Stan Shunpike and class distinction

[bluesqueak]

No: HPFGUIDX 56711

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "imamommy at s..." 
<imamommy at s...> wrote:
> Do all British wizarding children go to Hogwarts?  

We don't know, but JKR has said that Hogwarts is the only school in 
the UK in interview.

> 
> What about Stan Shunpike?  If he's 18 or 19 in PoA, mightn't he 
> have been there for Harry's first year (if he went)?  

If Hogwarts follows UK practice, it is customary for many children 
to leave school at 16. The implication from OWLS is that they do - 
that's what public exams at 16 are *for* in the UK. They provide 
evidence that children who leave school early have studied 
particular subjects to an agreed level.

So Stan might well have attended Hogwarts, but left at 16. In which 
case he'd have left before Harry arrived.

>Are there major class distinctions 
> in the WW?  

I think the class/race distinction we are being presented with is 
pure-blood/half-blood/muggle-born.

Are there some children whose families can't afford 
> Hogwarts, and where do they go?  

If Colin the milkman's son can afford to go, it looks like everyone 
who is qualified to go, goes.

Where Squibs are educated is another matter. I don't think they're 
given any provision at all - which would be another reason why Filch 
hates the Hogwarts students so much. They're getting an education he 
never had a chance to have.

>Do all British children wear 
> uniforms at school or is that just at elite boarding schools?  

*Almost* all British children wear uniforms at school. In PS/SS Ch. 
3, Petunia is dyeing a uniform for Harry to wear at Stonewall High, 
which sounds like a bog standard state secondary school.

State schools have a very cheap uniform, costing about 30 GBP per 
child, new. It's usually some variation on Grey/blue/green/red 
pullover or sweatshirt, black/grey trousers or skirt and a 
white/grey/blue shirt. 

It's a sample of the Dursley's unwillingness to spend money on Harry 
that they won't buy him the standard Grey pullover, white shirt, 
grey trousers uniform, or aren't even prepared to pick up a second 
hand uniform. Honestly, the standard school uniform is sold at 
Woolworths, or ASDA/Walmart, and if you can't afford it, you can 
usually pick up second hand items at jumble sales.

How do 
> the Creeveys support two students on a milkman's wages?  Is there 
> a  scholarship program?  

We don't know, but the Creeveys and the Weasley's support the idea 
that there is a scholarship system for those who can't afford fees.

> Does anyone else think of this stuff?
> imamommy
> (who wishes someone would give her a Pensieve for Mother's Day)

Yup ;-)

Pip!Squeak (aka Pip)