[HPforGrownups] Re: Hogwarts Upkeep

[porphyria at mindspring.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 36479

I've been reading with interest the various posts on how Hogwarts is funded, and whether it is public (and therefore, perhaps, the tuition is covered) or private. I'm going to argue that it is public to the extent that it comes under the jurisdiction of Fudge and the MOM. 

At the end of GoF when Fudge is being confronted with with unbearable truth about Voldemort, he interjects:

<quote>
"Now, see here, Dumbledore," he said, waving a threatening finger. "I've given you free rein, always. I've had a lot of respect for you. I might not have agreed with some of your decisions, but I've kept quiet. There aren't many who'd have let you hire werewolves, or keep Hagrid, or decide what to teach your students without reference to the Ministry. But if you're going to work against me -"
</quote>

To me this strongly implies that Fudge does outrank Dumbledore and can, if he wants to, override him in matters of the school's administration. He simply chooses not to do so, for several reasons. Up until now, Fudge has relied on Dumbledore's advice for his own job (Hagrid in PS/SS: "They wanted Dumbledore fer Minister, o' course, but he'd never leave Hogwarts, so old Cornelius Fudge got the job. Bungler if ever there was one. So he pelts Dumbledore with owls every morning, askin' fer advice.") and since Dumbledore is so very powerful, popular and respected, Fudge might consider it very dodgy to cross him. Fudge himself is neither a king nor a dictator, and though it's unclear whether he is elected or appointed, as a politician he relies on support from many people who would be outraged if he were to try to order Dumbledore around in any but the gravest issues. So I'd say Hogwarts is public to the extent that it's not independent from the government.

Also, it's got the board of governors, who probably administer a wide variety of issues. We know they have the power to hire, fire and suspend Headmasters, but surely you wouldn't need a whole board to deal with just that. They must have a variety of administrative duties. They do recommend to Fudge to have Hagrid removed in CoS:

<quote>
"Look, Albus," said Fudge, uncomfortably. "Hagrid's record's against him. Ministry's got to do something - the school governors have been in touch -"
</quote>

So they've got some miscellaneous power. 

I believe one of the functions of a board of governors, at least IRL, is to manage an endowment. I wouldn't be surprised if that was true here too. I agree with the others who've suggested that Hogwarts must be able to manage to fund it's poorer students; Ali mentioned and I agree, among other things, that the Creeveys and possibly the Weasleys must get some fellowship coverage. While there is no way students can get strictly 'merit' scholarships prior to beginning school, it is still possible that as long as they don't get chucked out entirely that by virtue of being magical they 'qualify' for aid if they need it. I'd say either tuition is covered in all cases or it's on a sliding scale. After all, I would think it would be a point of pride for the Malfoy's to either write out a hefty check each year for tuition, or at least make a big annual contribution to the endowment (at least before Lucius got sacked from the board). I suspect there is more than enough money in the UK wizarding community to keep the endowment replenished. 

~~Porphyria

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