[HPforGrownups] Re: Thoughts about Racism in HP (LONG)

[Janet Anderson]

No: HPFGUIDX 102649

[Lee] asked:

>I'm going to toss out another thought into this thread...something not 
>quite
>along the lines of racism, but certainly along the lines of discrimination.
>
>What of a child, either pureblood or not, who has a physical or visual
>impairment but is magical?  Can we get talking spell books, etc? Or would
>such children be denied a proper education in the WW?  Would that child's
>parents have to fight to get him/her into a wizarding school?

My opinion on this interesting question:

According to canon, I believe, a child's name is either written in Hogwarts' 
book or it is not.  Nothing is said about the child's physical condition 
except that, presumably, he or she has to be capable of learning magic 
(which might cause a problem for a severely retarded child, although if they 
took Crabbe and Goyle ...)

There would be certain challenges in the child's academic career, but in 
some ways the wizarding school might be better prepared for such than a 
muggle school.  They have vicious attack books (The Monster Book of 
Monsters) and a book that screams in the Restricted section of the Hogwarts 
library; how hard would a talking spell book be?  Teachers who depend on 
visual cues for teaching (Flitwick's wand motions, Snape's description of 
potion colors) would have to include other cues.  (Would a blind student 
still see a an object of fear when faced with a boggart in a DADA class?)  
Riding a broomstick unaccompanied might be dangerous since the student 
wouldn't be able to see a) where he was going or b) the presence of other 
broomstick riders, trees, towers ... and Quidditch would be Right Out.

Perhaps he could have an assistance animal as his familiar.  A large Kneazel 
would be perfect.

>I can't help but wish that JKR would tackle a blind wizard being admitted 
>to
>Hogwarts.  I'm sure most of the profs would be great, but I have serious
>doubts about Snape being willing to accommodate. :-)

I wonder.  Draco Malfoy would probably behave foully, but I think Snape 
might not. He might well be concerned about danger, to the student or to 
others; but he might also take it as a challenge which he was equal to as a 
Potions Master.


Janet Anderson

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