:
> This is a question I've had for a very long time; in fact, from the 
> moment I started the books I wondered this. If the students enter 
> Hogwarts when they are 11 years old, then does that mean that they
> stop 
> learning math at a 5th grade (or the British equivalent) level? If
> so, 
> it seems that the students graduate having only learned simple 
> arithmetic! Any theories? I'd love to hear them. :)

Hogwarts seems to be a much more sensible school than most Muggle 
insitutions in that students are bombarded with useless information 
day by day. Hermione, for example, wants to use math, therefore she 
chooses to learn it while Harry doesn't, because he'll never really 
use it. Another difference from muggle schools is that Hermione 
learns math in an applied setting, none of this do-some-logs-without-
your-calculator-because-well-we-can't-think-of-a-reason-just-do-it 
that I remember so well. I've never ended up using any math beyond 
5th grade level. Why should Harry?

Hogwarts teaches applied skills such as Defense Against the Dark Arts 
and Charms, skills that actually have use in real (wizard) life. 
Beyond that, they are allowed to specialize in skills they'll need, 
with none of this "well rounded" stuff to make them mediocre, at 
least not in skills they don't need. I would send a child to Hogwarts 
in a second.

But here's what I wonder. Say a Hogwarts student was a brilliant 
author and wanted to continue this art after finishing his wizard 
training. Would Hogwarts enchant his application so it looked like a 
normal High School, with perfect 1600 SAT scores? :)

-Rycar

(I always understood the math at school, just never bothered doing 
the homework. I dropped it as soon as possible in favor of more 
English classes. I carry my calculator around in my pocket.)