[HPforGrownups] Re: 11-year-old Math Class

[Zorb17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 35693

In a message dated Sun, 24 Feb 2002  4:44:32 PM Eastern Standard Time, "rycar007" <Ryjedi at aol.com> writes:

> --- 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. 

The problem with this is that at 13 years old, how are you supposed to know whether you're going to be using more complex math as an adult?  When I was 13, I was firmly convinced that I wouldn't be using it, though I continued through calculus in high school.  When I started college, I ditched math entirely, convinced I was going to be a non-science major.  It took only one quarter to prove me completely wrong.

The point is, those required higher math courses really are good for kids, most of whom won't pick a career field for years.

Personally, I am of the opinion that the Hogwarts kids get their math indirectly through other classes.  Some classes (Arithmancy) use it more than others, but they're all getting something beyond primary school level.


Zorb