Vague Thoughts on Apparation - Conclusion Confusion

[JoAnna]

No: HPFGUIDX 93530

Ginger:

<<<I have to wonder if the key isn't necessity.  People have been
using driving/drivers licenses as an example, and I think it is a good
one. 
 
Even in the US, the ages of driving vary from state to state.  Here 
in North Dakota, you can get a permit at 13 and a license at 14.  
<snip> 

In the WW we have all sorts of other forms of transportation.  >>>

Ginger makes a good point.  (BTW, I'm a fellow North Dakotan - hello
from Fargo!)  :)

In GoF, Mr. Weasley tells Harry, "You don't mess around with
Apparition.  There are plenty of adult wizards who don't bother with
it.  Prefer brooms -- slower, but safer." (page 67, U.S. edition)  In
the same portion of the book, it also says that Harry had "never known
any Hogwarts student to do it [Apparate], and understood that it was
very difficult."  (page 66)

If Apparition was taught as school, you'd think Harry would know some
Hogwarts students who were at least practicing - Percy, for example,
no doubt would have bragged about learning, and in turn Ron would
complain to Harry about Percy's bragging - but we don't hear about it
in PoA.

I know several people in the U.S. who don't have driver's licenses
because they live in a large city with a reliable public
transportation system, and driving/owning a car is more trouble than
it's worth.  Since there are many students who may choose not to
Apparate, perhaps Hogwarts doesn't bother to teach it since it's an
optional activity and not required.  Or, perhaps, there's an
extra-curricular type class to teach it, but you'd think studying for
N.E.W.T.s would supercede any extra-curriculars (other than Quidditch,
that is *wink*).  

- JoAnna