You are in charge of Hogwarts

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 56701

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "mongo62aa"
<william.truderung at s...> wrote:
> ...edited...  A desperate Ministry of Magic turns to YOU and asks 
> you to take over at Hogwarts.  They tell you that you have complete 
> freedom to make any changes you deem necessary, and funding to do 
> so.  You accept the offer.  What do you  do?
> 
> ******
>
> ...edited...
> Basically, Hogwarts would offer a standard 7-year `core block' of 
> subjects, with additional subjects for those who want them, 
> and who qualify.  ... but also `graduate students' and adults 
> wanting to upgrade their skills.
> 

bboy_mn:

Well, in my mind and in my many posts, I have already solved the
higher education problem in the wizard world, so I don't need to go
into that again.


> I thought about abolishing the House system, but despite its flaws, 
> it is still a cheap, easy method of controlling the younger 
> students' behavior ...edited...


bboy_mn:

I too would keep the house system. I does keep the students in
isolated easier to manage blocks of students.

There is one thing related to this that I would do though. I would
introduce a new wizard's sport that require 6 players and 2 reserves,
and the team would all have to to made up of 2 members from each
house. That would force the houses to interact with each other more,
work together, and form interhouse alliances. I think that would be
good for everyone. 

This wouldn't be to replace Quidditch, it would be in addition to
Quidditch. Of course, this new sport would also be played on brooms.
Although, a whole new approach to broom design would evolve from it.



> Bill continues
> 
> Here is my personal `core block': (of subjects)
> 
> ******
> 
> Physical Education (5 classes per week)
> 
> Right now, there is no physical training at Hogwarts other than 
> Quidditch.  One class each day would be devoted to fitness exercises 
> and sports.
> 

bboy_mn:

I agree with most of your subject choices, but I think your wrong when
you say there is no physical training. Well, maybe there isn't
physical training, but there is a lot of excersize; TONS of excersize.

Harry lives at the top of the tower. He enters the tower on the
seventh floor, so it's safe to assume that his top-of-tower room is on
the 10th or 12th floor. This is in a castle, not a commercial 12 story
building. The ceilings in the castle are likely to be 20 to 30 feet
high. So 12 floors, is closer to an 18 to 20 story building, and those
kids walk up and down those stairs all day. 

Let's not forget that Hogwarts is on something that comes close to
being a mountain, so they walk up and down the sloping lawns at least
two or three times a day. Plus walking all over that huge castle in
general. 

I'd say they get plenty of excersize.



> Bill continues:
>
> 
> ******
> 
> I welcome any comments, and if anybody has their own ideas about 
> running Hogwarts, please feel free to share them.
> 
> Bill


bboy_mn:

That was a LONG list of classes; too many, certainly way too many
unless many of them are a one semester or one year only class. Most
college classes are one semester or one term. You take them and move
on to something new. Now many of the more complex classes take more
terms. For example, simple calculus is about 3 terms. Applied calculus
is minimum 5 terms, and calculus for math and science majors is extend
  with additional classes making it a total of 7 or 8 terms. 

Transfiguration, charms, and Potions appear to occur every year for
the full year for the entire 7 years of school. So, your going to have
to cram a lot more classes into the school day than they do now.
That's OK, I thought 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon was a
pretty light load anyway.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn