[HPforGrownups] Age of Starting School

[Random]

No: HPFGUIDX 71640


On Saturday, Jul 19, 2003, at 03:58 America/Indianapolis, The Crashing 
Boar wrote:

>   Something that I don't know if it has been discussed (only having 
> been here less than a week) is that Hogwarts may well not be the only 
> school of its type, simply the prestige school.  I suspect entry is 
> limited by things like family association, ability to pay and/or 
> magical abilities.

Well, we're told (i've honestly no clue if it was a book, a movie, or 
an interview) that at hogwarts is a book and a magical quill that 
detects _every_ birth of a magic child, and sends off a letter to _all_ 
of them. However, ability to pay could still be a limitation.

> Harry could be on the equivalent of a scholarship, or there could be 
> some kind of trust fund (administered by Dumbledore?).  Hermione's 
> parents are probably in a position to pay her fees, but she may well 
> also have some kind of academic scholarship award.

Well, they are both dentists... my understanding has been that similar 
to medical doctors, they make a lot of money.

> The reason the Weasleys are always so strapped for cash may be the 
> need to keep 6 kids school fees paid.

I've always thought this, too, and wondered why F/G didn't drop out 
straight after OWLs rather than staying on for nearly two more years... 
oh, nevermind, i guess they didn't want to receive daily howlers.

> In fact, we have no reason to assume the WW operates any form of 
> 'state education', merely oversees certain aspects of any educational 
> bodies that exist. (I believe that may have been the point of rushing 
> through the legislation that put Umbridge in place - to gain control 
> never held before, in the guise of protecting the young).

This is an interesting theory... Also, you can't forget the many 
real-life examples (which, due to the policy against real-world 
politics on the list which i've heard quoted by others, i will not 
name) of "for the children" legislation that give government 
overreaching powers; which this may be a commentary on.