[HPforGrownups] Hogwarts letters Re: Choosing sides

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 118768

On 29 Nov 2004 at 2:46, snow15145 wrote:


> Snow:
> I don't know whether the parents or the child would be ecstatic over 
> the offer to attend Hogwarts but it would, after many years of 
> unusual happenings with the child, give both the parents and the 
> child a reason for the child's strange behavior. The child itself has 
> probably realized and wondered why they can make things happen
and 
> may have felt surprised, guilty, ashamed or confused by their own 
> unexplainable behavior
Harry did. The average muggle parent of a 
> child would not be utmost suspicious of magic being involved and 
> would be puzzled over what they should do about this behavior from 
> their child. If the parents were to contact a doctor about their 
> suspicions or apprehensions, it could be misconstrued as their own 
> psychological abnormalities. 

Just adding a perspective.

I work with exceptionally and profoundly gifted children. These are 
kids who are, in colloquial terms, really, really, smart. Normal 
giftedness is generally taking to be something like 1 in 50 kids or 
1 in 20. These kids are 1 in 10,000 or more.

It's not the same situation as having magical ability in the HP 
universe, but a lot of these kids are not formally identified until 
quite late in their childhoods - age 8 or older is not uncommon, 
some not until their early teens. But many, many of them prior to 
formal identification display tendencies that are 'different' or 
'concerning' to parents. And I can certainly see a possibility that 
happens with muggle parents of wizarding kids in the HP universe.

When these parents finally find out what is 'wrong' with their 
child - and find out that it's not actually something 'bad' but 
something that has the potential to be really positive, many of 
them are ecstatic - and many, many of them find themselves taking 
an approach to their children's education that they never dreamed 
they'd be taking. My parents wound up sending me to a 'snob' school 
of a type they really didn't like - because at the time it seemed 
the only available option. I know quite a few other kids whose 
parents have made similar choices, or other choices like 
homeschooling.

Very, very few parents choose to do nothing - it does occasionally 
happen. A very large number wind up making choices that they are 
actually not incredibly comfortable with, and never would have 
dreamed of making under other circumstances. They make choices they 
really don't like - for the sake of their kids.

I think the biggest problem with muggle parents would be convincing 
them this is real. Once that is overcome, I can see a very high 
proportion of these parents agreeing to send their child to 
Hogwarts - not because they necessarily *like* the idea - but 
because it seems to be the only choice available for their child to 
develop the talents they have.

I have seen dozens of parents in precisely that situation - and 
most of them choose the school - even if they have serious 
reservations about it.


Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia